As one of Asiaโs largest and most dynamic cultural events, the French May Festival has been bringing the best of French culture and heritage to Hong Kong since 1993, attracting over 200,000 visitors each year. From breathtaking ballet performances and thought-provoking art exhibitions to indulgent culinary experiences, the 2025 edition runs from 15 March to 13 July โ because naturally, French May could never be limited to just one month.
Read More: Feast Your Heart Out This May At Hong Kongโs Best New Restaurants
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Whatโs French May?
The Events You Wonโt Want To Miss
Whatโs French May?
For the past 32 years, French May has championed the beauty of French culture across Asia, firmly establishing itself as a cornerstone of Hong Kongโs cultural calendar. The festival brings people and communities together to celebrate the richness of French heritage โ through cuisine, performing arts, curated workshops, and engaging exhibitions.
Throughout the French May Arts Festival, youโll find events popping up across the city: from limited-time French menus and classic film screenings to live performances and even festive parades, all adding a touch of Parisian flair to Hong Kong.
The Events You Wonโt Want To Miss
Picasso For Asia โ A Conversation
Now this oneโs for the history books โ M+ is reshaping art conversations with Asiaโs first exhibition to place Pablo Picassoโs works in direct dialogue with creations by Asian artists. Co-curated with Musรฉe National Picasso-Paris and co-presented with the French May Arts Festival, this seminal showcase runs from March through July.
Incorporating over 60 works by Picasso โ including celebrated pieces like Portrait of Dora Maar and The Acrobat โ alongside nearly 80 selections from the esteemed M+ Collections, the exhibition explores how the Spanish artistโs radical vision aligns with or challenges Asian artistic traditions. As the first exhibition of its kind in the region, this is an unmissable moment for art enthusiasts.
When: 15 March to 13 July 2025
Where: L2, West Gallery, M+, 38 Museum Drive, West Kowloon Cultural District, Kowloon, Hong Kong,ย www.mplus.org.hk
Chinachem Group Celebrates French May
Chinachem Group is embracing the French May spirit with a series of cultural programmes across its prominent properties. Enjoy French GourMay markets at Central Market and Nina Mall, showcasing delicacies and fine wines from the Occitanie region. Additionally, experience the dynamic performances of French contemporary dance group Cie Racines Carrรฉes-Nabil Ouelhadj, combining acrobatics and hip hop on trampolines with their โ9.81โ dance number, complete with dance workshops for those eager to pick up a few moves.
When: 2 May to 10 June 2025
Where: Central Market, NINA MALL, and D PARK, chinachemgroup.com
Happy French Wednesday
Midweek just received a sophisticated upgrade. Courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and French GourMay Fest, expect fun in the form of fine wines, French horsemanship at a Wednesday horse race, and irresistibleย French bites. Itโs your stylish excuse to soak up some joie de vivre, one Wednesday at a time.
When: 7, 14, 21 & 28 May 2025
Where: Happy Valley Racecourse, Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong, happywednesday.hkjc.com
Le Bal
What better way to launch the French May Festival than with a spectacularย gala where music, dance, and theatre collide in grand style? Le Bal is an extravagant tribute to French opulence during the Belle รpoque, laced with contemporary creativity. ย The opening night, inspired by the artistry of Renoir and Degas, promises to set the tone for the celebrations to come.
When: 9 to 11 & 13 to 18 May 2025
Where: Parade Ground, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong, www.taikwun.hk
Ohh La La La: French Delights At D2 Place
D2 Place is bringing a taste of France to Lai Chi Kok with its ninth consecutive French May collaboration. More than just gourmet delights and live music โ itโs also a destination for makers and creatives. Discover limited-edition knits from LAWS KNITTERS and join hands-on workshops that weave culture into craftsmanship.
When: 9 to 11 May 2025; 1 to 8 pm
Ohh La La La, THE SPACE, 2/F, D2 Place ONE, Lai Chi Kok, 9 Cheung Yee Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong, lawsgroup.com
French May Cinema Programme
Presented by Alliance Franรงaise de Hong Kong, delve into the archives and enjoy a handpicked lineup of French films spanning multiple genres. This cinematic showcase offers cinephiles a chance to experience the richness and artistry of French cinema โ home to some of the most visually stunning landscapes ever captured on screen.
When: 20 May to 4 June 2025
Where: Broadway Cinematheque and other selected cinemas, afhongkong.org
Giselle
Presented by Hong Kong Ballet, this contemporary reimagining of the Romantic-era tragedy breathes new life into timeless themes of love, betrayal, and redemption. With ethereal choreography and striking new staging, โGiselleโ stands out as a must-see moment in the festival for both ballet enthusiasts and those discovering the art form for the first time.
When: 30 May to 8 June 2025
Where: Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, hkballet.com
Tipsy-Gypsy-Debussy: Jazz String Quartet x Cocktail Pairing
Debussy-inspired cocktails? Count us in. Pair a live jazz string quartet with a curated cocktail flight for a multi-sensory evening you never knew you needed. Friday night, 7:30pm to 8:30pm. Forward this one to the group chat โ immediately.
When: 30 May 2025; 7:30pm to 8:30pm
Where: N.I.P Distilling, Unit 601, 20 Westlands Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong, kenneth-li.com
Corps Extrรชmes
Be captivated by gravity-defying dance numbers choreographed by Rachid Ouramdane, where contemporary dance collides with extreme sports. This high-octane performance delves into humanityโs enduring drive to push physical boundaries โ no harness required (for the audience, at least).
When: 30 May to 1 June 2025
Where: Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre, 88 Austin Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, westk.hk
Designing Jewels: 200 Years Of French Savoir-Faire
A dazzling centrepiece of the festival, this exhibition charts two centuries of French jewellery design. Anticipate meticulous artistry, more than 100 original drawings, and 12 haute joaillerie masterpieces that reveal the evolution of luxury in all its glittering glory.
When: 6 June to 5 October 2025
Where: University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong, 99 Bonham Road, Pok Fu Lam Road, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, umag.hku.hk, LโรCOLE Asia Pacific, School of Jewelry Arts, Unit 510A, 5/F, K11 MUSEA, 18 Salisbury Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, lecolevancleefarpels.com
Erik Truffaz โ Rollinโ & Clap!
Celebrated French jazz trumpeter Erik Truffaz brings โRollinโ & Clap!โ to Hong Kong โ a dynamic homage to French cinema. Expect free-wheeling improvisation, wistful nostalgia, and classic film scores reborn with a smoky jazz edge.
When: 7 June 2025
Where: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall, Edinburgh Place, Central, Hong Kong, www.lcsd.gov.hk
Souvenirs
Explore memory and identity in this powerful multimedia performance. Follow Anthony, a man haunted by years of emotional baggage that strains his relationship with Claire, a woman balancing her heightened sensitivity with their shared weight. Combining theatre, video projections, and immersive soundscapes, โSouvenirsโ reveals how personal and collective histories are forged โ a cerebral and emotional highlight of this yearโs programme.
When: 14 to 15 June 2025
Where: 5/F, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Sheung Wan Municipal Services Building, 345 Queenโs Road Central, Central, Hong Kong,ย afhongkong.org
French GourMay Food & Wine Festival โ Spirits UP!
Donโt overlook the art of good eating! This May, raise a glass to Nouvelle-Aquitaine during French GourMayโs 16th edition. Pop-ups, wine pairings, and chef collaborations will spread across Hong Kong, letting gourmands sip and savour all month long โ no plane ticket required, just a quick hop on the bus or train.
When: 1 to 31 May 2025
Where: Across Hong Kong and Macau, frenchgourmay.com
Rachel Tang
Rachel Tang is the Social Media Manager and a contributing writer at Friday Club., where she combines her expertise in PR and Marketing with a passion for storytelling. She began writing for a media platform early in her career, which sparked a love for storytelling that still drives her work today. With a deep passion for fashion, music, and all things pretty, Rachel is always on the lookout for the next best thing โ and sheโs quick to rave about it to those around her.
