THE INTER-ISLAND FESTIVAL RETURNS NOVEMBER 2026
Find out how to get involved.
Four island ports
One archipelago
It's confirmed! The Inter-island Festival will return in November 2026.
This third edition declares what locals have always known: the inter-island region is more than separate dots on a map. It is an archipelago—linked by ferry routes and tides, shaped by the movement of people, produce, folklores, rituals, and ideas. Before the rise of the 'city', these islands formed an independent, self-sustaining world. Today, that continuity remains in the rhythms of sea crossings, in the exchange of resources and rituals, in the quiet openness of island life.
Through creations, research, conversations, and journeys across water, the 2026 Festival will invite us to restore an archipelagic perspective—one of fluidity, kinship, and co-existence. What new futures emerge when we see the inter-island region not as the periphery, but as a connected, living whole?
Drift with us between Cheung Chau, Chi Ma Wan, Mui Wo, and Peng Chau this November—become a part of this story carried by the sea.
Where We're Going
Save the dates! There are many milestones to pass before the Festival visits each port of call in November 2026.
Mid-Feb – Apr 2026
Donation window is open. Help us reach the scale of previous festivals and pay our contributors fairly.
Apr – May 2026
Open call for proposals. Submit ideas for events in Cheung Chau, Peng Chau, and Lantau’s Chi Ma Wan and Mui Wo.
Oct 2026
Event booking begins.
Book your spot on tours, talks, workshops, screenings, and more.
Nov 2026
Festivities commence!
Participate in the month-long Festival as attendee, contributor, or volunteer.
Where We've Been
Borrowing from our muse—the ferry connection between Peng Chau, Mui Wo, Chi Ma Wan, and Cheung Chau—the Inter-island Festival celebrates, connects, and builds on the rich and varied cultures living by the sea in southwest Hong Kong.
Our aim is to see the islands, connected by this inter-island sea, grow and follow their own paths, with their unique cultural and natural lives thriving as they are. To that end, we support the research and development of original perspectives on the islands, realised through creative activities like performances, tours, workshops, and exhibitions. Here’s a selection of unique projects that emerged at the Festival during its previous editions in March 2021 and November 2023.
Community Photo Booth by Inter-island Festival team
Community Photo Booth by Inter-island Festival team
Meet the Crew
Curation and planning for the 2026 Festival is already under way! Here’s who’s onboard so far…
Central Planning & Curation
Kit Chan (Islanders Ltd)
Yip Kai Chun
Gloria Furness
Local Co-curation & Coordination
To-day Bookstore (Cheung Chau)
Miko Yeung (Chi Ma Wan)
Sang Ok Kim (Mui Wo)
Jiming Lu (Peng Chau)
Supported by (as of Dec 2025)
Design Trust
Partnerships for Community Development
Hong Kong Arts Development Council*
**The Hong Kong Arts Development Council supports freedom of artistic expression. The views and opinions expressed in this project do not represent the stand of the Council.
Want to add your support? Keep scrolling!
We Need YOU!
Donate
Help meet our funding goals.
Your donations will go towards expanding the Festival, paying our collaborators fairly, engaging the community meaningfully, and documenting the festivities for posterity.
Donors receive cool swag, advance booking, and/or thank you credits, depending on the amount donated.
Volunteer
Share your skills.
We rely on a cadre of volunteers to keep the Festival up and running. You can contribute behind the scenes now, or register your interest in volunteering onsite in Nov 2026. If you're a designer, translator, writer, or web manager willing to donate your skills, we'd especially love to hear from you in this pre-Festival period.
