• MGM has launched “Lion Dance Festival 2026,” featuring diverse formats to create a cross-regional exchange platform.
• The event runs from 19 September to 18 October at Navy Yard No. 1, in the Barra District.

Anchored by the theme “Lion Dance Culture in Chinese Life,” MGM is presenting “Lion Dance Festival 2026.” This year’s program unfolds through exhibitions, public dialogues, intangible cultural heritage (ICH) experiences and workshops.

From 19 September to 18 October, the program is being held at Navy Yard No. 1 in the Barra District, alongside the annual highlight “The 13th International Lion Dance Championship 2026 – MGM Cup.” Together, these events reflect MGM’s achievements over the past 16 years in promoting lion dance culture through cultural communication, innovation and international exchange.

For the first time, the exhibition brings together four lion dance inheritors from Malaysia, Guangzhou, Foshan and Hong Kong, alongside five contemporary artists. Curating nine selected works, it presents the many faces of lion dance culture, tracing its development from traditional craftsmanship to contemporary artistic expression.

To broaden the cultural reach, MGM also launched a new podcast series, “The Living Artifact: New Era.” As a yearly highlight, the series focuses on cultural themes and invites contemporary artists to engage in dialogue, exploring how intangible cultural heritage can be reinterpreted, reimagined and transformed for modern audiences.

In conjunction with the “13th International Lion Dance Championship 2026 – MGM Cup” (10 to 11 October), MGM is further presenting “The Living Artifact: Lion Talk.” This podcast connects lion dance inheritors from Malaysia, Guangdong, Foshan and Hong Kong in Macau, sharing regional cultural contexts, craftsmanship characteristics and how the art form has changed over time.

The festival also incorporates Macau’s intangible cultural heritage, including “Chá Gordo” of the Macanese community and “Salt-water Songs” from local fishermen. Through food, songs and cultural sharing, the events celebrate Macau’s cultural character: “Chinese culture as the mainstream, with diverse cultures coexisting.”