MO Macau 2026 Annual Event Calendar v3
| Event Name | Date | Location | Type | Scale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 2026-01-01 | All of Macau | Public Holiday / Annual Festival | City-wide |
| Happy Spring Festival Community Parade | 2026-02-17 to 2026-02-18 | Various communities in Macau | Spring Festival Cultural Event | Large-scale |
| Lunar New Year | 2026-02-17 to 2026-02-19 | All of Macau, major temples and tourist areas | Traditional Festival / Public Holiday | City-wide |
| 2026 Lunar New Year Float Parade | 2026-02-19, 2026-02-28 | Main parade routes in Macau | Spring Festival Major Event | Large-scale |
| 2026 Drone & Fireworks Show | 2026-02-19, 2026-02-23, 2026-03-03 | Macau waterfront viewing areas | Spring Festival Major Event / Night Activity | Large-scale |
| Goddess of Mercy Wealth Opening / Guanyin Borrowing Treasury | 2026-03-13 23:00 to 2026-03-14 20:00 | Kun Iam Tong (Puu Ji Chan Yuan) and temples dedicated to Guanyin | Temple Fair / Prayer Ceremony | Large-scale |
| Earth God Birthday | 2026-03-20 | Earth God temples and communities across Macau | Folk Belief / Community Festival | Medium-scale |
| 2026 Macau International Gastronomy Carnival | 2026-03-20 to 2026-03-29 | Macau | Gastronomy / Cultural Event | Large-scale |
| 2026 Macau International Light Parade | 2026-03-29 | Macau Historic Centre and parade routes | Cultural Parade / Art Festival | Large-scale |
| Qingming Festival | 2026-04-05 | Cemeteries, ancestral halls, and family memorial sites across Macau | Traditional Festival / Public Holiday | City-wide |
| 14th Macau International Travel & Tourism Expo | 2026-04-10 to 2026-04-12 | Macau | Travel & Tourism Industry Exhibition | Large-scale |
| North Emperor Birthday | 2026-04-19 | North Emperor Temple and related communities | Temple Fair / Deity's Birthday | Medium-scale |
| Our Lady of Fatima Procession | 2026-05 (date TBD) | Macau Catholic church districts and parade routes | Catholic Religious Procession | Medium-scale |
| Mazu Birthday / Goddess of the Sea Birthday | 2026-05-09 | A-Ma Temple, Nam Tin Temple in Taipa, Lin Kong Temple, etc. | Temple Fair / Mazu Faith | Large-scale |
| International Museum Day | 2026-05-18 | Various museums in Macau | Cultural Education Event | Medium-scale |
| Buddha's Birthday (Bath Buddha Festival) | 2026-05-24 | Buddhist temples in Macau | Religious Festival / Public Holiday | Large-scale |
| Drunken Dragon Festival | 2026-05-24 | Markets, communities, and parade routes in Macau | Intangible Heritage / Folk Procession | Large-scale |
| Tan's Birthday | 2026-05-24 | Tan Temple in Coloane and related communities | Temple Fair / Deity's Birthday | Medium-scale |
| 2026 Macau International Dragon Boat Race | 2026-06-13, 2026-06-14, 2026-06-19 | Nam Wan Lake Water Sports Centre area | Sports / Dragon Boat Festival Event | Large-scale |
| Dragon Boat Festival | 2026-06-19 | All of Macau, Nam Wan Lake and communities | Traditional Festival / Public Holiday | City-wide |
| Nezha's Birthday | 2026-07-02 | St. Paul's Nezha Temple, Sai Shan Nezha Temple and communities | Temple Fair / Intangible Heritage | Large-scale |
| Guan Yu's Birthday | 2026-08-06 | Guan Yu Temple and related communities | Temple Fair / Deity's Birthday | Medium-scale |
| Seven Sisters Festival | 2026-08-19 | Communities and folk belief venues in Macau | Folk Festival | Small to Medium-scale |
| Ghost Festival | 2026-08-26 | Neighbourhood associations, temples, and communities in various districts | Folk Belief / Ancestor Remembrance | Medium-scale |
| 34th Macau International Fireworks Competition | 2026-09 to 2026-10 (date TBD) | Sea area in front of Macau Tower and waterfront viewing areas | International Event / Night Activity | Large-scale |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | 2026-09-25 | All of Macau, parks, waterfront, and communities | Traditional Festival | City-wide |
| Mid-Autumn Festival Holiday | 2026-09-26 | All of Macau | Public Holiday | City-wide |
| World Tourism Day Celebration | 2026-09-27 | Major tourist areas in Macau | Tourism Promotion Event | Medium-scale |
| Double Ninth Festival | 2026-10-18 | Hiking trails, cemeteries, and memorial sites across Macau | Traditional Festival / Public Holiday | City-wide |
| 73rd Macau Grand Prix | 2026-11-19 to 2026-11-22 | Guia Circuit | International Sports Event | Large-scale |
| Feast of the Immaculate Conception | 2026-12-08 | Macau Catholic church districts | Catholic Festival / Public Holiday | Medium-scale |
| Macau SAR Establishment Day | 2026-12-20 | All of Macau | Public Holiday / Official Commemoration | City-wide |
| Winter Solstice | 2026-12-22 | Homes, ancestral halls, and dining establishments across Macau | Traditional Festival / Public Holiday | City-wide |
| Christmas | 2026-12-24 to 2026-12-25 | All of Macau, churches, shopping districts, and hotel areas | Western Festival / Public Holiday | City-wide |
Macau Temple Festival Culture
The distinctive feature of Macau's temple festival culture lies not in any single religious activity, but in being an annual rhythm of life composed of fishing village traditions, Chinese community mutual aid, Catholic heritage, World Heritage streets, and the pace of a tourist city. Temples such as A-Ma Temple, Kun Iam Temple, Lin Fong Temple, Na Tcha Temple, Tam Kung Temple, Pak Tai Temple, and Tuen Mun Temple are distributed across different communities on the Peninsula, Taipa, and Coloane, preserving architectural and ritual traditions while also facilitating interactions among neighborhood associations, merchants, devotees, and tourists. Taking A-Ma Temple as an example, the Goddess Mazu's birthday/A天后's birthday is closely tied to the history of Macau's fishing port; Mazu is regarded as an important deity protecting the safety of sailors, fishermen, and merchants. During deity birthdays, devotees offer incense and pray for blessings, and the area in front of the temple comes alive with Cantonese opera, lion dancing, dragon dances, or community performances. The "Goddess Lending" ritual is an important blessing tradition on the 26th day of the first lunar month; devotees believe that Guan Yin Great Sage opens the treasury to grant blessings, symbolizing "borrowing" from the deities a year of wealth, health, and peace, to be repaid the following year as gratitude—reflecting the ethical principle of "borrowing and returning" and repaying kindness.
Macau's temple festivals extend beyond large historic temples into the streets and older districts. celebrations such as Tuen Mun's birthday, Pak Tai's birthday, Na Tcha's birthday, Guan Di's birthday, and the Yu Lan Festival are often continued by local communities, management committees, or neighborhood associations, varying in scale, but sharing the common characteristic of bringing together rituals, processions, ritual operas, offerings, vegetarian food, incense and candles, lion dancing, and community feasting within one festive space. Some events such as the Drunken Dragon Festival and Na Tcha traditions are also closely linked to Macau's intangible cultural heritage and urban identity. For tourists, what makes Macau's temple festivals most worth observing is not any single photo opportunity, but the tangible sense of being present where "temple, street, market, food, and performance" come together: morning worship increases foot traffic at street markets and tea restaurants at noon, while evening processions or performances activate the streets of older districts, creating a cultural experience that feels more lived-in than typical tourist attractions.
Travel Tips
When visiting Macao during festive periods, it is advisable to plan transportation and timing in advance. Events such as Kwun Yum Open Treasury, Mazu's Birthday, Buddha's Birthday, Drunken Dragon Festival, Na Zha's Birthday, Dragon Boat Race, Fireworks Display Competition, and Macau Grand Prix will generate significant crowds. Popular temples, historic areas, A-Ma Temple Square, Nam Wan Lake, and waterfront viewing points may require queueing or involve temporary traffic arrangements. When visiting temples, dress neatly and wear comfortable walking shoes; check posted notices before taking photos inside to avoid disrupting devotees who are offering incense, kneeling in worship, or performing rituals. If you wish to photograph temple fairs, portraits, deity operas, or processions, maintain a respectful distance and avoid using flash near altars or deity statues.
Consider combining festive events with nearby attractions in your itinerary. For example, A-Ma Temple can be paired with Lilau Square, the Mandarin's House, and the inner harbor; Kun Iam Tong Temple can be combined with Mong Ha, San Kio, and the round-about area; Na Zha's Birthday can be paired with the Ruins of St. Paul's, the old city area, and St. Dominic's Square for a walking tour. On major event days, consider using the light rail, buses, or walking rather than scheduling too many activities in one day. For events with "date to be confirmed," such as the Our Lady of Fatima Procession or Fireworks Display Competition, check the latest announcements from the Macao Government Tourism Office, Cultural Affairs Bureau, or organizers before your visit. Lunar calendar dates vary each year, so information for 2026 should not be directly applied to other years.
Main Data Sources
- Tourism Authority of the Macao Special Administrative Region: 2026 Festival Events Calendar https://www.macaotourism.gov.mo/zh-hant/events/calendar
- Macao SAR Government Portal: 2026 Public Holidays https://www.gov.mo/zh-hant/public-holidays/year-2026/
- Tourism Authority of the Macao Special Administrative Region: Temples and Religious Sites Introduction https://www.macaotourism.gov.mo/zh-hant/sightseeing/temples
- Macao Government Tourism Office Thailand / RYT9: Opening Treasury Ceremony of Kun Iam 2026 https://www.ryt9.com/en/prg/12797578
- Plataforma Media: Guanyin Opening Treasury - Macao Blessing Tradition (2026-03-13) https://www.plataformamedia.com/zh-hant/2026/03/13/%E8%A7%80%E9%9F%B3%E9%96%8B%E5%BA%AB%EF%BC%9A%E7%B4%B0%E8%AA%AA%E6%BE%B3%E9%96%80%E7%A5%88%E7%A6%8F%E5%82%B3%E7%B5%B1/
Data Date: 2026-05-10
Data Sources / Related Verification
This article's data is compiled from internal FactcheckDocs (MO_datatable_年度活動日曆_v3.md), with reference to publicly available official materials from the MO Region and industry documents. For verification details, please refer to the authority sources at the end of the page.
常見問題 Frequently Asked Questions
What types of events are covered in the Macau 2026 Event Calendar?
The calendar covers a wide range of categories including traditional festivals, temple fairs and religious ceremonies, cultural events, and sports competitions, showcasing Macau's unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures.
What makes Macau's temple fair culture distinctive?
This cultural tradition merges fishing village beliefs, mutual aid within the Chinese community, Catholic traditions, and World Heritage-listed streetscapes—preserving both architectural and ceremonial traditions while fostering interactions between local residents and visitors.
When is Guanyin Opening the Treasury held, and what is its significance?
Held on the 26th day of the first lunar month (March 13–14), devotees believe that Guanyin Bodhisattva opens the treasury to grant blessings, making it an important prayerful tradition.
What are the major events during Macau's Lunar New Year period?
These include the Lunar New Year Float Parade, Drone Fireworks Show, and Community Parade, held from mid-February to early March.
When is the Macau International Fireworks Competition held?
The 34th edition takes place in September and October, held at the viewing areas along the waterfront opposite the Macau Tower, making it a prestigious annual international event.
