This October, two extraordinary shows are heading to Hong Kong: Canvas of Sound and the guitar duo recital by Assad Brothers.
On October 23 and 24, Canvas of Sound makes its Asian premiere of the stage edition, featuring visual artist Tazeen Qayyum and Aga Khan masters Feras Charestan and Basel Rajoub.
A few days later, on October 30, Brazilian guitar legends Sérgio and Odair Assad take the stage at Hong Kong City Hall as part of their farewell tour after 60 years performing together.
Canvas of Sound: Live Calligraphy & Middle Eastern Music on October 23-24
Canvas of Sound arrives in Hong Kong as the Asian premiere of its stage edition after earlier appearances in Doha (the gallery edition) and at the Edinburgh International Festival. The work turns each performance into something unrepeatable, with every canvas created live.
Pakistani-born visual artist Tazeen Qayyum specializes in Arabic, Persian and Urdu calligraphy, alongside Syrian-born Aga Khan Master Musicians Feras Charestan and Basel Rajoub, who play different instruments such as qanun, duclar, saxophone and percussion.
The performance centres on four guiding words: amal (hope), adl (justice), karam (kindness) and silm (peace). As the music shifts between ancient melodic modes and contemporary improvisation, Qayyum responds stroke by stroke, making the artwork part of the performance. Both evenings include a meet-the-artist session.
📆 Date & Time: October 23-24, 2026 at 8pm
⏱️ Duration: Around 1 hour with no interval
📍 Venue: Theatre, Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre
🎟️ Tickets: HK$260 and HK$400. Tickets available at URBTIX
Assad Brothers Farewell Tour: Brazilian Guitar Duo on October 30
Sérgio and Odair Assad give Hong Kong audiences one more chance to see the legendary Brazilian guitar duo together after 60 years at the top.
Winners of multiple Latin Grammy Awards, the Assads have collaborated with Yo-Yo Ma, Gidon Kremer and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. “Father of new tango” Astor Piazzolla also wrote works for them.
The concert will move through Brazilian folk, Latin, jazz and classical music by Piazzolla, Villa-Lobos, Gnattali and Sérgio Assad. Local guzheng player Wan Xing will also join the concert for Mulan.
📆 Date & Time: October 30, 2026 at 8pm
⏱️ Duration: Around 1 hour 30 minutes, including a 20-minute interval
📍 Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall, Central
🎟️ Tickets: HK$200, HK$300 and HK$420. Tickets available at URBTIX
About Asia+ Festival 2026
The annual Asia+ Festival brings music, theatre, dance and other live performances to venues across Hong Kong, and this year, the festival returns from September to November under the theme “Traditions Recast”, with more than 100 performances and activities.
There is much more to explore beyond these two performances, so if you are planning what to see, you can browse the full Asia+ Festival 2026 programme for all shows, dates and venues.
Header image credits: LCSD