The Asian Film Awards have announced a significant scaling back of their 2026 edition, with the suspension of competitive categories and the elimination of the traditional red carpet. This move is intended to reflect the somber public mood in the host city of Hong Kong, following last year's devastating residential fire.
The Asian Film Awards Academy has revealed that the 19th edition of the pan-regional honors, scheduled for March this year in Hong Kong, will pivot to a stripped-down program centered on a small slate of special awards presented "in a dignified and minimalist manner." This shift away from the usual contest of best film, director, acting prizes, and crafts categories is a response to the ongoing impact of the disaster on the city and the regional film community.
The decision was met with approval from Asian Film Awards Academy chairman Wilfred Wong, who said, "In the current environment, adopting a solemn and minimalist format for the awards ceremony is the most appropriate arrangement. We have chosen to honor filmmakers in a restrained manner as a mark of respect to all sectors of the community."
The scaled-back ceremony follows a year in which Hong Kong was reeling from its deadliest fire in decades - a blaze that swept through a residential complex, claiming more than 150 lives and displacing thousands. The tragedy prompted citywide mourning and heightened sensitivity around large public celebrations, while officials urged caution as communities continued to process the loss and its aftermath.
Within this context, organizers say that the 2026 edition is intended less as a gala than as a respectful acknowledgment of the region's filmmaking achievements. The Academy emphasized that while the ceremony's trappings will be reduced, its mission of supporting Asian cinema - through screenings, educational programs, and sustained industry outreach - remains unchanged.
Launched in 2007, the Asian Film Awards have grown into one of the region's leading cinema honors, spotlighting films and talent from across Asia - including Japan, Korea, India, mainland China, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia. The event has also long functioned as an informal gathering point for the region's industry ahead of Hong Kong's Filmart content market, usually held the week following the awards show.
Last year's ceremony, held at Hong Kong's Xiqu Center, saw Payal Kapadia's "All We Imagine as Light" take best picture, with Japan's Yoshida Daihachi winning best director for "Teki Cometh" and Hong Kong star Sean Lau earning best actor for "Papa." For 2026, the Academy says it will instead present a select number of honors to recognize outstanding contributions to the industry - awarded, in Wong's words, "in a restrained manner." Further details on the recipients and program format will be announced closer to the event.
