• The sixth edition of literary and cultural festival “Alphabet & Friends” concluded on 24 May.
• This year’s festival was themed “My City” and was organized by the Portuguese Institute of the Orient (IPOR) and title sponsor Galaxy Entertainment Group.

The sixth edition of the literary and cultural festival for parents and children, “Alphabet & Friends,” concluded on 24 May, with the festival attracting more than 1,800 participants across three weeks of activities.

Organized by the Portuguese Institute of the Orient (IPOR), in partnership with the Consulate General of Portugal in Macau and Hong Kong, and under the patronage of Galaxy Entertainment Group, this year’s festival was themed “My City” and invited children, youth and families to explore and appreciate the city they live in.

The festival featured the “My City” exhibition, including seven maps by Portuguese artist André Letria and works by 188 students from four local schools. The exhibition was paired with a roundtable discussion featuring André Letria, architects Rita Machado and João Ó, CESL Asia president António Trindade, and the Macanese Youth Association chairman António Monteiro – who debated urban development and critical thinking.

It also included two training sessions for teachers. A workshop on visual literacy was given by Letria, while journalist Inês Cardoso hosted a workshop on digital literacy. A performance at Galaxy by Hong Kong-based Joyful Theatre group, followed by a workshop, was also one of the highlights of the programming.

Throughout the festival, a total of 152 books by Portuguese authors, with some bilingual Portuguese-Chinese editions, were distributed to 19 school libraries in Macau. The initiative celebrated World Portuguese Language Day, with support from Camões, I.P. and Porto Editora.

Since its launch in 2021, “Alphabet & Friends” has attracted 12,000 participants, affirming Macau’s place as a hub of intercultural dialogue.