One of Hong Kong’s most prominent LGBTQ gatherings, the Pink Dot carnival, has been cancelled for the second year in a row after organisers said their venue backed out at the last minute, citing licensing problems.

Pink Dot Hong Kong, launched in 2014 and inspired by the original Singapore event, has grown into a colourful open-air festival combining live music, art installations, family-friendly activities and advocacy for equality. At its peak two years ago, it drew nearly 7,000 participants, making it a key date on the city’s LGBTQ calendar.

But the event has increasingly struggled to secure a home. Organisers say last year’s edition was scrapped after they were denied a venue without any formal explanation. This year, they believed they had finally secured a site, managed by major real estate investment trust Link REIT, only to be told during the final stretch of planning that the space was no longer available.

According to Pink Dot, Link REIT informed them that “due to licensing issues, the venue cannot be rented,” even as preparations were well under way and partner organisations had already committed resources. The group said it had been “diligently following procedures to apply for the necessary licences” but had yet to receive approval from the relevant authorities.

“Faced with venue uncertainty, given the tight timeline and the involvement of numerous partner organizations, we have had to make the difficult decision to cancel,” the organisers announced, calling off the June carnival.

The setback comes amid a broader chill for LGBTQ advocacy in Hong Kong. While the city’s courts have issued a series of rulings nudging the government toward greater recognition of same-sex couples, lawmakers recently rejected a proposal that would have granted limited rights such as hospital visitation and inheritance. Activists say the political climate has made public institutions and corporate landlords more cautious about hosting events seen as politically sensitive.

Pink Dot’s difficulties are not new. In 2025, the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, a government-linked body, also refused to provide a venue, again without explanation, according to organisers. The repeated cancellations have raised concerns that one of the city’s few large-scale, visible celebrations of LGBTQ life may be pushed to the margins, or off the calendar entirely, just as campaigners argue visibility is most needed.