The inaugural Festival of Connoisseurs, a new premium lifestyle and art appreciation event launched by global exhibitions organizer Informa Markets, will take place from Nov 4 to 6 at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong. Preview roadshows were held in Shanghai and Shenzhen earlier this month.

Positioned as a gathering for art and lifestyle connoisseurs, the event goes beyond the traditional collectibles fair. It will bring together a younger and more diverse audience with world-class fine art, collectibles, works by multidisciplinary artists and immersive lifestyle experiences.

The event will feature nine thematic zones — Marina, Marque, Vault, Galerie, Passage, Estate, Zenith, Vitalis and Gastronomie — covering different aspects of contemporary luxury and modern lifestyle. Built around the idea of a "carnival for connoisseurs", the zones will combine exhibitions with social activities, leisure and business services, creating opportunities for cross-border exchange and creative interaction.

Supported by the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR, the event will introduce Asia's first "City-as-Your-Showroom" concept. The initiative aims to attract high-spending international visitors and generate economic benefits for Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. A larger citywide edition is planned for June 2027.

Ye Dan, vice-president of Asia Strategic New Business at Informa Markets, organizer of the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and more than 300 international B2B events worldwide, said the event is designed to cater to a wide range of aesthetic interests and investment needs. She said the event reflects sustained public interest in art, culture and lifestyle experiences.