If there’s one cultural event that has Hong Kong abuzz this spring, it’s the return of The French May Arts Festival (French May) 2025 and the French GourMay Food and Wine Festival 2025 (French GourMay).

French May and French GourMay are more than just an arts and F&B showcase; they are a full-blown celebration of French creativity, taste, and spirit — literally, so secure your ticket, grab a fork, and dive in!

What is French GourMay?

Nothing celebrates French culture quite like its exquisite food and wine. French GourMay is Hong Kong and Macau’s premier festival dedicated entirely to French gastronomy and spirits.

Organized by Business France, this month-long celebration in May brings the finest flavors of France to the heart of Asia, offering unforgettable culinary experiences.

This year's 16th edition is all about French spirits, from Cognac to Calvados. Over 150 partners across restaurants, bars, retailers, and markets are coming together to toast to tradition — and a bit of indulgence.

Throughout May, Michelin-starred restaurants and cozy neighborhood bistros will serve up exclusive French menus. Picture Armagnac-glazed duck, flambéed mains, and Calvados-infused crème brûlée.

This year, French May will be showing delightfully buttery and flaky pastries from French ingredients suppliers: seven distinguished bakeries in Hong Kong and one renowned establishment in Macau.

In France, the digestif — a small but significant drink like Cognac, Chartreuse, or French whiskey — finishes a meal perfectly. If you’re more into cocktails than cuisine and want to lift your spirits, you’ll want in on the citywide bar-hopping extravaganza, featuring French spirits.

In partnership with Whisky Magazine, bars around town are crafting cocktails using French spirits, inviting guests on a self-guided tour with a splash of fun. You can even collect stamps along the way that can be redeemed for rewards later!

The French GourMay Food and Wine Festival also offers a unique chance to delve into French spirits through expert-led tastings and culinary workshops.

Specialized learning centers will unveil the artistry behind renowned French liquors and showcase their diverse uses in gastronomy.

For those who want to learn more, there are tastings and workshops led by experts in the industry. Expect deep dives into distillation, food pairings, and even a few rare vintages usually reserved for insiders.

Shop the French Way

Retailers are getting in on the action too. All month long, wine shops, gourmet boutiques, and online platforms will feature deals on rare French liquors and fine foods — perfect for bringing a little bit of GourMay home with you.

agnès b. CAFÉ is a prime example, unveiling limited-edition cakes at all their cafes and their online store to honor their 30-year anniversary in Hong Kong and celebrate French May.

Enjoy authentic French flavors with the Fleur d'été (Tropical Fruit Cheesecake) and L’amour (Sea Salt Caramel Vanilla Cake). Don’t miss their La Belle Fleur, a Rare Sugar Pink Guava and Strawberry Cake — a standout dessert embodying a delicate rose.

Don’t Miss the Markets

Set a reminder for the French GourMay Markets as well for the full experience. Take a stroll through gourmet stalls, sample fine food and spirits from all over France, and enjoy live cooking demos. Catch these at Central Market from May 1 to May 5, 2025, and at Nina Mall from June 6 to June 8, 2025.

What is French May Arts Festival?

Since 1993, French May has grown into one of Asia’s biggest cultural festivals and a fixture on Hong Kong’s creative calendar.

This year is the 32nd edition, themed “Vive L’art – In Art We Live," bringing together French and local artists for a lively mix of theatre, film, dance, music, and more. French May aims to attract not just the French community in Hong Kong, but also the Hong Kong visitors, inviting a vibrant cultural dialogue.

With over 60 events stretching from Mar. 15 to July 13 in just about every corner of the city, this is a cultural takeover like no other.

Whether it’s a contemporary art show or a free hip-hop performance, the festival’s mission is to make art accessible to all. As a result, there is something for every kind of cultural appetite, from ballet lovers to indie film buffs, from jazz heads to classical music purists.

Some of the highlights include The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series “Picasso for Asia – A Conversation” at M+ (Mar. 15 to July 13) which kicks off the showcase, and Hong Kong Ballet’s rendition of the romantic “Giselle” at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (May 30 to June 8).

Catch cellist Gautier Capuçon performing Shostakovich (May 8 to 9), jazz trumpeter Erik Truffaz (June 7), and the explosive dance-circus crossover “Corps extrêmes” (May 30 to June 1). 

Cinephiles can also look forward to the curated French May Cinema Program, from May 20 to June 4, 2025, across Broadway Circuit cinemas, organized by the Alliance Française de Hong Kong.

Prepare to see cinema at its best, from French films taking place in Asia (South Korea and Japan) to retro classics, a tribute to Maria Callas, and documentaries by director and photographer Chantal Stoman.

Or if you want to tune in onscreen, RTHK is also presenting Cinema Enchante by screening La Vie en Rose, TheIntouchables, Léon: The Professional and more iconic French films!

French May’s outreach programs also extend outside concert halls, bringing guided tours, free performances, and creative workshops to schools, local communities, and public spaces across the city.

Plan Your Festival Calendar

Here are a few more dates to pencil in:

• Le Bal at Tai Kwun (May 9 to 11, May 13 to 18) – a striking mix of street performance, music, and movement celebrating the Belle Époque period
• Trio Wanderer’s Hong Kong debut – for classical music fans (May 14 and 17, City Hall)
• Jazz Female Duo – Paris Rendezvous (June 6, City Hall) – a cross-cultural collab between Joyce Cheung from Hong Kong and Sarah Lancman from France
• Echoes of the Heart (June 14, Cultural Centre) – with Cantopop star Jay Fung and French singer Joyce Jonathan.
• Souvenirs, a poignant theatre piece at Sheung Wan Civic Centre (June 14 and 15)

How to Get Tickets

You can find the full program details at French May’s website, Instagram, and Facebook. Visit French GourMay’s website, Instagram, and Facebook.

French May Arts Festival 2025:

Location: Hong Kong City Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Hong Kong Space Museum, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Kwai Tsing Theatre, Sha Tin Town Hall, Tuen Mun Town Hall 

Various prices of admission.

Tickets for official French May events are already available for purchase via URBTIX on French May's website.

French GourMay Food & Wine Festival 2025:

Multiple Locations and varying prices of admission.