Hong Kong's Leisure and Cultural Services Department said in a September 21, 2026 notice that it planned to open a range of fee-charging facilities for free public use on October 1, to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The listed indoor and outdoor leisure facilities included badminton and tennis courts, squash courts, table tennis tables, fitness rooms, bowling greens and golf facilities; some required users to hold relevant qualification certificates. Public swimming pools were included except the Wan Chai pool and several named pools closed for annual maintenance, and water sports centre craft were offered to campers only at one centre.

According to the notice, free sessions were to be allocated by ballot, with applications via the SmartPLAY system on September 22, results announced on September 23 and remaining sessions bookable from September 25, limited to one free session per successful applicant. Public swimming pools required no prior application, with admission on a first-come, first-served basis while quotas lasted.

Museum and art space admission was also to be free that day. The Hong Kong Space Museum planned five free Sky Show screenings, with ticket balloting on URBTIX from 10am on September 22 to noon on September 23. The museum and the Hong Kong Museum of Art were to close at 5pm because of crowd measures for the fireworks display.