The Asian Film Awards Academy has announced that its 19th edition, due to take place in Hong Kong, will suspend all competitive award categories and forgo the traditional red carpet in the wake of last year’s devastating fire in the New Territories.
Asian Film Awards Hong Kong revised format
In a statement, the academy said the 2026 ceremony would move away from its usual competitive structure and instead present special honours in what it described as a “dignified and minimalist manner”. The change follows a “significant incident in Hong Kong last year and its impact on the community”, and aligns with guidance issued by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government to adopt a restrained approach to public events.
The decision comes after a multi-day blaze in the Tai Po area that engulfed several residential tower blocks, killing at least 161 people. Authorities have said the fire is thought to have begun on external scaffolding and spread rapidly across buildings that were undergoing renovation and wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and protective netting.
Dr Wilfred Wong, chairman of the Asian Film Awards Academy, said the organisation considered the step “well-considered” and believed a solemn ceremony would be the most appropriate response. “At this time, we have chosen to honour filmmakers in a restrained manner as a mark of respect to all sectors of the community,” he said, while reiterating the academy’s continued commitment to supporting and promoting Asian cinema.
The academy emphasised that its core mission remains unchanged. It thanked filmmakers, partners and supporters for their understanding and said it would continue to work with stakeholders to contribute to the future development of pan-Asian filmmaking. The date for the 2026 ceremony has not yet been announced.
Several other public events in Hong Kong have also been cancelled or altered since the blaze. Media reports say Disney pulled the Hong Kong premiere of Zootopia, and the city marked the New Year without its customary official fireworks display as a mark of respect and in line with official guidance.
Local officials continue to investigate the exact cause of the fire and the factors that allowed it to spread so quickly. Early findings have pointed to external scaffolding and the buildings’ renovation works as possible contributors to the rapid spread. The tragedy has prompted a wider public discussion in Hong Kong about building safety, emergency readiness and the management of large-scale renovation projects.
For the Asian Film Awards Academy, the revised format signals a pause in the event’s usual fanfare while preserving a platform to recognise achievement in regional cinema. Organisers say they will monitor the situation and keep the industry informed about further plans, while remaining focused on nurturing talent and collaboration across Asia’s film community.
Key Takeaways:
- The Asian Film Awards Hong Kong will suspend competitive categories and cancel the red carpet for its 19th edition, opting for a restrained presentation of special honours.
- The decision follows a multi-day fire in Hong Kong’s New Territories that killed at least 161 people and prompted government guidance to scale back public events.
- Academy chairman Dr Wilfred Wong described the move as a solemn, well-considered response while reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to supporting Asian cinema.
- Event dates have not been set; the academy says it will continue working with partners to support pan-Asian filmmaking despite the revised format.
