A total of 25 lion dance troupes with a record high of over 270 competitors will be vying for the top prizes during this weekend’s “13th International Lion Dance Championship 2026 – MGM Cup” in the square in front of A-Ma Temple in Barra.
Coming from 14 countries and regions including Macau, the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, China’s Taiwan region, Southeast Asia, and elsewhere, competition categories comprise “Freestyle”, “Women’s”, “Youth”, and “Junior”.
During yesterday’s rehearsal sessions at the competition venue, team members from Canada, Malaysia and Macau told reporters about what they were looking forward to this weekend, along with their overall thoughts on competing in Macau.
This edition marks the first time that a team from Canada, the “Hong De Canada Dragon & Lion Dance Sports Association”, is participating in the event. Representing the group, which brought six members to Macau, are brothers Mason and Martin Yong, who told media that they have been part of the group, headed by their father, for around 12 years.
The brothers, each acting as the head and tail of the lion, were happy to see many teams from different countries and regions competing at the event, noting that they are looking forward to watching other teams, learning more from them, and finding friendship. “We’re just here to try and represent Canada as best as we can, and hopefully put on a great performance”, they noted.
Jason Tan, meanwhile, is marking the fourth time that he is competing in Macau, having done so in 2014, 2019, and 2024, he told the Post. Representing the 15-member “Dragon and Lion Dance Federation of Malaysia”, Tan particularly highlighted the contest being held outdoors and in front of A-Ma temple while praising the initiative to promote the traditional culture behind lion dance. And while it is a competition, Tan said the priority is to finish and to especially do so safely, avoiding injuries “for every team, not just ours”.
Lastly, Macau Lo Leong Sport General Association representative Jackson Sou (蘇展德) said that he is competing for the second year, and with many teams from different parts of the world, expects an intense competition, which he also told the Post is unique for being hosted in front of one of the sites in the Historic Centre of Macao.
The 21-year-old had got into lion dance through the MGM Junior Lion Dance Programme back in 2015 and has continued the sport since. During his remarks to the Post, Sou noted that lion dance is an important part of Chinese culture and, when asked about its promotion among young people, noted that many extra-curricular classes have been held in schools. His group is among those that host them, along with contests across different levels. Competitions, he said, are an important initiative to help popularise the sport and raise awareness for its culture to others.
Brothers Mason and Martin Yong from the “Hong De Canada Dragon & Lion Dance Sports Association” practise their routine yesterday during the rehearsal sessions ahead of the “13th International Lion Dance Championship 2026 – MGM Cup” at the square in front of A-Ma Temple in Barra.
Macau Lo Leong Sport General Association representative Jackson Sou (蘇展德) poses yesterday in front of a banner for this weekend’s contest. – Photos: Rui Pastorin
Jason Tan from the Dragon and Lion Dance Federation of Malaysia poses yesterday in front of A-Ma Temple.
