Clockenflap: Hong Kong’s largest outdoor music festival

It’s that time of the year again! Clockenflap is back at Central Harbourfront Event Space from December 5 to 7, 2025.

Established in 2008 by Jay Forster, Mike Hill, and Justin Sweeting, the festival has become an essential experience for fans of indie and alternative music in Hong Kong. Here’s everything you need to know about this iconic outdoor event.

Main Stage at Clockenflap 2023 (Central Harbourfront)

A mysterious name

Have you ever wondered what “Clockenflap” means? “The Clockenflap name is somewhat of a mystery – even to the organizers! One day the word just appeared. Over the years we have tried to find meaning in our moniker, but have largely failed. Now we just accept that Clockenflap is here to stay and no one has any clue what it means.” (source: Clockenflap, Facebook, 16 July 2012)

Clockenflap 2008 (Cyberport)

From Cyberport to Central

In 2008, the music festival kicked off as a one-day event at Cyberport, attracting an audience of 1,500. Due to certain limitations, the third Clockenflap took place as a one-night festival at Blindspot Annex in Wong Chuk Hang on November 20, 2010. From 2011 to 2015, the event found its home at the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade before settling into its current spot at Central Harbourfront in 2016.

2025 lineup

This year’s exciting lineup features Japanese superstar Vaundy’s international debut on Friday, the Hong Kong debut of British indie-rock icons Bloc Party on Saturday, while Irish-English shoegaze legends my bloody valentine will bring their unique sound to the city on Sunday, marking their long-awaited performance here. Other acts include Scottish indie heroes Franz Ferdinand, Indonesian rap star Rich Brian, spellbinding UK multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier, and former Portishead frontwoman Beth Gibbons. More highlights: British indie-folk singer-songwriter Passenger, acclaimed American singer-songwriter Jeremy Zucker, French nu-disco act L’Impératrice, Ano, Bright Eyes, Kento Nakajima, and many more!

Five Stages of Music

1. Harbourflap Stage: Clockenflap’s mighty main stage, showcasing the highest profile artists with the snazziest production shows. Highlights this year include J-pop/R&B sensation VAUNDY (Fri), UK indie icons BLOC PARTY (Sat) and shoegaze legends MY BLOODY VALENTINE (Sun), plus unmissable sets by JACOB COLLIER (Fri), YOGA LIN (Sun), RICH BRIAN (Sat), PANTHER CHAN (Fri), FRANZ FERDINAND (Sun) and many more.
2. Orbit Stage: featuring artists from a wide spectrum of styles, genres and countries, this stage celebrates the depth, breadth and diversity of Clockenflap’s lineup, from acclaimed international favourites BETH GIBBONS (Sat), SPARKS (Fri) and TV GIRL (Sun) to incredible regional standouts such as ANO (Sat), ELLEGARDEN (Sun) and PHUM VIPHURIT (Sat), to name but a few.
3. Park Stage: set within the festival site’s grassy lawn, it is the best place to catch edgy, emerging talent alongside the best in electronic music. Broaden your musical horizons with BRIGHT EYES (Sun), WENDY WANDER (Fri), RIKON (Sat), PUULUUP (Sun) and more, before the likes of DIGITALISM (Fri), DAVE CLARKE (Sat) and RIRIA (Sun) turn up the dancefloor energy at night.
4. Robot Stage: with two distinct personalities, it features family-friendly, kids-focused content by day, before turning its attention to DJs and party crews once the sun sets. Get ready to dance the night away to a handpicked selection of the city’s finest electronic trailblazers, including MEAN GURLS CLUB (Sun), 0159 (Sat) and UMAMI (Sat), while other highlights include UK dubstep supremo RSD (Sun) and Japanese/HK DJ duo AZABU PUNKS (Fri).
5. Silent Disco powered by Carlsberg: it features sets from the likes of DJ FABSABS, BAD BAMBINO, BBLAMB and more. Revel in a DJ experience like no other, and join in the good times all weekend long.

World premiere of Minimax: The Planets

In addition to these five distinct music stages, Clockenflap will host arts attractions and the world premiere of Minimax, a mobile and modular theatrical experience, conceptualised by Jay Hofmann-Forster (co-founder and artistic director of Clockenflap) and designed by Obie Chan (Screw Up Studio). Written and directed by Benjamin Smith (Svalbard Company, SE), Minimax: The Planets reimagines Gustav Holst’s iconic suite as a living, breathing theatrical work, where each planet becomes a character in its own right, expressed through an eclectic score ranging from electronic soundscapes to contemporary jazz, and embodied through street dance, voguing, hip-hop, circus and contemporary performance.
This project is financially supported by the Arts Capacity Development Funding Scheme of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

Family-friendly activities

Clockenflap features a curated programme of family-friendly attractions, including: hands-on Family Workshops by Hong Kong Children’s Discovery Museum; energizing sonic experiences employing ancient musical traditions with Hakgwai & Chor Lai; percussion-based musical participation at the ever-popular Drum Jam; lively lyrical showdowns and an intergalactic disco at Lipsync Battle; singalong puppet-show fun with Treasure Chest Theatre’s Peace on Earth: A Pigeon’s Story; plus Face Painting and a Bouncy Castle.

Event Details

Clockenflap Music & Arts Festival 2025
Dates: 5 – 7 December 2025
Venue : Central Harbourfront

Clockenflap Music & Arts Festival 2025 is financially supported by the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.