Clockenflap is Hong Kong's premier outdoor music and arts festival, held annually at the Central Harbourfront. Founded in 2008, the 2026 edition runs December 4 to 6, featuring an eclectic mix of international, regional, and local artists across multiple stages. The festival draws approximately 30,000 attendees over three days and combines live music with art installations, film screenings, and family-friendly programming.
The 2023 December edition featured J-pop duo YOASOBI as one of the most anticipated acts, drawing massive queues from the festival's opening hours. Their performance of "Idol" at the Harbourflap Stage has over 10 million views on YouTube:
How Clockenflap Works
Clockenflap is organized by Magnetic Asia and takes place at the Central Harbourfront, a waterfront venue with views of Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong skyline. The festival features three main music stages plus dedicated areas for art installations, film screenings, and children's activities.
The 2026 edition features confirmed artists including:
- King Gnu (Japanese rock band)
- The Beths (New Zealand indie rock)
- Vaundy (Japanese singer-songwriter)
- Zarna Garg (comedian and performer)
More artists will be announced in the months leading up to the festival. The full lineup typically includes 40 to 50 acts spanning indie, electronic, pop, rock, and experimental genres.
Tickets are sold through Ticketflap and the Clockenflap website. The 2026 Blind Bird 3-Day Weekend Ticket is available now for HK$1,690 (approximately $217 USD), offering early buyers a discount before the full lineup is announced. Standard ticket tiers include:
- Blind Bird 3-Day Weekend Ticket: HK$1,690 (limited quantity, on sale now)
- Standard 3-Day Weekend Ticket: Priced higher, available after Blind Bird sells out
- Single-Day Tickets: Available closer to the event date
The festival is an all-ages event, with dedicated family areas and programming for children. Food and beverage vendors offer a mix of local Hong Kong cuisine and international options.
Real-World Example
A 3-day Blind Bird ticket for Clockenflap 2026 costs HK$1,690 ($217 USD), which averages out to about $72 per day for access to 40 to 50 artists across multiple stages. Compare that to a single-day ticket at Tokyo's Summer Sonic (starting around 18,000 JPY or $120 USD), and Clockenflap delivers strong value for a three-day international festival experience.
For an independent artist from Asia or the Pacific region, a Clockenflap booking provides exposure to a diverse audience that includes music industry professionals from Hong Kong, mainland China, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. The festival's location at the crossroads of Asia makes it a strategic networking opportunity. Artists who perform at Clockenflap often see increased streaming numbers across the Asia-Pacific region, particularly on platforms like Spotify, KKBOX, and NetEase Cloud Music.
The festival's commitment to regional talent means that approximately 30 percent of the lineup is reserved for Hong Kong and Asian artists. This creates a pathway for local and regional independent artists to share stages with international headliners.
Lineup History
Clockenflap has booked a wide range of international and regional artists since its founding in 2008. The festival was cancelled in 2019 due to protests in Hong Kong and paused from 2020 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It returned in March 2023 and has since held two editions per year in some years (March and December 2023). Here is a look at headliners from recent editions:
| Year | Dates | Friday Headliner | Saturday Headliner | Sunday Headliner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 5 to 7 | Vaundy | Bloc Party | My Bloody Valentine |
| 2024 | November 29 to December 1 | Air | Central Cee | Jack White |
| 2023 (Dec) | December 1 to 3 | Pulp | Swae Lee | (to be confirmed) |
| 2023 (Mar) | March 3 to 5 | Return edition after 4-year break | - | - |
The 2025 edition featured Bloc Party making their Hong Kong debut as Saturday headliners, while My Bloody Valentine played Hong Kong for the first time as Sunday headliners. The lineup also included Jacob Collier, Franz Ferdinand (returning to Clockenflap for the first time in 12 years), Rich Brian, Beth Gibbons, Sparks, Bright Eyes, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Yoga Lin, Panther Chan, TV Girl, Soccer Mommy, Passenger, and Phum Viphurit across five stages.
The 2024 edition featured Air, Central Cee, and Jack White as headliners, with Suede performing a special 90-minute set (their first Hong Kong show since 2016). The lineup also included Jamie xx, St. Vincent, Glass Animals, Porter Robinson, Creepy Nuts, and Sakurazaka46.
The 2023 December edition was headlined by Britpop legends Pulp (Friday) and Swae Lee (Saturday, replacing Joji who cancelled). YOASOBI drew some of the largest crowds of the weekend, kicking off their Asia tour at Clockenflap. The lineup also included IDLES, Caroline Polachek, De La Soul, BBNO$, Tones and I, Tom Grennan, Alex G, and Atarashii Gakko!. YOASOBI also performed "The Brave" at the festival:
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
Clockenflap is the largest and most internationally recognized music festival in Hong Kong. For independent artists, it serves as a gateway to the Asian music market, which is one of the fastest-growing regions for live music and streaming revenue.
Here is how to position yourself for a Clockenflap booking:
- Build a following in at least one Asian market (Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, or Singapore) through touring or digital promotion.
- Submit your music to the Clockenflap programming team through the festival website. Applications typically open 6 to 9 months before the event.
- Have professionally produced live performance videos that showcase your stage presence. The programming team reviews hundreds of submissions and live footage is a deciding factor.
- Work with a booking agent who has relationships with Asian festival promoters. Magnetic Asia and similar promoters often book through established agency networks.
The festival's eclectic programming means artists from indie, electronic, pop, rock, and experimental backgrounds all have a chance. Unlike genre-specific festivals, Clockenflap's "multiple genres" approach means your music does not need to fit a narrow category to be considered.
For independent artists planning to attend or perform, use the Tour Revenue Calculator to budget for travel to Hong Kong and estimate potential earnings from regional touring around the festival dates.
Related Resources
- Music Festivals Directory - Explore other major festivals across Asia and beyond
- Tour Revenue Calculator - Plan your Asia-Pacific tour budget around festival dates
- Streaming Royalty Calculator - Estimate streaming revenue to build your case for international bookings
- Clockenflap Official Site - Tickets, lineup announcements, and artist submission information
Similar Festivals
- Fuji Rock Festival - Japan's largest outdoor music festival, held at Naeba Ski Resort
- Summer Sonic - Major Japanese music festival held simultaneously in Tokyo and Osaka
- Wonderfruit - Art and music festival held in Pattaya, Thailand
- Laneway Festival - Indie music festival held across multiple cities in the Asia-Pacific region
