The Hong Kong Pride Parade Organising Committee announced on 15 October that its flagship indoor event, the Rainbow Market would not take place on 14 November as planned. The decision followed a sudden notice from Central Market, the historic food hall in the city’s centre, that the space had been double-booked due to an administrative slip. The committee, which coordinates Hong Kong’s annual pride activities, described the development as a “booking overlap” and issued a public apology to supporters who had already arranged travel and time off work.
How the booking error unfolded
According to statements released by the organisers, contact with Central Market began in early June. By the end of that month the venue confirmed availability on 14 November, and a deposit was paid in July to secure the date. The event details – a two-day market featuring stalls, performances and community workshops – were then publicised on the committee’s Instagram page on 31 August. Roughly a month later, Central Market’s management sent an email indicating that the hall could no longer be rented for the pride event because another party had already been allocated the same day. The property developer behind the market, Chinachem Group, later clarified that the clash stemmed from a staff error that resulted in the double-booking of the premises. Chinachem said it had no alternative venues available in November, arranged a full refund of the deposit and pledged to review its booking procedures to avoid recurrence.
Why the Rainbow Market matters
Since 2021, the Rainbow Market has become the core expression of Hong Kong’s pride celebrations, replacing the traditional outdoor parade after organisers cited “changes in the social environment.” The market is more than a commercial fair; it is described as an inclusive cultural platform that nurtures an LGBTI+-friendly atmosphere inside the city while signalling Hong Kong’s progressive identity to the international community. The event is produced by a coalition of four local groups – Les Corner Empowerment Association, Rainbow of Hong Kong, the Association for Transgender Rights and Made in Gender – each of which contributes expertise in advocacy, community outreach and event logistics. By moving the celebration indoors, the committee aims to provide a safe, accessible space that can adapt to shifting political and public-health conditions.
A pattern of venue setbacks
The cancellation marks the second consecutive year that a venue has been withdrawn after the committee announced details. In 2025, organisers intended to host a “inclusive cultural festival” on the Kwun Tong Promenade, only to learn weeks later that the waterfront could not be accessed for the scheduled date. Earlier still, the parade itself has faced obstacles: a 2019 march was denied permission over security concerns amid the anti-extradition protests, and the 2020 edition migrated online because of Covid-19 restrictions. Since then, the event has remained indoors, a shift the committee attributes to the “social situation in Hong Kong.” The last fully fledged street parade occurred on 17 November 2018, making the Rainbow Market the primary public showcase of Hong Kong’s queer community in recent years.
In its statement, the organising committee pledged to continue searching for an alternative venue and to announce new arrangements via its social media channels as soon as possible. A full refund has been processed for the Central Market deposit, and the committee emphasised that the separate, members-only fitness showcase scheduled for 7 November – the “Rainbow Power Field” – will proceed unchanged. The committee thanked supporters for their patience, reiterated its commitment to fostering an inclusive cultural environment and urged the public to stay tuned for updates on the rescheduled market. While disappointment runs high among those who had booked travel and accommodation, the organisers remain hopeful that a suitable space can be secured before the end of the year.
