🔥 Trending Hong Kong Animation Festival: What You Need to Know

The "Hong Kong Animation Festival" can refer to several distinct events that celebrate animation, comics, and games in Hong Kong. While there isn't one single event officially named "Hong Kong Animation Festival," the most prominent and long-standing event is the Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong (ACGHK). Additionally, the Anime Festival Asia Hong Kong (AFAHK) is a significant event focusing on Japanese pop culture, and the newly announced Hong Kong Comic Con will also feature animation-related content.

Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong (ACGHK)

ACGHK is Hong Kong's flagship pop-culture convention, often referred to simply as "the anime expo" by locals ⁸. It has been a major celebration of anime and gaming since its inception in 1999, initially as the Hong Kong Comics Festival ¹⁸.

Key Features and History:

• Long-standing Event: ACGHK has been held almost every year at the end of July since 1999 ⁸.
• Scope: It combines various cultures of animation, comics, and games, showcasing the latest trends and creativity in the industry ¹. It also features elaborate toy displays, interactive gaming zones, and cosplay competitions ⁴.
• Scale: The 26th edition of ACGHK, held from July 25 to 29, 2025, saw a significant expansion. Its exhibition area nearly doubled from the previous year to 34,872 square meters, featuring nearly 800 booths, 160 exhibitors, and over 610 individual participants (including toy designers and doujin artists) ⁷¹⁰.
• Location: It is consistently held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre ⁴⁷¹⁰.
• Attendees: It attracts countless fans of anime and gaming, cosplayers, artists, and industry leaders ¹⁴.

Anime Festival Asia Hong Kong (AFAHK)

Anime Festival Asia (AFA) is Southeast Asia's largest J-culture and anime convention ⁶. While it had a presence in Hong Kong previously, it experienced a hiatus.

Key Features and Recent Developments:

• Return to Hong Kong: After a six-year hiatus due to safety concerns and the pandemic since 2020, AFAHK was originally scheduled to return in 2026 ³⁵.
• Postponement: The 2026 event, branded as Anime Festival Asia Hong Kong 2026 (AFAHK26), was initially planned for February 14-15, 2026, at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre ³⁶. However, organizers announced its postponement, stating they are coordinating with various parties for new arrangements ³.
• Focus: AFA celebrates Japanese pop culture with an exciting lineup of anime screenings, cosplay showcases, gaming zones, and music performances ⁶.

Hong Kong Comic Con

A new major international comic and pop culture event, Hong Kong Comic Con, is also set to debut.

Key Features:

• Debut Year: The first Hong Kong Comic Con is scheduled for May 29-31, 2026 ⁵⁹.
• Location: It will also be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre ⁹.
• Scope: This event aims to be an ultimate celebration of pop culture, comics, cosplay, and exhibitions, introducing a Western comic convention format to Hong Kong ⁵⁹.

Other Relevant Events

While not specifically "Hong Kong Animation Festival," it's worth noting the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market (Mifa), held in Annecy, France, is considered the major international event for animation industry professionals, attracting around 12,000 attendees ². This highlights the global significance of animation festivals, even if not directly located in Hong Kong.

In summary, when people refer to an "Animation Festival" in Hong Kong, they are most likely thinking of the long-running Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong (ACGHK), or potentially the returning Anime Festival Asia Hong Kong (AFAHK), and soon, the new Hong Kong Comic Con, all of which contribute to Hong Kong's vibrant pop culture scene.