- The biggest MGM International Lion Dance Championship yet will this year welcome teams from 14 countries and regions, with Canada debuting.
- A total of 36 matches will be held across the youth, junior and adult divisions at UNESCO-listed Barra Square.
The 13th International Lion Dance Championship 2026 – MGM Cup will take Macau by storm on 10 and 11 October at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Barra Square.
The flagship international event is going to be its largest edition yet, with a record 25 lion dance teams and over 280 athletes from 14 countries and regions competing in Macau.
Over the past 16 years, the event has steadily grown into a cultural heritage celebration that promotes tourism, nurtures youth development and promotes international exchange. As it continues to expand, the event is welcoming Canada for its debut appearance, joining elite lion dance troupes from Singapore, Malaysia and elsewhere.
This year’s championship will comprise 36 matches across the youth, junior and adult divisions. At a press conference unveiling the details of the championship, a graduation ceremony for the “MGM Junior Lion Dance Summer Class 2026” was also held, celebrating the participants, the support of parents and the community for traditional cultural education.
Speaking of the October championship, Kenneth Feng, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited, highlighted the growth of the competition and its role as a platform that brings together culture, education, community engagement and tourism. Through the championship and MGM’s ongoing youth development and cultural outreach initiatives, MGM continues to promote lion dance culture, increase participation and foster international exchange.
Aside from the championship, MGM is also bringing the lion dance culture to the community via the “Lion Dance Festival 2026,” running from 19 September to 18 October.
