Exhibitions and events around Hong Kong have celebrated local icon Leslie Cheung on what would have been his 70th birthday on September 12.

More than 23 years after his death, the events show how Cheung left his mark not only on the worlds of music and film, but also in the hearts of countless fans who still think of him as family.

The “Miss You Much Leslie 70th Birthday Exhibition” in Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin, September 17, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

All across his hometown, venues were festooned with photographs of the Cantopop singer and movie star, plastered with posters for his films and artwork from his albums, and decorated with the costumes he wore on stage. A live tribute concert was also staged, and a drone show lit up the skies above Victoria Harbour in his honour.

HKFP documented these events, which drew in fans of all different ages and backgrounds.

An exhibition on the classic film “Days of Being Wild” in a Commercial Press store in Tsim Sha Tsui, September 16, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. The “Miss You Much Leslie 70th Birthday Exhibition” at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin, September 17, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

Born in Hong Kong on September 12, 1956, Cheung was a trailblazer in a relatively conservative era. He first made his name as a Cantopop singer but later made waves in the film industry as well, starring in classics such as Rouge, Days of Being Wild, Farewell My Concubine, and Happy Together.

He was also famous for his distinctive sense of style, which reflected his androgyny and bisexuality and cemented his place as a queer icon in the Chinese-speaking world.

A poster for the classic Hong Kong film “Days of Being Wild” displayed in Causeway Bay on September 16, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. The “Miss You Much Leslie 70th Birthday Exhibition” at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin, September 17, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

The star, who struggled with depression, died by suicide on April 1, 2003. To this day, fans still mark the date by leaving flowers at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Central, where he fell to his death.

To them, he is more than just a celebrity – he is “Gor Gor,” their Elder Brother.

The “Leslie – Grace at 70 Exhibition” at the Hong Kong Design Institute in Tiu Keng Leng, September 16, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. 💡If you are in need of support, please call: The Samaritans 2896 0000 (24-hour, multilingual), Suicide Prevention Centre 2382 0000 or the gov’t mental health hotline on 18111. The Hong Kong Society of Counselling and Psychology provides a WhatsApp hotline in English and Chinese: 6218 1084. See also: HKFP’s mental health services guide.

To mark Cheung’s 70th birthday, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum has opened an exhibition entitled “Miss You Much” that will run until May next year.

Between now and November 15, the Hong Kong Design Institute in Tiu Keng Leng will also be home to a showcase called “Leslie・Grace at 70 Exhibition.”

The Commercial Press in Tsim Sha Tsui, meanwhile, has curated an exhibition, open until October 11, spotlighting Wong Kar-wai’s 1990 film Days of Being Wild, which starred Cheung alongside a host of other Hong Kong icons. Vintage boutique offLINE STUDIO has also put together a display on the film in its Causeway Bay store.

The “Miss You Much Leslie 70th Birthday Exhibition” at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin, September 17, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. The “Miss You Much Leslie 70th Birthday Exhibition” at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin, September 17, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. The “Miss You Much Leslie 70th Birthday Exhibition” at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin, September 17, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

On September 12 this year, the organiser of a tribute concert broadcast an audio message from Daffy Tong, Cheung’s longtime partner:

Hello everyone. Today is Leslie’s 70th birthday, and we are here to wish him a happy birthday. After all these years, Leslie hasn’t changed at all – he remains as handsome and charming as ever. His movies are still wonderful to watch, and his songs are still beautiful to hear. What has changed is us: we have grown old, with hair full of grey and faces full of wrinkles. Yet our hearts for him have never changed. We still miss Gor Gor and love him dearly.

The “Miss You Much Leslie 70th Birthday Exhibition” at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin, September 17, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

Fashion display on the classic Hong Kong film “Days of Being Wild” in a vintage clothing store in Causeway Bay, September 16, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. An exhibition on the film “Days of Being Wild” in a Commercial Press store in Tsim Sha Tsui, September 16, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. An exhibition on the film “Days of Being Wild” in a Commercial Press store in Tsim Sha Tsui, September 16, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. The “Miss You Much Leslie 70th Birthday Exhibition” at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin, September 17, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. The “Leslie – Grace at 70 Exhibition” at the Hong Kong Design Institute in Tiu Keng Leng, September 16, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. An exhibition on the film “Days of Being Wild” in a Commercial Press store in Tsim Sha Tsui, September 16, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

Words by Irene Chan