Lion dance championship returns by A-Ma Temple on 10 October
Published on 09/27/2026 at 10:33 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
A-Ma Temple and the 13th International Lion Dance Championship - MGM Cup meet in Macau on 10 and 11 October 2026, with Barra Square serving as the competition venue in front of the temple (Templo de A-Má). The event offers travellers a fixed cultural programme beside one of the Historic Centre of Macao’s religious landmarks.
Lion dance championship returns beside A-Ma Temple on 10 October
The championship begins on 10 October 2026 and continues on 11 October 2026 at Barra Square in the Barra District. The official competition programme places the opening ceremony after a lion dance troupes parade on the first day.
The programme lists junior traditional and freestyle high-pole competitions on 10 October. Youth traditional and women’s traditional competitions are scheduled for 11 October, followed by an award presentation ceremony. The organisers state that the schedule may change according to actual circumstances.
The event is the 13th edition of the MGM Cup. The organiser’s programme identifies 25 lion dance teams from 14 countries and regions, giving the two-day competition an international field without changing its setting beside the Macau landmark.
Barra Square links the competition with Macau’s heritage centre
The competition takes place in front of A-Ma Temple rather than inside its halls. That arrangement places lion dance, a living cultural practice, in the public square directly beside a religious site whose worship and processions remain part of the Historic Centre of Macao’s heritage.
UNESCO describes the Historic Centre of Macao as a group of 22 principal buildings and public spaces. The property was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2005 and records the meeting of Chinese and Portuguese architectural, religious and cultural influences.
A-Ma Temple stands on the southern side of that historic urban setting, with a visual relationship to the river noted by UNESCO. The October programme therefore connects a contemporary sporting contest with a place where living traditions form part of the heritage value, rather than presenting the temple as a separate backdrop.
What the MGM Cup adds to Macau’s October programme
The championship extends beyond the competition dates through the Lion Dance Festival 2026. The festival is scheduled from 19 September to 18 October 2026 at Navy Yard No. 1 in the Barra District, with an exhibition on lion dance culture and related activities.
For visitors arriving during the event window, the key fixed dates remain 10 and 11 October 2026 at Barra Square. The competition gives the Barra District a public programme that can be combined with the surrounding historic streets and religious buildings, while the temple itself remains the principal heritage reference named by the organisers.
Visiting A-Ma Temple: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The MGM Cup takes place at Barra Square on 10 and 11 October 2026, directly in front of A-Ma Temple in the Barra District.
- The published programme concerns competitions and ceremonies in Barra Square; it does not announce a closure or altered entrance for the temple.
- The event venue is a public square beside the temple, while the temple forms part of the Historic Centre of Macao World Heritage property.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for A-Ma Temple on social platforms
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Frequently asked questions about A-Ma Temple
When does the MGM Cup take place at A-Ma Temple?
The 13th International Lion Dance Championship - MGM Cup takes place beside the temple at Barra Square on 10 and 11 October 2026.
What is A-Ma Temple?
It is a religious landmark in Macau and part of the Historic Centre of Macao, a UNESCO World Heritage property inscribed in 2005.
Where is A-Ma Temple and how do you get there?
The temple is in the Barra District of Macau, beside Barra Square, the venue named for the MGM Cup on 10 and 11 October 2026.
