[May 16, 2025, Macau] The MGM Lion Dance Championship 2025 Annual Spectacle, running from May to October, offers a vibrant lineup of events and activities aimed at promoting the popularization of lion dance culture in Macau. The program aspires to elevate the global appeal of lion dance while fostering cultural unity, ultimately positioning Macau as a premier destination for cultural and sports tourism. The series of events will kick off with the 11^th MGM Junior Lion Dance Summer Class 2025, which will accept applications from May 22 to June 5. Training sessions are scheduled to take place from July 7 to August 22.

For the first time, the summer class will be held in Macau's historic Barra District, offering children a unique opportunity to learn traditional lion dance techniques in a culturally rich setting. The summer class is intended not only to help young participants develop physical fitness and instill discipline but also to nurture the next generation of lion dance talent and open a new chapter in the inheritance of lion dance, an intangible cultural heritage.

On October 4 and 5, elite lion dance teams from around the world will gather at Barra Square for a spectacular showdown at the 12^th International Lion Dance Championship 2025 – MGM Cup. The event will be held in conjunction with the Lion Dance Festival, designed to foster community engagement and interaction. Coinciding with the program of the “Culture City of East Asia 2025 – Macao, China”, this year’s Lion Dance Festival will introduce lion dance traditions from the East Asian region to the local community, offering both residents and visitors an up-close and immersive experience of the captivating charm of international lion dance culture.

MGM is committed to systematically cultivating Lingnan lion dance inheritors. Since the launch of the “MGM Lion Dance Championship" brand sporting event in 2010, it has evolved from an international invitational to a world-class southern lion dance competition and a major international sporting event. In 2023, the competition became an outdoor championship as it was hosted at Barra Square, part of a World Heritage site, which attracted many Macau residents and tourists. Starting in 2015, the ecosystem for Lingnan lion dance inheritance in Macau has continuously enhanced through diverse activities including summer classes, lion dance training program, exchange opportunities at the Greater Bay Area, and international competitions. Over the past decade, the summer class has nurtured more than 640 young lion dancers, with nearly 200 becoming local lion dance athletes, laying a solid foundation for passing on Chinese culture in action.

This year's program is jointly organized by MGM and the Mak Chi Leong Dragon & Lion Dance Sports Association, with the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, Education and Youth Development Bureau, Cultural Affairs Bureau, Macao Government Tourism Office, and the Wushu General Association of Macau as supporting units. The seven-week lion dance training covers lion dance history, basic movements, beginner posture training, and understanding on the use of various props and instruments. Upon completing the course, students will showcase their training achievements. Those with exceptional performance and pass the assessment will be eligible to participate in the "MGM Lion Dance Training Program" to further develop their skills, while establishing a strong base to compete on the lion dance stage in the future.

The program is open to children aged 5 to 8. Interested participants can complete the application form on the event page at MGM's official website during the registration period and submit a copy of the participant's valid ID and a medical examination report from a registered doctor. This program targets 100 admissions; if applications exceed this number, participants will be selected by a computer-generated draw. MGM will notify successful applicants via email on June 11 and a welcome day is scheduled on July 6. For inquiries, please call (853) 8802 3833 or email: liondance@mgm.mo.

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About MGM

MGM is an abbreviation for MGM China Holdings Limited (HKEx: 2282) and is a leading developer, owner and operator of gaming and lodging resorts in Greater China. We are the holding company of MGM Grand Paradise, SA which holds one of the six gaming concessions to run casino games in Macau. MGM Grand Paradise, SA owns and operates MGM MACAU, the award-winning premium integrated resort located on the Macau Peninsula and MGM COTAI, a contemporary luxury integrated resort in Cotai. 

MGM MACAU is a Forbes Five-Star luxury integrated resort inspired by the arts with every element of the resort infused with creativity and style. MGM MACAU has approximately 600 guest rooms and suites and boasts a number of distinguishing features, including the architecturally stunning European-inspired Grande Praça, housed under a soaring glass ceiling. The POLY MGM MUSEUM spanning almost 2,000 square meters, is constructed in accordance with Chinese national standards for the exhibition of Grade-One cultural relics. MGM MACAU’s world class facilities also include conference and event facilities, spa, and seven signature restaurants and bars to fulfill any gastronomic craving. Our property is conveniently located on the Macau Peninsula and is directly connected to the luxury retail shopping complex, One Central.

Designed as the “jewelry box” of Cotai, MGM COTAI offers approximately 1,400 hotel rooms and suites, meeting space, high end spa, retail offerings, food and beverage outlets as well as the first international Mansion at MGM for the ultimate luxury experience.  MGM has joined hands with renowned Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou to set up the “Macau 2049” residency in MGM Theater. The Spectacle at MGM COTAI becomes the record holder of the largest free-span gridshell glazed roof (self-supporting) on January 19, 2019, making it the first architectural and structural GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for Macau, China. MGM COTAI is being developed to drive greater product diversification and bring more advanced and innovative forms of entertainment to Macau as it grows as a global tourist destination. MGM COTAI is the only mega complex and hotel in Macau to gain three-star certification in both Green Building Design and Operation Label, as well as the first hotel in the Greater Bay Area and second in Greater China to receive the certifications.

MGM China is majority owned by MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) one of the world's leading global hospitality companies, operating a portfolio of destination resort brands including Bellagio, ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and Park MGM. For more information about MGM Resorts International, visit the Company's website at www.mgmresorts.com.

For media enquiries, please contact:    

Jessie Kuan

Executive Director of Public Relations

MGM

Tel: (853) 8806 3412

Email: jessiekuan@mgm.mo

Karen Lam

Senior Corporate Relations Manager

MGM

Tel: (853) 8806 3421

Email: karenlam@mgm.mo