All Laughs This Feb. 16 at ‘Strickland Presents: Cracking Jokes’

This summer, Hong Kong and Macau are buzzing with a roster of live shows and performances. From internationally acclaimed performances and boundary-breaking live concerts, to mesmerizing dance acts, the city is dialing up the drama, music, and the magic! 

Continue reading to find out which events you shouldn't miss out on.

Cirque du Soleil KOOZA

Cirque du Soleil's KOOZA, presented by UBS, has made its highly anticipated return to Hong Kong from May 21 to July 13, 2025, under the iconic Big Top at Central Harbourfront with an exciting mix of acrobatics, theatrical flair, and live music. 

The show traces the journey of a curious character pulled into a surreal world by a cheeky Trickster. Add it to your summer plans with tickets starting from HK$450.  

Check out the event link below for more information! 

The House of Dancing Water

After nearly five years off the stage, The House of Dancing Water returns to Macau's City of Dreams with a refreshed vision under director Giuliano Peparini.

Set on a special giant aquatic stage, Dancing Water Theatre, the 90-minute show fuses jaw-dropping acrobatics, heart-stopping stunts, elegant water ballet, and aerial choreography. Tickets start from MOP 698 (~HK$678) so be sure to check it out if you're visiting Macau! 

Visit the event link below for more details.

WestK Cabaret Nights

Running from May to July 2025, WestK Cabaret Nights is lighting up the Tea House Theatre with its debut season, bringing a fresh wave of cabaret flair to Hong Kong. 

With performances on select weekday evenings, the series spotlights Hong Kong's diverse lineup of music, theatre, comedy, and storytelling by both rising stars and familiar faces. 

Ticket prices vary from show to show, so visit the link below to learn more! Stay tuned for the announcement of the next season (Aug-Sep 2025).  

hololive STAGE World Tour ’25 -Synchronize!

On July 27, 2025, the hololive STAGE World Tour ’25 -Synchronize! lands in Hong Kong for its first ever 3D concert, featuring iconic VTubers like Momosuzu Nene, Kureiji Ollie, Mori Calliope, IRyS, and Nerissa Ravencroft, alongside special guests Tokino Sora and Sakura Miko. 

This is a rare chance to see these digital stars live on stage, with tickets starting from HK$980. 

Check out the event link below to learn more! 

Maggie Choo's Cabaret Nights

Maggie Choo's brings a touch of vintage glamor to Hong Kong's nightlife scene with its Cabaret Nights. Every Thursday evening from 9pm onwards, the venue transforms into a theatrical affair featuring jazz, hot dance acts, and live music by Unit 7 featuring Cecillia and Karrma, with elaborate costumes, rotating themes, and a cast of international talents. 

Pair the night with a drink from Maggie Choo's cocktail menu! Visit the event link below for more details. 

Casa Sophia Loren's Musical Supper

Following a sold-out debut in April, Casa Sophia Loren's Sophia's Musical Italian Supper is returning every last Saturday of the month with an evening of cinematic flair, immersive cabaret, and refined South Italian cuisine. Inspired by the 1955 classic Scandal in Sorrento, the supper experience blends live vocals, dazzling performances, and bespoke costumes. 

While enjoying the theatrics, guests can enjoy an Italian feast by Executive Chef Luca Schiavone with starters, a choice of main, and a dessert platter. Make sure you don't miss the next one on Saturday, August 30! 

Check out the event listing below for more information.

WILD WILD Hong Kong Tour

The 2025 WILD WILD Hong Kong Tour is back from June 28-29 with four high-energy shows led by Korean stars Lee Kug-young, Kang Chun-il, and Jeong Han-saem. 

Known for its mix of sultry choreography, live vocals, and dance performances, the show blends fantasy, humor, and spectacle in true K-theatre fashion. The show is tailored primarily for a female audience. Note that three shows are women-only, with one open to all. 

Check out the event link below to learn more. Gather your friends and make it a girls' night out! 

Pride Month is in full swing, and in Hong Kong, it goes far beyond events and parties. 

The city's hospitality scene is also proudly embracing the moment with exclusive offerings that honor the LGBTQIA+ community. These specials are a show of support, a nod to progress, and a reminder that love and pride deserve a place at every table. 

Read on to see how the city is honoring Pride through some celebratory bites and sips this June! 

Terrible Baby, Eaton HK

Terrible Baby at Eaton HK presents To Orient and Beyond, a bold and creative cocktail by mixologist Axel Gonzalez, featuring pink peppercorn-infused vodka, Mancino Sakura vermouth, champagne, and raspberry cordial for a sparkling, aromatic twist.

Check out the deal below for more details!

Location: Terrible Baby, 4/F, Eaton HK, 380 Nathan Road, Kowloon

The Farmhouse Deli, Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour HK

Celebrate Pride with a slice of joy from The Farmhouse Deli, where the beloved Rainbow Petite Cake returns by popular demand! The petite dessert layers almond sponge and vanilla whipping ganache into a six-tiered rainbow deliciousness. Available daily throughout June. 

Check out the deal below to learn more!

Location: The Farmhouse Deli, Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour HK, 1 North Point Estate Lane, North Point

Butter x The Pontiac

Butter is getting festive this June with colorful confections to celebrate Pride Month. The Raspberry Rainbow Road Cake features a light confetti sponge layered with tangy raspberry buttercream, topped with playful rainbow swirl. For something bite-sized, the Rainbow Pinwheel Cookie is bursting with color and baked to buttery perfection. 

The bakery has also partnered with iconic Soho bar The Pontiac where each Raspberry Rainbow Cake purchase includes a buy-one-get-one-free offer on The Pontiac's Rainbow Roadie Slushie. 

Find out more by checking out the deal below!

Location: Butter, Multiple Locations Across Hong Kong | The Pontiac, 13 Old Bailey St, Central

Avoca, Mondrian HK

This June, Avoca at Mondrian Hong Kong is celebrating Pride with all-queer DJ sets and the Mango Disco cocktail, a Thai-inspired cocktail blending mango, coconut milk, butterfly pea tea, and citrus. In partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Next Chapter, the drink comes with a discount on LGBTQIA+ wedding packages and a chance to win a luxury trip to Phuket. 

Check out the deal below for more details!

Location: Avoca, 38/F, Mondrian HK, 8A Hart Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

Grand Hyatt

Grand Hyatt Hong Kong has teamed up with M·A·C Cosmetics Hong Kong’s LGBTQ+ charitable initiative, VIVA GLAM, this year to present a Pride-inspired Rainbow Cake at Chocolatier, crafted by Chef Thomas Cabrit. The cake features layers of yuzu and osmanthus sponge, finished with bold rainbow cream, available to order throughout the month. 

Visit the deal below to learn more!

Location: Grand Hyatt HK, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai

Baking Maniac

Baking Maniac is going all out this June with a Pride Month collection, available both online and at their Taikoo Place pop-up. The collection features a playful mix of rainbow-themed bakes, including Love Wins Cookies, Rainbow Rice Krispies, Rainbow Macarons, and many more colorful treats! 

Find out more by checking out the deal below!

Location: 1/F Lincoln House, 979 King’s Road, Taikoo Place

Hyatt Regency Tsim Sha Tsui

This month, Café and Chin Chin Bar at Hyatt Regency HK Tsim Sha Tsui are turning up with color with their limited-time specials. At Café, the star is a stunning Rainbow Cake, while over at Chin Chin Bar, raise your glass with their Pride Martini.

These exclusive items are available every day throughout the month of June, 2025. To make your celebrations extra sweet, order the Rainbow Cake online to enjoy an exclusive 15% discount!  

Find out more by checking out the deal below!

Location: Hyatt Regency, 18 Hanoi Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

Step into the world of live theatre with "Standing Ovation," your trusted companion for navigating Asia's vibrant performing arts scene. From the neon-lit streets of Hong Kong to the historic stages of Manila, we're scouring the region to bring you honest, engaging reviews of the most talked-about shows. Whether you're drawn to the flawless elegance of ballet, embarking on a musical journey through moving tunes, or the raw emotion of dramatic plays, let us guide you to the performances that will resonate with you. So grab your playbill and join The Beat Asia as we immerse ourselves in the region's dazzling arts & culture scene. The curtain's rising – let the review begin!

After a seven-year hiatus, Cirque du Soleil KOOZA has returned triumphantly to Hong Kong, reigniting the city’s love affair with this international theatrical circus phenomenon.

Prepare for jaw-dropping moments as super-human performers fly through the air, walk the tightrope, or run like a hamster inside an outsized mechanical wheel. As Duncan Fisher, Cirque Du Soleil’s Chief Show Operations Officer, says KOOZA is “the most ‘circus’ of all our circuses!” 

KOOZA is a rapturous experience that is fun for the whole family. It exudes spectacle and continues to transcend expectations, with the ability to move you to tears from both laughter and amazement. 

For over two hours, Cirque Du Soleil KOOZA delivers a relentless parade of acts guaranteed to set pulses racing. All the traditional circus acts are here: feast your eyes on classic circus disciplines like high-wire, wheel of death, teeterboard and the gasp inducing contortionists. This season, KOOZA has spiced up the show with some new acts, from Mizuki Shinagawa’s hypnotic aerial silks to Sante D’Amours Fortunato’s mesmerizing hula hoop artistry. 

Storyline

True to Cirque du Soleil’s theatrical roots, KOOZA leans heavily into character-driven storytelling. The show loosely threads together the adventures of Innocent, a naïve character whose quest for a mysterious crown leads him through a kaleidoscopic world. 

Guided by the shape-shifting and charismatic Trickster, he encounters a parade of comic and fantastical figures — from mad kings to mischievous clowns and eerie skeletons lurking in the underworld. 

Beyond the acrobatics, the show explores universal themes of identity, fear, power, and vulnerability, reminding us why Cirque du Soleil is as much a theatrical meditation as it is a physical spectacle.

Stellar International Casting

At the helm as Artistic Director is Jamieson Lindenburg, a Florida native whose vision brings cohesion to the dazzling diversity of KOOZA’s 54-strong cast. The performers hail from as far afield as Mongolia, Spain, Ethiopia, Ukraine, and Japan, each bringing their own cultural flair and skills to the internationally understood conventions of the Big Top. 

Atmosphere: Magic Under the Big Top

The Big Top at Central Harbourfront Event Space provides a breathtaking setting for KOOZA’s enchantment. With sightlines across a 260-degree panorama and a star-studded ceiling, the venue feels less like a circus tent and more like stepping into an immersive dreamscape. The atmosphere is surreal and inviting, with every element working in harmony to transport the audience far beyond downtown Hong Kong. There are no bad seats here; even seats at the back get an excellent view of the action. 

Structure and Acts: A Feast for the Senses

The various circus acts are punctuated by the arrival of the clowns, who are also somehow, rather tenuously involved in the plot to help Innocent find the crown. Their slapstick jokes and a few funny turns with a leaf blower provided comic respite and kept the kids in the audience entertained. 

While the clowns’ physical comedy schticks were entertaining, we did find some of the segments to be a bit on the long side. However, the kids in the audience seemed to like them, and we probably should let them be the judge on that.

The Trickster, with his effortless charm, guides the audience through a whirlwind of breathtaking acts. The trio of female contortionists, shimmering in full-body latex prints, performed with a slow grace and control that was hypnotic and intoxicating, while Wei-Liang Lin’s diabolo routine incorporated some traditional Chinese circus skills into the mix, dazzling the audience with his precision and flair. 

The death-defying aerial silk act, performed by Mizuki Shinagawa, was a clear showstopper, combining high-flying artistry with superb athleticism. Mizuki dangles and unravels herself from an extraordinary height. Framed by long columns of flowing red silk, her controlled drops and elegant suspensions took our breath away.

The high-wire act, which unfolds some 25 feet above ground, was a terrifyingly beautiful spectacle. These high-wire authorities biked and balanced poles, a chair, and another acrobat, on tightropes without harnesses — a true test of nerve and skill.

Next up was the Wheel of Death, not for the faint of heart. A giant mechanical wheel spins at dizzying speeds whilst two burly strongmen leap between the spokes of the wheel and leap over its outer edges. Just when we thought the stunts couldn’t get any more absurdly difficult, they started picking up the pace and skipping rope on top of the moving wheels.

We were blown away by the Tower of Chairs act, where a strongman held sculpted poses on top of a precarious tower of stacked chairs. His gracefulness and fluidity in each movement were so controlled and his physical strength so immense that for many of the would-be weightlifters in the audience, this was a highlight of the show. 

The show ended with old-fashioned and wonderfully executed acrobatics, as performers were launched high into the air from a teeterboard, the height and level of difficulty increasing with each stunt. There is a timeless joy about witnessing these super-human feats of athleticism and artistry close up. It was the perfect finish to a great show.   

KOOZA's Eclectic Music and Enchanting Costumes

KOOZA is supported by a live band, which performs on a balcony nestled above the main stage. The music defies easy categorization, blending 1970s funk, urban old-school hip hop, and electric boogaloo into an eclectic soundscape that matches the show’s vibrant energy. What made it even more special were the two vocalists, who delivered a powerhouse performance that resonated throughout the Big Top.

Meanwhile, the costumes dazzle with over 175 handmade creations inspired by graphic novels, Gustav Klimt, and global traditions — from India to Eastern Europe. More than a thousand pieces, including wigs, hats, and accessories, craft a vivid world seen through the Innocent’s eyes, with playful nods to "Alice in Wonderland" and "The Wizard of Oz."   

Standout Technical and Stage Design

The set strikes a delicate balance between intimacy and spectacle. The Bataclan, a mobile tower inspired by Hindu and Indian jewelry motifs, serves as a dynamic centerpiece, sometimes moving into the main stage area and sometimes shifting further back. The starry canopy, patterned like leaf veins, gives the space an organic, yet otherworldly feel.

Lighting and sound design conjure up a magical, radiant world brimming with color and fantasy, which perfectly complements the performers’ energy.

Final Thoughts

Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA is a dazzling, exhilarating spectacle — a masterclass in balancing the sublime with the silly, the athletic with the artistic. It invites audiences to marvel at human physicality whilst journeying through a vibrant, theatrical world.

While KOOZA is a spectacular celebration of traditional circus artistry and is perhaps intended to be set in a fantastical country, we felt that the clowns could have worked in some Hong Kong-specific elements or jokes. A layer of contemporary relevance to the show would have made it more fun and perhaps helped the show register more distinctly in our long-term memory. 

Whether you are a circus aficionado or a first timer, this show is worth the ticket, especially given its extended run. Take your friends, take your family, and prepare to be swept away under the Big Top, where magic is very much alive.

Cirque Du Soleil Kooza has been extended until July 13, 2025, so be sure to get tickets now!

Showtimes vary, with up to three performances on Saturdays and family-friendly matinees on Sundays. Scheduled over 10 days, each show will run for about 125 minutes and include a 25-minute intermission.

Standard tickets start at HK$450, while VIP tickets are priced at HK$1,998, with discounts for kids (two to 12 years old).

If you use the promo code WEEKDAY15, you can enjoy 15% off midweek performances of Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA. This special offer is only available on June 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26, and July 2, 3. Check out the deal below for more information! 

For more details, visit Cirque Du Soleil on their website, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Location: The Big Top, Central Harbourfront Event Space, 9 Lung Wo Road, Central

Dates: May 21, 2025 to July 13, 2025

Kicking off the summer is the annual Dragon Boat Festival, happening on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month which will be on Saturday, May 31 this year. Rooted in the legend of poet Qu Yuan, this centuries old festival has swifty evolved into an event marked by teams of excited paddlers racing against each other in dragon boats to the beat of traditional drums, becoming an integral part of Hong Kong's culture. 

Every year, Hong Kong holds one of the largest international dragon boat races and this year is no different. The 2025 Sun Life Hong Kong International Races will be held on June 7-8, 2025 at the Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade. 

Interested in joining a dragon boat team? Joining a local dragon boat team is easier than you might think, check out our list of amazing dragon boat teams in Hong Kong that are open to both seasoned paddlers and total beginners! 

Note: As the Dragon Boat season has already begun for competitive teams, you may still join certain teams to train noncompetitively! Kindly contact the respective teams for more details. 

Victoria Recreation Club (VRC)

Victoria Recreation Club (VRC) has a long history of dragon boat paddling, established as far back as 1993, becoming the first non-local club to compete. 

Now, they have a dragon boat team called VCR Dragons for adults and have competed in both local and international races. They also have a youth team called VRC Sea Dragons for those are aged between 11 and 17! VRC has also been holding their very own VRC Deep Water Bay Regatta dragon boat competition annually every spring since 1999. 

You don't need to be a member of the Club to join the team! If you're interested, watch out for their open days or reach out to them on their Instagram. Alternatively, you may also email them at [email protected]. 

Buzz Dragon

Buzz Dragon is one of the oldest local dragon boat teams, founded in 2001 with over 70 members spanning different genders and nationalities, who regularly compete at local and international levels. This year, they'll be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the team! 

If you're interested, drop them a message on Instagram to try out at one of their training days! Visit their website to learn more. 

Southside Massive Urban Gorillaz (SMUGz)

Southside Massive Urban Gorillaz, also known as SMUGz, have been around the dragon boat scene since 2004, spreading the "spirit of GRRRR." They have year-round trainings at their Stanley Main Beach base and compete regularly locally and internationally. 

Additionally, they're also committed to making dragon boat racing more sustainable by wearing team training shirts made from recycled plastic, cleaning the beach after training and race days, and have also signed a pledge with Green Dragons HK, an organization targeting the reduction of plastic pollution among dragon boat teams. 

To learn more about SMUGz, look out for their open days or drop them a message on Instagram or visit their website. 

Renegades

Renegades is one of the only all-women dragon boat teams based in Hong Kong, where they train together indoors and out, all while raising awareness and funds for societal issues including human trafficking, education rights, breast cancer awareness, and more! 

Whether you're a mom, looking to get fit, or just want to try dragon boat racing, Renegades is an amazing place to start from! Drop a message to the team on Instagram to get started. 

Seagods

In 1999, Seagods was founded to promote dragon boat racing in Hong Kong and now they're one of the leading racing teams in Hong Kong and internationally. In 2024, Seagods placed 14th in the world for the Standard Mixed Boat category and 12th in Open and Women Small Boat.  

The team trains weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. If you're interested, keep an eye out for their open days or drop them a message through their website or Instagram. 

South Lantau Paddle Club

Based on Lantau Island, South Lantau Paddle Club is a paddling club where they train and compete in both dragon boat and outrigger canoe races locally and internationally.

If you're keen to try out with them, you can join their open paddle days every Sunday at Pui O Beach, South Lantau. The club regularly organizes paddle & BBQ events pre-season and throughout the season, so don't miss those as well! 

For more information, drop them a message on Instagram.