The forthcoming 49th Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF) will open on February 27 in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), featuring a combination of online and in-venue programs, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as outreach and educational events, according to the festival's organizers.

The festival will feature highlights like the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra performance in the opening ceremony, the 10th anniversary of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Contemporary Dance series, and a celebration of dance by the Igor Moiseyev Ballet, Moscow's legendary dance company, which will close the festival.

"In its 49th edition, the Hong Kong Arts Festival will continue to present outstanding performances for Hong Kong," Mr. Victor Cha, Chairman of the HKAF said. "Local talents, rising stars and world-class international artists will come together to provide an array of performances. The Festival includes time-honoured classics, world premieres and specially commissioned works. We are most grateful to our artists for their resourcefulness and understanding in helping us to adapt to exceptional circumstances this year."

The festival's tagline is "Separate Together," in a bid to highlight the period of isolation that many people have gone through during the pandemic. "It also describes one of the most magical and meaningful aspects of great art – how each of us responds to a performance in our own unique way, bringing to that response our personal histories, education, values, and concerns," Tisa Ho, executive director of the HKAF stated, adding that she hopes people can experience that moment whether in person or virtually.

Launched in 1973, the Hong Kong Arts Festival is a major international arts festival devoting to enrich the cultural life of the city. Every year in February and March, the festival shows leading international artists from all genres of the performing arts, giving equal importance to great traditions and contemporary creations.

The program and the booking guide will be available later this month. Ticket bookings and online registrations will be available at 10 a.m. on February 2. Detailed information and updates on program can be found on the HKAF website.

The festival will run until March 26.

(Cover: Dancers perform on stage. /Hong Kong Arts Festival)