The Hong Kong International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), concluded successfully on April 29, 2026, after a three-day event that attracted more than 330 exhibitors and showcased over 600 brands and licensing projects. The events highlighted emerging trends such as e-commerce, location-based entertainment, and the emotional economy, positioning Hong Kong as a key player in the global licensing industry.
Jenny Koo, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, emphasized the significance of the events, stating, 'Under the support of the national 15th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong continues to deepen its role as a regional IP trading hub.' She noted that licensing applications are expanding beyond traditional character merchandising to include location-based entertainment, food and beverage, and e-commerce, forming a complete licensing industry chain that creates global business opportunities.
A new addition this year was the IP and e-Commerce Support Services Zone, developed in collaboration with the E-commerce Association of Hong Kong and other organizations. The zone hosted workshops on building online shops, digital marketing, and livestream commerce, helping SMEs capitalize on e-commerce to sell their IP products globally. Kay Leung from Digitify Online Growth commented, 'The greatest value of this new dedicated zone lies in promotion and education, raising awareness of how to effectively leverage e-commerce as a springboard to promote brands and sell IP products to the global market.'
The Asian Licensing Conference featured 20 international experts discussing topics like global licensing trends, IP strategies for overseas expansion, sports licensing, and creative marketing. George Wood of The Luna Entertainment Group shared insights on location-based entertainment, stating, 'One of the non-negotiables has to do with the depth of affection, which is often related to the number of hours the audience has spent with the IP.' Mark Kingston of Libertas Brands Ltd discussed the rise of the emotional economy through non-traditional toys like Fugglers, noting, 'We want to ensure that every Fuggler engages different individuals, and that every individual can find a Fuggler that suits their personality or particular mood.'
The DLAB Hong Kong Pavilion featured nearly 40 exhibitors showcasing original brands. Local designer Kirsten Lie secured collaboration opportunities with overseas shopping malls, while James Ho praised the event as 'an excellent brand promotion platform for local designers.' The Hong Kong Licensing Force Showcase included universities and the Hong Kong Design Institute, highlighting emerging local talent.
The Chinese Mainland Pavilion brought together over 150 institutions, debuting popular IPs like Nailoong and Tang Fugui, and included more than 20 cultural and museum institutions such as the Guangdong Museum and Nanjing Museum. The Beijing Museums brand made its first overseas appearance, presenting world cultural heritage sites like the Great Wall and the Summer Palace.
Several memoranda of understanding were signed, including one between the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau and the HKTDC to deepen cultural and economic exchange under the Beijing-Hong Kong cooperation framework. Another MoU between the Innovative Entrepreneur Association and the Shantou Cultural and Creative Tourism Industry Association aimed to strengthen collaboration between Hong Kong and Shantou in cultural and creative industries.
The events underscored the importance of licensing as a core engine for IP trade, with implications for SMEs and global markets. For more details, visit the Hong Kong International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference pages.
