Hong Kong is set to embrace the festive spirit of the Lunar New Year—the Year of the Horse—with the grand opening of 14 major Lunar New Year Fairs (Fa Shi) across the territory. Kicking off on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, the markets will run for seven consecutive days, concluding in the early morning hours of February 17, ushering in the first day of the Lunar New Year. These markets, which span all regions including Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories, and the Outlying Islands, serve as a cultural cornerstone for pre-holiday shopping, offering everything from traditional flowers and plants (“wet goods”) to novelty items and festive street food (“dry goods” and fast food).
The annual flower markets remain an essential tradition for residents seeking auspicious decorations and gifts, setting a vibrant backdrop for the traditional “Baan Nin Fo” (New Year shopping). The largest of the markets, as customary, will be held at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, with others strategically located to ensure community-wide access to festive items.
Navigating the 2026 Annual Flower Markets
Organized by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), the 14 venues boast a wide variety of vendors designed to cater to diverse needs and regional preferences. Visitors can expect rich arrays of blooms such as cherry blossoms, narcissus, and orchids, alongside quirky gadgets and local street snacks.
Victoria Park in Causeway Bay hosts the flagship fair, featuring over 400 stalls. Its sheer size makes it a magnet for both tourists and locals, renowned for pioneering unique festive merchandise and offering extensive culinary options, including four dedicated fast-food stalls.
Outside the major metropolitan areas, significant regional fairs also draw massive crowds:
- Kowloon’s Key Destinations: Flower Market Park in Mong Kok, adjacent to the traditional flower wholesale district, is a major focal point in Kowloon, offering a balanced mix of wet and dry goods, complemented by six dedicated food stalls. Other popular Kowloon locations include Kwun Tong Recreation Ground, Cheung Sha Wan Playground, and टू Kwa Wan Playground.
- New Territories Giants: The largest market outside Victoria Park is situated at Yuen Long Tung Tau Industrial Area Playground, featuring 158 stalls—96 dedicated to wet goods—making it the prime location for flower wholesale in the western New Territories. Other major markets are set up in Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan, Tai Po, Sheung Shui, Tuen Mun, Tseung Kwan O, and Kwai Chung.
To enhance the visitor experience and manage potential overcrowding, the FEHD will implement a real-time crowd control system. This system, visible on the FEHD website, uses a color-coded traffic light indicator: Green signals low congestion, Yellow indicates mild crowding, and Red warns of severe congestion. This allows shoppers to time their visits strategically, avoiding peak hours.
Planning Your Festive Outing
Most markets will operate from 8:00 AM daily, with extended closing times as the Lunar New Year approaches. For instance, the major metropolitan markets will remain open until midnight on the first two days, extending to 1:00 AM between February 13 and 15, and finally remaining open until 7:00 AM on New Year’s Day (February 17).
Given the expected high traffic, especially at major markets like Victoria Park and Flower Market Park, the FEHD advises patrons to plan their journeys and be mindful of the entrance cut-off time, which is generally 15 minutes before the scheduled close of the market each day.
| Region | Market Name | Total Stalls (Approx.) | Nearest MTR/Transit Access |
| :— | :— | :— | :— |
| Hong Kong Island | Victoria Park | 400+ | Causeway Bay / Tin Hau Stations |
| Kowloon | Flower Market Park | 129 | Mong Kok East / Prince Edward Stations |
| New Territories | Yuen Long Tung Tau | 158 | Long Ping Station |
| Outlying Islands | Tung Chung Tat Tung Road Garden | 27 | Tung Chung Station |
This widespread network of markets not only facilitates holiday preparation but reinforces the deep cultural importance of the Lunar New Year across all sectors of Hong Kong society, fostering community connection right before the celebration begins. Shoppers are encouraged to utilize public transport options, which are well-detailed for each location, to minimize congestion.