HKU Announces Inaugural Being Human Festival in Hong Kong, 5–15 November 2026
The Faculty of Arts (HKUArts) at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) will lead the inaugural Being Human Festival from 5–15 November 2026. An annual international showcase of humanities research, the Festival arrives in Hong Kong, establishing HKU as its regional hub.
Being Human is about bringing people together to share the humanities. The events are designed to be as enjoyable as they are thought-provoking: informal, creative and hands-on, they encourage the public to take part in research rather than simply hear about it, and to ask what it means to be human.
“What excites me most are our partnerships with local creatives and communities, making events some might not expect to call ‘academic.’ Research takes many forms, and this Festival lets us explore innovative technologies while pausing to celebrate the slow, the felt and the human.”
— Professor Yeewan Koon, Associate Dean (Global), Faculty of Arts, HKU
HKUArts joins a distinguished list of institutions, including the School of Advanced Study at the University of London, the University of Melbourne and the National Humanities Center in North Carolina, as the Festival’s Asia-based partner. University researchers will team up with creative arts and cultural communities to present projects well beyond HKU’s campus, creating shared spaces for new connections.
Theme: “Crossroads”
The 2026 theme, “Crossroads,” symbolizes a place of discovery, encounter and change, and invites reflection on how we live our lives, how we express our thoughts and the legacies we inherit and leave behind. Trade routes, cultures and ways of life have long converged in Hong Kong, where the past and the present sit side by side. Over eleven days, everyone can step in, try something unexpected and see humanities in a fresh light.
Festival Highlights
Resonant Reveries: An Exhibition by Artist Chris Cheung (h0nh1m)
An interactive art installation where pendulums respond to participants’ brain waves in real-time—creating a unique dialogue between mind and art. This exhibition targets the general public as audience, especially those who are interested in technology and art.
- Date and time: 6-15 November, 2026; with interactive sessions on 7-8 and 14-15 November (Saturday and Sunday) at 11am-2pm, and meditation sessions at 3-4pm and 5-6pm
- Venue: Peace Lane Studio, 1 Ping On Lane, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Being Human Fizz Hub I
Collaborative projects exploring fermentation as a transformative force, developed by past and present HKU students and local cultural practitioners, displayed in street-front storefronts in Tai Hang. Each day of the Festival will feature a different type of sharing of creative projects on fermentation or preservation with a “Resident Human.” Suitable for general public and families.
- Date and time: Opening Mixer, 5 November 2026 (Thursday), 6-7:30pm; Pop-up workshops, 7-15 November 2026; Fizz Out: Closing Party, 15 November 2026 (Sunday), 5-10pm
- Detailed program: https://beinghumanfestival.hku.hk/project-schedule-2026/fermentation-culture-creative-practice/
- Venue: Ground floor, 28 Shepherd Street, Hong Kong
Mindful Connections: The Science of Buddhism & Mental Health Wellbeing
Participants are invited to levitate a drone by wearing an EEG headband that picks up their brainwaves. As you calm your thoughts and sharpen your focus, the ‘Mind Drone’ responds directly to your brainwaves—lifting into the air to give you a breathtaking, real-time display of your own inner concentration. Targeted audiences include educators, neurodivergent learners, and members of the general public interested in mental health.
- Date and time: 6 November (Friday) 4:00-7:00pm; 7-8 November (Saturday and Sunday) 10:30am-1:30pm; 13 November (Friday) 4-7pm; 14-15 November (Saturday and Sunday) 10:30am-1:30pm
- Venue: Ground floor, 27 Shepherd Street, Hong Kong
Writing and Performing Poetry: Young Women in Hong Kong
The festival’s closing event at Villa Haw Par, a Spoken Word evening showcasing poetry written by young local women—celebrating voices and stories from Hong Kong’s next generation. This event is open to the general public and audiences who are interested in poetry and local literature.
- Date and time: Writing and Performance Workshop, 8 November 2026 (Sunday) 3-5:30pm and Spoken Word Event, 15 November 2026 (Sunday), 5-7pm
- Venue: Nose in the Books, 3/F, 54 Yun Ping Rd, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong (Workshop), and Villa Haw Par, 15A Tai Hang Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong (Spoken-Word Event)
About HKU Faculty of Arts
The Faculty of Arts is one of the flagship faculties of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and is an internationally renowned and leading humanities faculty. It is ranked 1st in Hong Kong and 19th in the world in Arts and Humanities in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. HKUArts’ presence amongst the best institutions in the world is evidence of its exceptional record in achieving academic excellence, and it strives to attract and nurture outstanding scholars and students from around the world through excellence and innovation in teaching and learning, research, and knowledge exchange.
About Being Human Festival at HKU
Being Human Festival is an event-based platform that celebrates and circulates humanities research through public engagement. It is held annually across United Kingdom, United States, and Australia under a specific theme, set by Being Human Festival, UK. Being Human Festival at HKU is led by HKU Arts. It enhances humanities research projects’ impact by increasing their international exposure and facilitating collaboration with dynamic local partners.
(https://beinghumanfestival.hku.hk/)
Contact
For any further information, please contact Karen Lee at karenkl@hku.hk or Michelle Wun Ting Wong at mwongwt@hku.hk.