Hong Kong Pavilion at BookFest 2026
A long weekend and the school holidays can sometimes feel a little dull when you’re heading to the same old theme parks and shopping malls, or simply rotting away at home. If this resonates with you, and you’re looking for something different to do, there is Popular’s BookFest to check out, from 18th to 26th March 2026.
The annual BookFest returns to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre this year, with books, fun activities, and an exciting first: the debut of the Hong Kong Pavilion, featuring recreations of iconic Hong Kong streets and panda-making workshops.
What is BookFest?
Whether you are a bookworm, stationery enthusiast, or someone just looking for something different to do with friends and family, BookFest will have plenty for you to explore.
The annual book fair organised by Popular spans an impressive 100,000sqft at the KL Convention Centre and houses over 530 booths across five halls. Established in 2006, BookFest was recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records as the country’s largest trilingual book fair in 2016.
Visitors can explore an extensive collection of books sourced from more than 12 countries, with major deals and discounts on them that’ll make it hard to leave the fair empty-handed.
The debut of Hong Kong Pavilion at the fair
Not everyone gets the chance to visit Hong Kong, but this year’s Hong Kong Pavilion brings a slice of the city right to BookFest. Designed to immerse visitors in the sights and charms of Hong Kong, the space recreates the iconic streets of Central and Kowloon.
At the pavilion, you will find familiar elements of the city being brought to life.
They include a vintage and nostalgic bing sutt – or traditional Hong Kong cafe with booth seating – and an old-school bookstore, and even the dazzling neon signs that once lit up Hong Kong’s bustling streets.
For many Malaysians, Hong Kong culture is not entirely unfamiliar. Many of us grew up with TVB dramas playing on our television screens. You can immerse yourself in all things Hong Kong pop culture, with a special exhibit titled From Page to Screen: Scripting the Hong Kong Legend at the pavilion that invites visitors to revisit the stories that shaped Hong Kong’s pop culture scene.
Through the exhibit, bookworms and film enthusiasts can get a behind-the-scenes look at how literary works evolve from the written page into visual storytelling mediums like films.
Hands-on activities and workshops are also lined up for visitors to the pavilion. Visitors can join sharing sessions covering different literary aspects, including comics, picture books, film, and television. All sessions are free of charge – you’ll have to register and secure a slot on Hong Kong Pavilion’s website.
Families can also take part in a fun panda-making workshop, where you can craft your own piece and bring it home as a keepsake. The workshop is free of charge and runs on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to arrive early to secure a spot.
You can check the available timeslots on their website or directly at the Hong Kong Pavilion, where the full timetable for each day is displayed.
Another fun activity at the event is the stamping booths, where visitors can layer on stamps around the fair that create an image of Hong Kong motifs on a postcard.
On top of that, by filling out a simple form and following Hong Kong Pavilion’s social media pages, you can also walk away with a free limited-edition souvenir: three special decorative paper clips.
How to purchase tickets to BookFest?
Tickets for BookFest 2026 can be purchased in advance at any Popular bookstore outlet, or you can grab them at the entrance on the day of your visit. A one-day ticket costs RM2.50, while a season pass costs RM10. The season pass gives you unlimited entries throughout the entire BookFest period from 18th to 26th March.
How to get to BookFest?
BookFest and the Hong Kong Pavilion exhibit are located at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. You can get here by public transport by alighting at the nearest train stations, which are Bukit Bintang and KLCC. Those coming by car can park their cars at the convention centre.
Visit the Hong Kong Pavilion at BookFest 2026
Whether it’s to buy more books for your TBR list or to immerse yourself in scenes from the streets of Hong Kong, you’ll get both experiences at this year’s BookFest. It’ll be an event that both bookworms and wanderlusts will enjoy.
Cover image adapted from: TheSmartLocal Malaysia
Photography by Leann & Ming-Xuan.