HKCEC draws 7.7m visitors, locks in global events through 2027
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre hosted 7.7 million attendees at 786 events in 2025-26. Major events including Art Basel Hong Kong and Vinexpo Asia committed to long-term returns, while new debuts like Hong Kong Comic Con and medical congresses boosted the venue's global standing.
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) reaffirmed its status as a premier global events destination, drawing more than 7.7 million attendees across 786 events during the 2025 to 2026 financial year from July through June, according to venue management.
The performance was driven by an influx of 25 brand-new exhibitions and conferences, including multiple city and Asian debuts that have already committed to staging return editions in Hong Kong. Over the twelve-month period, the Wan Chai waterfront venue accommodated 128 exhibitions, 81 local and international conferences, and hundreds of corporate gatherings, banquets and entertainment spectacles.
Management attributed the strong momentum to Hong Kong's strategic position as a bridge between mainland China and international markets, focusing targeted business development on key sectors including medical science, innovation and technology, finance, and education.
Among the standout debuts, the first-ever Hong Kong Comic Con held in 2026 demonstrated the strong commercial appeal of launching global intellectual properties in the territory, generating substantial business opportunities and economic activity. Following its inaugural run, event organisers confirmed that the pop-culture convention will return to the venue in 2027.
The city also reinforced its standing as an emerging international healthcare and medical innovation hub through high-level medical gatherings held locally for the first time. The ninth World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery brought together more than 3,000 international specialists, while the 15th China Chest Pain Centers Congress chose the venue for the first staging of the national medical association convention outside the mainland.
Several of Asia's most prominent recurring events have pledged long-term commitments to the venue. Art Basel Hong Kong, staged at the facility every year since 2013, reached an agreement with the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau designating Hong Kong as its exclusive Asian host city for the next four years. Similarly, Vinexpo Asia announced the conclusion of its alternating schedule with Singapore, and starting in 2027, the flagship beverage trade show will anchor Hong Kong as its permanent home base.
Looking forward, the venue management company plans to continue securing prestigious global gatherings. Upcoming additions include LEAP East, marking the Asian debut of the Middle East's leading technology convention, alongside the inaugural Global Unicorn Summit and the World Cancer Congress 2026. The venue will also broaden its cultural calendar by hosting the premier art collectible exhibition, the Amazing Toy Show Hong Kong, for the first time in December.