HONG KONG — Hong Kong will usher in 2026 without its signature New Year’s Eve fireworks, marking a subdued start to the year following the territory’s deadliest fire in decades that claimed at least 161 lives.
Instead of the customary pyrotechnic display over Victoria Harbor, the Hong Kong Tourism Board organized a music program on Wednesday night in Central, the city’s main business district and home to the popular nightlife hub Lan Kwai Fong. Soft rock duo Air Supply headlined the event, alongside other performers, while the facades of eight major landmarks were transformed into synchronized countdown clocks culminating in a three-minute light show at midnight.
Fireworks have long been a centerpiece of Hong Kong’s celebrations for the New Year, Lunar New Year, and National Day, typically drawing hundreds of thousands of residents and tourists to both sides of the harbor. This year’s cancellation follows a massive blaze in late November at Wang Fuk Court, a residential complex in Tai Po, which authorities described as the city’s worst fire since 1948.
Rosanna Law, the territory’s secretary for culture, sports and tourism, acknowledged on Tuesday that the absence of fireworks would likely affect some hotels and restaurants. However, officials said the decision reflected the city’s collective mourning and sensitivity to families still reeling from the tragedy.
Annie Wang, a university student visiting from Shanghai, said she initially planned to watch the fireworks but understood the city’s decision. “It’s quite regretful. But there’s no way around it after the fire,” she said, describing news of the blaze as heart-wrenching.
Another visitor, Wang Miao, a teacher from neighboring Guangzhou, said she would still take part in the official countdown activities in Central despite the lack of fireworks. “It doesn’t affect our experience in Hong Kong,” she said, adding that while it was a pity to miss the pyrotechnics, the reason was understandable.
By early Wednesday evening, crowds had already gathered near the performance stage in Central, hoping to secure prime spots for the musical show as the city prepared to mark the new year in a more restrained tone.
The November fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court while the apartment complex was undergoing a months-long renovation, with buildings shrouded in bamboo scaffolding and green netting. Authorities have pointed to substandard netting and foam boards installed on windows as factors that contributed to the rapid spread of the flames. Thousands of displaced residents have since been relocated to transitional housing, hotels, and youth hostels, many struggling to recover from the loss of homes they spent years acquiring.
Hong Kong has previously canceled fireworks following major tragedies, including the 2013 National Day celebrations after a fatal ferry collision that killed 39 people, and the 2018 Lunar New Year festivities following a bus crash that left 19 dead. Fireworks displays were also scrapped during the 2019 anti-government protests and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the city steps into 2026 without its familiar bursts of light over the harbor, officials and residents alike signaled a desire to balance tradition with remembrance, choosing reflection and solidarity over spectacle.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
