Fireworks competition to feature Chinese and Portuguese teams for National Day celebration

The 33rd Macau International Fireworks Display Contest is slated to take place from September 6 to October 6, featuring a special showcase on October 1, Chinese National Day, with displays by Chinese and Portuguese teams.

According to a press conference held yesterday, this year’s contest will feature fireworks companies from 10 countries, with teams from Brazil, South Korea, Japan, Portugal, and the UK making their debuts.

The event will occur on September 6, 13, 20, and October 1 and 6, starting at 9 p.m. and 9:40 p.m. in the waters off the Macau Tower.

According to the schedule, fireworks companies from Australia, South Africa, South Korea, Austria, the Philippines, Japan, China, Portugal, the UK, and Brazil will present performances lasting approximately 18 minutes each. Each performance will be broadcast live on public broadcaster TDM.

“This year, all 10 participating fireworks companies have extensive experience in competitions and performances, having won awards in various international fireworks contests. Among them, the fireworks companies from the Philippines and China have previously won top-three awards at the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest, said Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), in her remarks.

“Companies from Australia, South Africa, and Austria have also participated in the competition in Macau. […] We believe these high-quality fireworks companies will deliver 10 dazzling performances. Please stay tuned,” she added.

According to the tourism chief, this year’s budget is approximately MOP18.06 million, a slight decrease of 1.15% compared to last year.

Of this amount, the city’s six integrated resort (IR) operators are responsible for MOP18 million of the budget, meaning the government only has to bear approximately MOP60,000 for the entire event.

The event period coincides with National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival, during which various extended activities will be held.

These include the “Fireworks Carnival” next to the waterfront of the Macau Science Center from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on each fireworks evening, as well as the Photo Contest, Student Drawing Contest, and AI Generative Art Contest, co-organized by several local associations.