Description

Brazilian heat wave is about to hit Hong Kong! The first "Hong Kong Brazilian Carnival" (Carnival), organized by Extravaganza, will be held for ten days from June 20 to 29, 2025. Nearly fifty top Brazilian performers will come from afar to present energetic samba songs and dances, reggae drums, Brazilian war dance, freestyle football, and Brazilian wine and food. The carnival is the first of its kind in Asia, with 10 landmarks along Victoria Harbour as the stage, including Central Market, Lan Kwai Fong, Lee Tung Street, Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai waterfront. The grand finale will be held at the Hong Kong Observation Wheel and AIA Vitality Park in Central from June 27 to 29. All performances are free and will immerse everyone in an authentic Brazilian celebration.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) strongly supports the Carnival and will promote the event information on its platform. Promotional videos will be played at the HKTB counter at the Hong Kong International Airport and Tsim Sha Tsui. The carnival is expected to attract more than 30,000 spectators, 30% of whom are international tourists, and bring in tens of millions of dollars in revenue.

Brazilian celebrations collide with Hong Kong's vitality as favela artists take to the international stage

The Brazilian Carnival is hailed by the Guinness World Records as "the biggest show on earth" and is attended by millions of people. It originated in the 16th century and was listed as a national celebration in 1934. Its core spirit is to break down class and racial barriers and unite society through music, costumes and dance.

Stefan Matzinger, founder of the Hong Kong Brazilian Carnival, explained why he set up this large-scale event despite all the difficulties: "In the 1980s, I was sent to Brazil for work when I was young. After the handover in 1997, I came to Hong Kong and found that the two places had a lot in common. They both have beautiful nature, vibrant downtown and seaside, and colonial history has created a diverse and inclusive culture. In 2012, I chose Hong Kong as my home. Last year, I went back to Brazil to attend the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. I was among the 70,000 spectators and it struck me that I was determined to bring this energy full of excitement and hope to Asia, starting with my home, Hong Kong. I hope that the carnival can rekindle the enthusiasm of Hong Kong people who have been restrained in recent years. The Hong Kong Brazilian Carnival aims to bring joy and hope to this city, so all performances are free to the public, just to attract more audiences. When everyone gathers together and feels happy, miracles will happen. Many Brazilian performers come from slums. They spend a year preparing for their performances, just to shine on the world stage - Hong Kong will be their new stage."

To promote cultural exchange and inheritance between the two places, the carnival has secured the Hong Kong Playground Association, a local non-profit organization, as its charity partner to jointly launch samba classes and freestyle football workshops, etc., recruiting 1,000 students to participate, all free of charge.

Starting from Hong Kong, heading to the world

Mr. Hervelter de Mattos, Deputy Consul General of Brazil in Hong Kong, said in his speech: “Thank you Mr. Stefan Matzinger for bringing the most representative event of Brazilian culture, the Carnival, to Hong Kong to promote cultural exchanges between the two places. The Hong Kong Brazilian Carnival combines Hong Kong’s unique landmarks to provide a broader space for outstanding samba performers. We will definitely give our full support.”

Mr. Man-yiu Ho, Chairman of the Harbourfront Commission, stressed, “I am delighted to witness a major Brazilian cultural event coming to Hong Kong, the first of its kind in Greater China. I would like to thank Stefan, CEO of the Hong Kong Brazilian Carnival, for his courage and imagination in bringing Brazil, more than 15,000 kilometres away, to Hong Kong, represented by nearly 50 top performers. I wish the Extravaganza! When Brazil Meets Hong Kong a smooth journey, and that the event will create an international event brand, with Hong Kong as its first stop, and successfully go global.”

Mr. Yang Boxiong, Senior Vice President of Commercial of Regal Hotels International, expressed his full support for the "Hong Kong Brazilian Carnival". He said: “Ahead of the main celebrations at AIA Vitality Park from June 27 to 29, 2025, Regal Hotels will present two special experiences: a Brazilian Carnival Night at V Bar & Lounge at Regal Kowloon Hotel on June 25, featuring authentic samba performances and live music from Brazilian singers; and a Brazilian Carnival Day at Alto at Regal Hong Kong Hotel on June 26, offering a special Brazilian lunch menu and cultural performances. With exclusive packages and offers including discounts of up to 20%, this is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant sights, infectious rhythms and delicious flavors of Brazil in the heart of Hong Kong.

Ms. Susan Yeung, Executive Director of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, fully supports the Hong Kong Brazil Carnival. She said, “I am delighted to learn that the organizers have chosen Hong Kong as the first stop in Asia for this world-renowned Brazilian celebration. We are honored to be a supporting organization and wish the event a great success.”

Summarize:

“This is not just a party, but also a cultural dialogue,” Matzinger stressed. “When the Hong Kong audience swayed to the drums, they also became part of the Brazilian ‘spirit of joy.’” Carnival is a celebration for everyone. Everyone is welcome to witness the joy of cultural integration and create history together! The countdown to June 2025 has officially begun!

Free Main Event Highlights

The main carnival, held at AIA Vitality Park in Central from June 27 to 29, is free and open from 1pm to 11pm daily. Special activities include:

Carnival-style samba dance performance: Brazil's top samba school UPM (Unidos de Padre Miguel) will lead a 30-person luxury performance. Performers will wear hand-sewn carnival costumes with feathers and sequins weighing 15 kilograms each, fully displaying the Brazilian spirit of craftsmanship and showcasing the essence and passion of Brazilian samba. This will be the first performance in Asia. Andressa, the samba queen who frequently appears in international media, will also come to Hong Kong to lead a performance of samba music specially choreographed for Hong Kong.
Brazilian free-style world champion Ricardinho puts on a stunning performance.
Brazilian singers and DJ performances: With bossa nova music as the main theme, feel the soul and rhythm of Brazilian music.
Brazilian war dance performance: samba reggae, capoeira, a unique performance that combines martial arts and dance.
Baianas, women in traditional African costumes, perform and combine into a unique performance choreography for Hong Kong!
Brazilian Food and Wine: Experience authentic Brazilian flavors such as pão de queijo (Brazilian cheese bread), coxinha (Brazilian fried chicken dumplings), and the signature caipirinha (Brazilian cocktail).
Brazil-themed photo zone: Participants can rent festival samba costumes provided by the conference and take photos with performers.

In-depth experience package sale

In addition, the organizer will also launch an exclusive early bird discount for the "Hong Kong Brazil Carnival Experience Package" on its official ticketing partner Klook platform from 12 noon on April 7, including free drinks and carnival, themed studio costume rental, Brazilian games and other projects, allowing the audience to participate more deeply in this cultural feast. Part of the proceeds supports grassroots artist education programs in Brazil.

Other highlights:

Nighttime Lan Kwai Fong and Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront street parade
A free game booth at HarbourChill in Wan Chai, with a series of samba, Brazilian capoeira and other performances on stage