MGM “Lion Dance Festival 2026” Fosters a Cultural Innovation Platform

As a pioneering platform for advancing lion dance culture in Macau, MGM launches the “Lion Dance Festival 2026”, anchored by the exhibition “Lion Dance Culture in Chinese Life”. Featuring exhibitions, public talks, intangible cultural heritage experiences, interactive workshops, and international competitions, the month-long program explores the ongoing evolution of lion dance culture and its relevance in contemporary society. The festival is held at Navy Yard No. 1 in the Barra District from September 19 to October 18 and will culminate with “The 13th International Lion Dance Championship 2026 – MGM Cup” in October, reflecting MGM’s steadfast dedication over the past 16 years to fostering cultural preservation, innovation, and international exchange through lion dance.

The “Lion Dance Festival 2026” showcases the culture, history, and development of lion dance culture through exhibitions, public talks, intangible cultural heritage experiences, interactive workshops, and international competitions.

Nine Artistic Works Responding to a Shared Question of Our Time

As a city at a historic crossroads on the Maritime Silk Road, Macau witnessed the spread of lion dance culture from Lingnan to the world. Lion dance culture has become a shared cultural memory among Chinese communities across the globe. This year, the exhibition brings together four lion dance inheritors from Malaysia, Guangzhou, Foshan and Hong Kong, alongside five contemporary artists for the first time. Through nine lion-head-inspired artworks, the exhibition traces the evolution of lion dance heritage from traditional craftsmanship to contemporary artistic expression. A featured section of the exhibition deconstructs the four key stages of traditional lion head making, namely “Binding, Mounting, Painting, Decorating”, offering the public an in-depth appreciation of the exquisite craftsmanship behind this time-honored art form.

Brand New Podcast Series for Contemporary Artistic Talks: From Rediscovering to Recreating

As a new highlight of this year’s festival, MGM launches a podcast series of “The Living Artifact: New Era”. Focusing on contemporary cultural discourse, the podcasts bring together contemporary artists in conversation to explore how intangible cultural heritage can be reinterpreted, reimagined, and transformed for contemporary audiences.

As a new highlight of this year’s festival, MGM launches a podcast series of “The Living Artifact: New Era”.

Podcast #1: The Living Artifact: New Era #1

September 19 | Manwai Ng, Nicole Ng

Raised with lion dance culture as part of everyday life, the two Macau artists revisit and re-examine the artistry, heritage, and cultural meaning behind this culture through the process of creation.

Podcast #2: The Living Artifact: New Era #2
September 20 | AAFK, Gao Yishan

One artist reimagines lion dance through the lens of street art, while the other transforms it through the tactile medium of wool felting. Both artists examine how lion dance culture can remain relevant to younger generations while preserving its cultural essence.

The exhibition brings together four lion dance inheritors and five contemporary artists, presenting a total of nine works that showcase the different facets of lion dance culture.

Four Lion Dance Inheritors Unite in Macau for Cross-Regional Dialogues

In conjunction with the “13th International Lion Dance Championship 2026 – MGM Cup”, which will take place on October 10 to 11, MGM will present the series of “The Living Artifact: Lion Talk”. The event invites lion dance cultural inheritors to Macau to share insights into the development, craftsmanship, and evolution of lion dance traditions across different regions. Featured speakers include Siow Ho Phiew (Malaysia National Master Craftsman), Zhao Weibin (National Representative Inheritor of Guangdong Lion Dance Intangible Cultural Heritage), Li Wanzhen (National Representative Inheritor of Foshan Lion Head Craftsmanship Intangible Cultural Heritage), and Hui Ka Hung (Hong Kong Lion Head and Traditional Bamboo Framework Craftsmanship Representative).

Macau’s intangible cultural heritage will be presented during the event, including Macanese culinary tradition of Chá Gordo and the fishermen’s folk tradition of Salt-water Songs. Through culinary experiences, music and cultural dialogue, the event highlights Macau’s distinctive character as a base for exchange and cooperation with Chinese culture as the mainstream and diverse cultures coexisting.

Immersive Workshops Allows Observing and Experiencing Heritage

A series of interactive workshops will also be held throughout the festival, including the Mini Lion Head DIY Workshops, Lion Dance Workshops and Mini Lion Dance Drum DIY Workshops, encouraging participants to gain a deeper appreciation of lion dance craftsmanship and cultural values through hands-on experience. All events and activities are open to the public and free of charge. For program details and the latest schedule, please visit: https://www.mgm.mo/en/entertainment/happening/lion-dance-festival-2026.

For the past 16 years, MGM has remained committed to the preservation, innovation, and international development of lion dance culture through competitions, exhibitions, artistic collaborations, and public engagement initiatives, continuing to transform intangible cultural heritage into a dynamic force in contemporary culture.