As the grand finale of this year’s MGM Lion Dance Championship 2025 Annual Spectacle, “The 12^th International Lion Dance Championship 2025 – MGM Cup” kicked off today (October 4) at Macau’s UNESCO World Heritage landmark, Barra Square. This year's competition has attracted nearly 260 athletes from 21 teams across 13 countries and regions, vying for championship titles across four major categories, namely “Freestyle Lion Dance (High Pole)”, “Women's Traditional Lion Dance”, “Youth Traditional Lion Dance”, and “Junior Traditional Lion Dance”.

As one of the world’s top three Southern Lion Dance competitions and the only one featuring a female division, this year’s event sees over 60% of its participating troupes coming from overseas. Furthermore, youth participation has increased by more than 14% from last year to eight teams, highlighting the growing influence and international reach of MGM’s Lion Dance IP. The competition is held in conjunction with the concurrent “Lion Dance Festival" at Navy Yard No.2 in the Barra District. This synergy creates a multifaceted "Tourism + Sports + Culture" experience, fostering a dynamic interplay between local economy and cultural exchange, while making the event a city-wide lion dance celebration during National Day Golden Week.

The event commenced with a Lion Dance Troupe Parade, where all competing troupes made their grand entrance. Officiating guests of the opening ceremony include Bai Bing, the Deputy Director of the Department of Publicity and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; Lei Si Leng, Acting President of the Sports Bureau; Cheng Wai Tong, the Acting Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office of the Macao SAR Government (MGTO); Tam Wai Fong, Member of the Administration Committee on Municipal Affairs of the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM); Leong I On, Head of Division of Secondary Education of Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ); Sit Kai Sin, Director of Maritime Museum of Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA); Chan Weng Kit, Chairman of Dragon & Lion Dance Federation of Asia and President of Wushu General Association of Macau (WGAM); Lu Yuedi, Chairman of International Dragon and Lion Dance Federation (IDLDF); Huang Qintian ,Vice President of Chinese Dragon and Lion Dance Sports Association (CDLDA); Hubert Wang, President and Chief Operating Officer of MGM China Holdings Limited.

Hubert Wang remarked: “MGM’s ‘International Lion Dance Championship’ was founded in 2010 and has continuously evolved over the past fifteen years into a landmark IP that integrates sports, culture, and lion dance artistry. Driven by MGM’s spirit of perseverance, it has transformed from a single international invitational into one of the world’s top three Southern Lion Dance competitions. It is not merely a competition, but a grand celebration that integrates sports, culture, and tourism, bringing intangible cultural heritage to a World Heritage site, encouraging citizens and tourists to delve into the community, and injecting vitality into the local economy.”

A Spectacular Two-Day Event Showcasing Lion Dance Heritage and Cultural Exchange

The two-day championship features an exciting lineup of performances. On the first day (October 4), the competition started with the “Freestyle Lion Dance (High Pole)”, where 14 elite troupes vied for the prestigious ​​"Lion King" title​​. Due to inclement weather arrangements, the “Junior Traditional Lion Dance” as well as the Youth and Female Division competitions scheduled for the following day (October 5), have been relocated to the Macao Forum. Notably, lion dance teams from Huzhou (China), Kamakura (Japan), and Anseong (Korea) were specially invited to Macau for a series of cross-cultural performances and exchange activities, bringing exciting shows and engaging experiences to the public throughout the competition period.

“The 12^th International Lion Dance Championship 2025 – MGM Cup" is organized by MGM and Dragon & Lion Dance Federation of Asia, co-organized by WGAM, with the Chinese Dragon & Lion Dance Sports Association serving as the advisory unit. Supporting units include the Department of Publicity and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, the International Dragon and Lion Dance Federation, Sports Bureau, DSEDJ, IC, MGTO, IAM, and DSAMA. The entire competition is once again being live-streamed globally via MGM's official Facebook page, the Facebook page and YouTube channel of long-shi.com, as well as 15 streaming platforms in the Mainland China.

“Lion Dance Festival” Enhances Cross-Cultural Experience

In line with the “Culture City of East Asia 2025 – Macao, China” initiative, this year’s “Lion Dance Festival” unites lion dance traditions from China, Japan, and Korea for the first time, featuring a series of interactive sessions including community performances and cultural exchanges. A special exhibition on the lion dance cultures of the three regions is now ongoing at Navy Yard No.2 in the Barra District, and will run until October 12, continuing the fervor of cultural exchange.

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“The 12^th International Lion Dance

Championship 2024 – MGM Cup”
Next-day Event Schedule
 

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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.

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