This year’s Chinese New Year (CNY) falls on Tuesday, February 17, and the annual CNY parade will take place on February 19 and February 28 in the vicinity of Sai Van Lake Plaza and the northern district respectively, featuring 17 floats, performances and fireworks combined with drones, Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes announced in press conference yesterday.
The press conference for “2026 Chinese New Year Activities, the Parade for Celebration of the Year of the Horse and the 2026 Chinese New Year Drones and Fireworks Displays” was held at the Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre.
Float parade at Sai Van Lake & northern district
According to MGTO, the first session of the float parade will start in Sai Van Lake Plaza (西灣湖廣場) on the 3rd day (February19) of the Chinese New Year at 8 p.m., proceed along Avenida Dr. Sun Yat-Sen (孫逸仙大馬路) and Macau Science Centre, ending at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf. About 1,300 performers from Macau, Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, Italy, the Philippines, Portugal, South Korea and Spain will participate in the opening ceremony for the first float parade at 5:40 p.m. in Sai Van Lake Plaza, such as local bands Daze in White, TiDe, and Hong Kong singer Mike Tsang Pei-tak (曾比特).
Meanwhile, a raft of performances, e.g., dance, singing and magic, for the opening ceremony will enliven the vicinity of Rua de Cantão (廣州街) and Rua de Xangai (上海街) in Zape from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on February 19; the float parade and the drones with a firework display will be broadcast live by local broadcasters TDM and Macau Cable TV from 8 p.m., according to the press conference.
The second session of the float parade will commence at 8 p.m. on February 28 in the northern district; the 17 floats will start from Rua Norte do Patane (沙梨頭北街), continue along Avenida do Conselheiro Borja (青洲大馬路), Estrada do Arco (拱形馬路), Estrada da Areia Preta (黑沙環馬路), Avenida de Venceslau de Morais (慕拉士大馬路), and other streets, ending in Iao Hon Market Park (祐漢街市公園). Meanwhile, the final performance will start in Iao Hon Market Park at 8:15 p.m. on that day, including Hong Kong and Macau artistes Andrew Chan, Winnie Lam and Kane Ao Ieong, according to a MGTO statement yesterday.
Meanwhile, the floats will be on display at the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf from February 20 to 27, and in Praça do Tap Siac from March 1 to 8, the statement said.
Regarding the float parades’ budget, Senna Fernandes told reporters during yesterday’s Q&A session that this year’s budget is around HK$36.8 million, a year-on-year increase of about 5 percent, due to the parade being extended to more local communities.
The statement said that temporary traffic restrictions will be imposed during the parades during designated hours on the 19 February and 28 February.
3,888 drones combined with firework displays for first time
Meanwhile, three sessions of the 2026 Chinese New Year Drones and Fireworks Displays will start at 9:45 p.m. on February 19, and begin at 9 p.m. on February 23 and on March 3, featuring 3,888 drones with fireworks, music, and laser effects above the sea. Each session will last about 15 minutes, according to a separate MGTO statement yesterday.
Moreover, the “Golden Dragon Parade” and other performances will take place on February 17 and 18 in Zape, along with the “ZAPE Gallop Gala” activity from February 13 to 1 March, to celebrate Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day, which will engage businesses in Zape to launch special offers that aim to inject a special impetus to tourist spending there, the statement said.
Additionally, online and offline promotional activities, e.g., lucky draws, two interactive games, and a vote for favourite floats, will be set up from February 11 to March 3, the statement added.
For more information about 2026 Chinese New Year activities, please visit the website for destination promotion: https://www.macaotourism.gov.mo .
A press conference about the upcoming “2026 Chinese New Year Activities, the Parade for Celebration of the Year of the Horse and the 2026 Chinese New Year Drones and Fireworks Displays” hosted by Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes (centre, front), is held at the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre yesterday. – Photo: Ida Cheong
