Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK 2026 will run from Nov. 2 to 6 and is expected to draw more than 45,000 participants from over 120 economies, organizers said at an Oct. 23 press conference. The main conference takes place Nov. 2-3 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, with 10 forums including the AI & DeepTech Forum, the Digital Assets and Web3 Forum and the AI in Finance Forum.
The event is organized by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and Invest Hong Kong. This year's edition coincides with the launch of China's 15th Five-Year Plan and Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan for 2026-2030.
A 'Fintech Nexus' theme as the city pitches Finance+
Christopher Hui, secretary for financial services and the treasury, said the theme is 'Fintech Nexus: Bridging the World, Building the Future.' Organizers pointed to Hong Kong's first-place ranking for fintech in the latest Global Financial Centres Index, citing its capital markets and global connectivity under the 'Finance+' vision.
The program is built around three engines, according to Alpha Lau, director-general of investment promotion: Finance+, AI+ and global expansion. Those pillars reflect the city's stated priorities of driving innovation, transforming industries and enabling growth across multiple markets.
AI push meets a dense startup base
Hong Kong is advancing an 'AI+' agenda aimed at cross-industry adoption of artificial intelligence, organizers said, and the city now counts more than 5,200 startups. The event's AI & DeepTech Forum and AI in Finance Forum are designed to put that agenda in front of international investors and regulators.
The Global Fast Track program, described as a launchpad for high-growth startups and scale-ups, has received more than 700 applications from Asia, Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania.
Who's speaking and who's coming
The speaker list includes Chief Executive John Lee, HKMA Chief Executive Eddie Yue, SFC CEO Julia Leung, UK FCA Chair Ashley Alder, Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority Chairman Bilal Bin Saqib and Franklin Templeton CEO Jenny Johnson.
More than 30 delegations from mainland China are expected, including groups from Beijing and Shenzhen, alongside delegations from North America, Europe, the Gulf Cooperation Council region and Central Asia.
Beyond the main hall
Attendees can take part in networking, business matching and community events across Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. That includes a two-day executive tour to Shenzhen, giving visiting founders and financiers a look at the mainland tech corridor across the border.
Hong Kong FinTech Week launched in 2016. The 2026 edition runs Nov. 2-6, with the main conference at the HKCEC on Nov. 2-3. Registration and the full forum schedule are available through the event's official channels.
