The Little Prince and the Pilot
Step into the timeless world of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s beloved masterpiece The Little Prince!
To mark the 80th anniversary of the book’s first publication in France in 1943, the University Museum and Art Gallery (UMAG) at The University of Hong Kong is showcasing a captivating exhibition titled The Little Prince and the Pilot. Running from 26 June to 18 October 2026, this multigenerational show is a joint presentation by UMAG and the Alliance Française de Hong Kong, as part of the French May Arts Festival.
Adrien Guiraud, UMAG HKU, 25 June 2026 ©Culture Plus
Managing and preserving the legacy of Saint-Exupéry
Special guest Adrien Guiraud, great-great-nephew of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and official representative of the Saint-Exupéry–d’Agay family estate, visited Hong Kong for the exhibition’s opening on 25 June.
As he explained, the management of the author’s literary and artistic legacy is built on three main pillars:
• Licensing activities: these cover a wide range of commercial products, from elegant fountain pens to luxury watches created in partnership with the Swiss watchmaker IWC for over twenty years. All are managed by LPP Group (Le Petit Prince Group).
• Société GABRIELLE: recently established, this entity is tasked with promoting Saint-Exupéry’s humanistic values and safeguarding the integrity and preservation of his body of work.
• Fondation Antoine de Saint-Exupéry pour la Jeunesse: Operating under the aegis of the Fondation de France, this foundation focuses on fundraising and delivering educational and charitable programs dedicated to young people.
Although distinct in their roles, these three entities work closely together to protect, promote, and pass on the universal heritage of the author of The Little Prince.
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An exceptional journey through an extraordinary life
The Little Prince and the Pilot exhibition traces the life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry — aviator, writer, poet, painter, explorer, and World War II hero. His experiences deeply inspired his timeless tale of a young prince’s interstellar adventures and his profound meditations on life, love, and the human condition.
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The exhibition unfolds across four thematic journeys:
– Overview / Early Life: rare photographs, personal letters, and mementos reveal Saint-Exupéry’s upbringing and cherished family memories.
– The Explorer: artifacts, maps, letters, and photos from his pioneering aviation exploits.
– The WWII Hero: military objects and reconnaissance photos highlighting his courageous service during the war.
– The Little Prince: the heart of the show, featuring original manuscripts, design drawings, quotations, first editions, and global translations that trace the book’s creation, editorial process, and universal appeal.
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As Adrien Guiraud emphasises, this exhibition stands out as truly exceptional, featuring a remarkable array of rare and original works that have been carefully brought to Hong Kong. Due to their extreme fragility, these precious objects and documents rarely leave France.
Furthermore, the Hong Kong presentation stands out as the only exhibition of its kind currently on show across Greater China. It is also significantly larger in scale than previous Saint-Exupéry exhibitions hosted in the city and boasts an extended run, remaining open to the public until October.
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More highlights of the exhibition
A standout feature is the display of life-sized character sculptures, such as the beloved fox, offering visitors a truly immersive experience within the enchanting universe of The Little Prince.
To further enrich the visit, UMAG and the Alliance Française de Hong Kong have organised a wide array of activities, including tailored school tours, group visits, guided tours, educational workshops, thematic French courses, and summer camps. These initiatives make the exhibition an ideal destination for families, students, literature lovers, and Francophiles alike.
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The Little Prince and the Pilot
University Museum and Art Gallery (UMAG), The University of Hong Kong (HKU)
1/F, T. T. Tsui Building (access via the ground floor of the Fung Ping Shan Building)
90 Bonham Road, Pokfulam
26 June – 18 October 2026
9:30am-6 pm (Tue-Sat), 1 pm-6 pm (Sun)
Free admission
For more details and guided tour information, please register on the official UMAG page:
https://umag.hku.hk/event/guided-tour-the-little-prince-and-the-pilot/
Tour duration: 20-30 minutes
Languages: English, Cantonese, Putonghua.
Visit the official page of Alliance Française de Hong Kong: https://www.afhongkong.org/en/
The exhibition is generously supported by main sponsor IWC Schaffhausen and The University of Hong Kong Museum Society.
© Culture Plus