Hong Kong’s first adult expo suffers a premature ending as Japanese AV stars barred at airport

Hong Kong's inaugural adult entertainment convention, dubbed the "Mega Fans Expo 2026," abruptly halted operations after immigration authorities barred nearly 30 Japanese AV performers at the city's international airport. The three-day showcase, set to unfold at the Regal Airport Hotel from November 11 to 13, was abruptly called off just 48 hours before the scheduled debut.

While the organizers did not provide a formal reason for the premature shutdown, they assured affected parties that refund procedures would be handled through official channels. The impromptu cancellation left thousands of ticket holders in limbo, particularly those who had paid a premium for exclusive add-ons such as handprint packages, priced up to HK2,580 (RM1,470).

The controversy unfolded as headline performers, including Hibiki Otsuki, Rena Miyashita, and Hikari Aozora, arrived at the airport only to be intercepted by border control and swiftly repatriated back to Japan. Both Otsuki and Miyashita took to social media to express their shock and disappointment, recounting their ordeal with no satisfactory explanation from immigration officials.

Veteran Japanese star Yui Hatano, who was to host and co-host the event alongside legendary co-host Taka Kato, also confirmed her immediate return to Tokyo, apologizing profusely to fans who had gathered at the airport and across Hong Kong. The mass expulsion has left organizers scrambling to navigate the complexities of visa regulations in Hong Kong, where commercial appearances by non-performing visitors are strictly prohibited under immigration law.

Despite the possibility of short-term visitor exemptions, immigration officers possess the discretion to challenge travelers whose declared purpose of visitation does not align with their actual planned activities in the city.