AIA Carnival 2023 in Hong Kong: what to look forward to, from a proper circus to live music to ‘lots of cuddly ducks’

After a four-year break, the AIA Carnival is returning to the Central Harbourfront – this time, with a proper circus as well as traditional rides and games

The carnival’s founder explains what it has updated and how it is ‘bringing the harbourfront back to life’ in the city after the Covid-19 pandemic

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What can you look forward to seeing at this year’s AIA Carnival in Hong Kong? An actual Big Top circus, the usual traditional rides and games – and “lots of cuddly ducks”. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Published: 4:45pm, 21 Dec 2023

After a four-year suspension thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, the AIA Carnival is making its big return to the Central Harbourfront on Hong Kong Island on December 21 – and not just with rides and game booths this time, but also a 1,052-seat marquee.

The AIA Carnival has been an open-air entertainment fixture in the city during winter since 2014, and this year’s edition will feature more live performances than ever before.

Although the carnival has previously featured circus artists, this year they will perform in a proper Big Top at the heart of the 36,000 square metre (388,000 square foot) waterfront site.

The Gandeys Circus – a touring company made up of artists from around the globe – will be the star attraction in the 65-minute The World of Circus show.

“We believe the circus will be more popular this year because there’s a whole generation of kids that have never seen anything like that,” says Michael Denmark, the carnival’s founder.

Michael Denmark is the founder of the AIA Carnival. Photo: Lusher Photography

From mid-January, as part of a collaboration with record label Warner Music, the Big Top will also play host to singers, artists and DJs from the Cantopop scene, as well as musicians from the Hong Kong Chamber Orchestra.