‘Hush!’ returns, pairing with sports and wellness

[Photo: Nadia Shaw]

Macau’s Hush! Beach Concerts will return to Hac Sa Beach on Nov. 14-15, featuring an expanded urban sports and wellness program.

Organizers said all main performance areas will be free to enter, though some sporting activities will require advance registration.

The “hush! Beach Concerts x Urban Sports Wellfest 2026,” jointly organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) and MGM Macau, will feature live music, fitness sessions, outdoor challenges, family programming, and creative workshops across the beach and surrounding grounds of the festival.

Speaking at yesterday’s press conference, Deland Leong, IC president, said the event would deepen the integration of culture and sports as Macau begins its third five-year development plan.

This year marks the fourth consecutive year that IC has joined forces with MGM to bring music and outdoor sports to Hac Sa Beach, Leong said, adding that the event aims to offer residents and visitors an annual cultural, sporting and tourism event that combines “cultural creativity with sporting vitality.”

The president of IC, who has also recently been called to oversee sports, described the two-day festival as a one-stop “music + sports” experience featuring bands, musicians and sports instructors from different regions.

According to the organizers, more than 20 Macau bands will form the core of this year’s musical program, with separate stages for children’s, school and youth bands to foster new talent.

The event will also include outreach performances in schools and neighborhoods, masterclasses, workshops and industry exchanges for local music professionals.

“The hush! Beach Concerts has always remained true to its original mission,” Leong said, describing it as rooted in Macau’s local music ecosystem and committed to providing a stage for local music talent.

This year, the event’s main “Hot Wave” stage will be set at Hac Sa Beach, while the grass-lawn “Music Chill” stage will pair more relaxed music with wellness and immersive activities. Family programming will center on the “hush! Kids” stage, while the “Upbeat Power” area will feature school and youth bands.

The sports program will include yoga, fitness sessions, an Afro dance party, instrument experiences, art workshops, and physical challenges.

In addition, a market featuring more than 20 food stalls will operate from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. each day. Local cultural and creative brands, including Bird King and Dejected Cat, will also participate, according to yesterday’s presentation.

The main evening program will bring together performers from Macau, mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other Asian markets. Organizers named mainland Chinese indie group Omnipotent Youth Society, Malaysian group Babychair, and Taiwan’s hip-hop collective That’s my Shhh as participating acts, with additional performers expected to be announced.

A Cantonese-pop workout party will feature Hong Kong-based performers and DJs, combining exercise and music in a format organizers said would take the festival’s music-and-sport theme “to the fullest.”

Leong said the festival’s industry component had already yielded tangible results. A matchmaking program held during last year’s Hush! event led to invitations for several Macau bands to perform at international festivals in Singapore, Indonesia, and South Korea.

“This year, activities related to the music industry will continue to be held,” she said, aiming to broaden the international outlook and development opportunities for Macau’s performing arts sector.