Longing for more sparkling moments after The Met Gala? The Hong Kong Palace Museum has just opened a landmark exhibition that promises to be one of the most dazzling cultural events of the year. Jointly organised by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Hong Kong Palace Museum, “Treasures of Global Jewellery from The Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Body Transformed” marks The Met’s first major travelling showcase of its world-renowned jewellery collection, with Hong Kong as the exclusive first stop
Running from 15 April to 19 October 2026 in Gallery 8 of the HKPM, the exhibition brings together approximately 200 iconic masterpieces spanning five continents and nearly 4,000 years of human history, from the second millennium BCE to the 21st century. It is the first major exhibition in Hong Kong dedicated to the sweeping narrative of jewellery and human adornment. Traversing time and place, this exhibition examines what jewellery is, why we wear it, and how it activates the body it adorns—probing in the process a fundamental aspect of what it is to be human.
The exhibition explores how jewellery has been used throughout history to extend, accentuate, distort and transform the human body. It is organised into five thematic sections: The Adorned Body, The Divine Body, The Regal Body, The Transcendent Body and The Resplendent Body.
Highlights include exceptional loans from The Met’s collection, alongside important works from the HKPM’s own Mengdiexuan Collection and the Chris Hall Collection, as well as a major loan from The Illuminata collection.
This exhibition continues the HKPM’s strong track record in presenting acclaimed jewellery and fashion exhibitions, following the success of “Cartier and Women”, “Radiance: Ancient Gold” and more.
Whether you’re fascinated by ancient gold ornaments, royal regalia or more, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see some of the world’s most extraordinary pieces of jewellery up close and many displayed in Hong Kong for the very first time.
“Treasures of Global Jewellery” will run until 19 October 2026 in Gallery 8 of the HKPM. Cathay and American Express are the Major Sponsors of the exhibition.
Also, the Hong Kong Palace Museum invites you to an unforgettable evening with its Cultural Salon series. The first session, “Jewels of Culture: An Exploration of Artistic Adornments from Around the World”, offers exclusive after-hours access to the exhibition “Treasures of Global Jewellery from The Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Body Transformed”. Guests can enjoy a star-studded panel discussion featuring industry leaders who will delve into the historical significance, rich symbolism, and diverse cultural styles of jewellery across the globe.
For more details and registration, visit: https://www.hkpm.org.hk/en/event/cultural-salon-jewels-of-culture-an-exploration-of-artistic-adornments-from-around-the-world
Also see: Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong 2026: Where your art collection begins