HONG KONG (TR) – The three-day “Mega Fans Expo 2026” (MFE) was abruptly cancelled on Wednesday after key attendees were denied entry to the country, a claim that immigration authorities deny.
Featuring Japanese adult video (AV) actresses, the event was scheduled to host fan meet-and-greets and stage shows at the Regal Airport Hotel from November 13 to 15.
The decision to shut it down came after nearly 30 AV performers , such as high-profile names such as Yui Hatano, Hibiki Otsuki, Mary Tachibana, Reina Miyashita, Kanna Seto and Hikari Aozora, were turned away at Hong Kong International Airport.
“It is a pity”
Despite claims from organizers that the necessary work visas had been secured well in advance, the performers were intercepted during immigration screening and ordered to board flights back to Japan.
Yui Hatano took to social media shortly after being barred. “I arrived in Hong Kong, but I have to go back to Japan. It is a pity that I have to leave without doing anything,” she wrote on X on Wednesday.
Hibiki Otsuki expressed shock at the sudden turn of events, noting that this was the first time she and her team had faced such a drastic situation. Reina Miyashita was more blunt in her response to fans, stating, “It seems everyone is being deported.”
“Baseless”
The Hong Kong Immigration Department, however, offers a different account.
In response to an inquiry from the local news outlet AM730, the department dismissed the claims as “baseless,” asserting that the individuals involved were not denied entry, but rather chose to leave Hong Kong on their own accord after learning that the event had been canceled.
Following the debacle, event organizers officially scrapped the expo. KKday, the official ticket platform, announced that full refunds would be issued to all ticket holders as the event was now “impossible to hold.”
Speculation running rampant
While organizers and performers remain in the dark regarding the specific legal grounds for the mass denial of entry, speculation has run rampant online. Some social media users have pointed to potential political pressure or increased scrutiny on adult content within Hong Kong’s strict regulatory climate.
Others have even speculated that the crackdown could be linked to the APEC summit currently taking place in nearby Shenzhen, though these claims have not been officially verified by Hong Kong authorities.
As of Tuesday, local immigration officials have provided no explanation for the mass rejection of the performers, leaving stakeholders and fans demanding transparency regarding why a group with seemingly valid documentation was treated as a security risk.
