The fundraising charity event brings together M+ supporters to advance the museum’s long-term growth and to cultivate a culture of philanthropy for the arts in Hong Kong

M+, Asia’s global museum of contemporary visual culture in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District (WestK), hosted its fundraising M+ Gala 2026 tonight in the museum’s Main Hall.

Held ahead of its fifth anniversary in November, the M+ Gala brought together over 450 distinguished guests from Hong Kong and around the world. Among them were leading figures from the international art and cultural community, including Cao Fei, Artist, Beijing; Christophe Cherix, the David Rockefeller Director of The Museum of Modern Art, New York (MoMA); Ann Demeester, Director, Kunsthaus Zürich; Gong Yan, Director, Power Station of Art, Shanghai; Marie-Josée Kravis, Chair of the Board of The Museum of Modern Art, New York; Laurent Le Bon, President of Centre Pompidou, Paris; Dr Uli Sigg, Swiss Collector and Member of the M+ Board. Also in attendance were Hong Kong film directors Sylvia Chang, and Ann Hui; actress Carina Lau; celebrity Laurinda Ho; and artist Lynus Woo; alongside other cultural icons, esteemed business leaders, patrons, philanthropists, and long-standing supporters.

Guests made their entrances on the red carpet in Artist Square, dressed in Fantasy Black Tie attire inspired by the latest M+ Special Exhibition Myths and Monsters: The Art of Fantasy in Asia. The exhibition is supported by HSBC, the museum’s Lead Partner since 2022 and Lead Sponsor of the show. In the Main Hall, an immersive installation based on Myths and Monsters featured HSBC’s iconic lion sculptures, bringing themes of mythology, fantasy, and imagined worlds to life.

The evening’s cocktail reception celebrated the launch of the M+ Restored Film Festival 2026, supported by CHANEL, M+’s newly announced Lead Partner. The festival will present nine Hong Kong feature-length classics restored through the M+ Restored initiative, with screenings at M+ Cinema on selected weekends in November and December 2026.

The evening opened with a performance by internationally acclaimed pianist Gina Alice Redlinger, followed by a live violin and DJ set by Hong Kong violinist, DJ, producer, and composer Olivia Dawn Mok (Xiaolin). Renowned auctioneer Elaine Kwok led a live charity auction, which closed the evening. This year’s fundraising sale featured six works by Asia’s leading artists, generously donated by the artists and their galleries: Dominique Fung with MASSIMODECARLO; Firenze Lai; Duan Jianyu with Vitamin Creative Space; Li Anna Liu with Shao Fan; Lee Bul; and Takashi Murakami with Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. Additional lots included fine wines donated by Henry Tang, Member of the Board of West Kowloon Cultural District Foundation Limited; a 5-day all-inclusive art and wine experience in South France from Château La Coste and JD Travel; and a collectable MEGA ROYAL MOLLY figure designed by artist Kenny Wong from POP MART. A dedicated pledge component supports the M+ Creative Ageing Programme: Wondrous Age, which provides specially designed museum tours and hands-on creative workshops, empowering for older adults, enabling them to share their experiences and connect with the wider community.

Paulo Pong, Chairman of the M+ Board, says, ‘Today we gather to celebrate the community that supports M+ and champions Hong Kong’s vibrant creative culture. As the museum approaches its fifth anniversary this November, we reflect with gratitude on all those who have contributed to the museum’s remarkable journey and growing cultural impact. The success of tonight’s M+ Gala will advance the museum in its vision to present dynamic exhibitions and programmes, commission new works, and strengthen international outreach and museum operations. Looking ahead, we are committed to harnessing the transformative power of art and philanthropy to inspire creativity and deepen our connections with communities across Hong Kong, Asia, and beyond.’

Neil Shen, Chairman of the M+ Gala Board, says, ‘The M+ Gala is a testament to what can be achieved when a community gathers in celebration of art and culture. The event has brought together leaders, artists, patrons, and supporters from Hong Kong and around the world, fostering cultural exchange and creative dialogue. Tonight’s gala centres on the collective effort behind M+, its success shaped by the contributions of a diverse and dedicated community. As M+ continues to evolve, this spirit of collaboration will remain at the heart of its engagement with audiences in Hong Kong and its contribution to the global cultural conversation.’

All proceeds raised from the M+ Gala 2026 will support M+’s future growth and operations, including collection and preservation, exhibitions, commissions, research, public programmes, learning initiatives, and projects nurturing the next generation of artists and cultural practitioners.

The M+ Gala 2026 was generously supported by Lead Sponsors CHANEL and HSBC, with additional support from Altaya Group, Helu-Trans (HK) Pte Ltd., and Catering Partner The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong.

About M+

M+ is Asia’s global museum of contemporary visual culture. Located in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District (WestK), it is dedicated to collecting, exhibiting, and interpreting visual art, design, architecture, moving image, and Hong Kong visual culture of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The landmark M+ building on Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbourfront was designed by the world-renowned architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron in partnership with TFP Farrells and Arup. With a total floor area of 65,000 square metres, it includes thirty-three galleries spanning 17,000 square metres alongside a Learning Hub, Moving Image Centre, Research Centre, Roof Garden, and other event and programming spaces. The M+ Facade is one of the largest LED screens in the world, showcasing commissioned artworks on the Hong Kong skyline every evening. The museum stewards a multidisciplinary permanent collection of more than 9,000 works, primarily from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, and across Asia. A highlight is the M+ Sigg Collection, which is one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of Chinese contemporary visual art. Today, M+ is a nexus for researching and presenting contemporary visual culture, inspiring thought and curiosity.

About the West Kowloon Cultural District (WestK)

WestK is one of the largest and most ambitious cultural hubs in the world and Hong Kong’s new cultural tourism landmark, spanning forty hectares alongside Victoria Harbour. WestK comprises a mix of landmark arts and cultural facilities, including world-class museums M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum, intricately designed performing arts venues such as the Xiqu Centre, Freespace and the WestK Performing Arts Centre to be opened in 2027, as well as the eleven-hectare Art Park with a waterfront promenade.

Hosting over one thousand exhibitions, performances, programmes, and events each year, WestK provides a vital platform for both emerging and established artists. WestK welcomes more than seventeen million visitors in 2025, evolving as the international cultural brand of Hong Kong and strengthening the city’s strategic role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.