2026 Sands Shopping Carnival opens with new sports zone and expanded creative hub

[Photo: Ricaela Diputado]

The 2026 Sands Shopping Carnival officially launched yesterday at the Venetian Macao’s Cotai Expo, debuting a brand-new Sports Experience zone and an expanded Cultural and Creative area as the annual summer event returns for its seventh straight year with free admission through July 26.

The four-day event brings together more than 580 exhibition booths across eight themed zones: Household Products, Gourmet and Wine, Food Court, Cultural and Creative, Sands Retailers, Macao Specialties and Souvenirs, Play and Fun, and the Sports Experience zone.

Making its first appearance, the Sports Experience zone features a basketball shooting challenge, building anticipation for the NBA China Games 2026, scheduled for October at the Venetian Arena, alongside a popular pickleball court.

Meanwhile, the Cultural and Creative zone has been broadened to include creative brands from Hong Kong and other Greater Bay Area cities, enhancing the carnival’s regional appeal.

Over its previous six editions, the event has welcomed more than 640,000 visitors and offered more than 4,000 complimentary exhibition booths to local SMEs, social service groups and retail partners.

At the opening ceremony, Wilfred Wong, executive vice chairman of Sands China Ltd., said the carnival’s sustained growth reflects its lasting value. “Through seven years of dedicated efforts, the carnival has grown into a signature event in Macau, bringing together business opportunities, vibrancy and a strong sense of community,” he said.

He recalled the event’s origins during the pandemic. “It all started because of Covid-19, when we saw many SMEs facing business disruptions. We thought – even though we were also going through tough times – we still had some resources, especially with our brand retailers, whose sales weren’t doing well either. So why not bring the two together and host a discount expo, completely free of charge, and contribute our resources to everyone?”

Also speaking at the ceremony, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), noted that Macau secured the top spot for the second consecutive year in the China Tourism Academy’s “2025 Top Ten Destinations for Chinese Outbound Tourist Satisfaction” ranking – a clear sign of the city’s strong tourism appeal. She urged the retail sector to continue raising service standards to reinforce Macau’s position as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.