Hong Kong’s monthly drone and fireworks shows, which dominated the city’s event calendar last year, will be a thing of the past. The SAR will discontinue the regular displays over Victoria Harbour as the tourism board’s focus shifts from staging events over the waterfront to devising larger-scale events across the territory to attract more visitors. The development comes after budget cuts were unveiled for the upcoming financial year, promoting the government to hold these shows only on special occasions.
Revised Tourism Budget and Impact on Events
Last month, Financial Secretary Paul Chan announced that he would allocate HK$1.23 billion towards the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0 as part of the 2025-2026 budget. And according to media reports, incoming head of the tourism board Peter Lam Kin-ngok revealed that there will be a HK$300 million reduction in spending in the coming fiscal year, resulting in drone and pyrotechnic displays being held only to mark specific festivals.
Hong Kong generally hosts three fireworks shows over Victoria Harbour every year — for Chinese New Year, on National Day (October 1), and on New Year’s Eve. The city also stages a series of pyrotechnic displays during the annual Hong Kong WinterFest as part of its year-end festivities. Last year, there were also drone shows held for Labour Day and the Dragon Boat Festival, as well as Mid-Autumn Festival.
Harbourfront Development, Mega Events and New Visitor Policies
This year, authorities will place greater emphasis on initiatives like creating new harbourfront spaces in North Point, Hung Hom, and Sai Ying Pun and bringing more sports and entertainment events to the recently opened Kai Tak Sports Park. The government has already announced more than 90 mega events for the first half of 2025, and plans to bring more to the territory. Officials also confirmed that they will expand the multiple-entry Individual Visit Scheme for Shenzhen residents and encourage more travellers from ASEAN countries and the Middle East to holiday in the SAR.
Image credits: Hong Kong Tourism Board
