“8th Encounter in Macao – Arts and Cultural Festival between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries” and “29th Lusofonia Festival” inaugurated showcasing the charm of Sino-Lusophone cultural integration through a panoply of activities

MACAU, October 23 - Organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym) and supported by the Macao Government Tourism Office, the Municipal Affairs Bureau, TDM-Teledifusão de Macau, S.A., and Air Macau Company Limited, the “8^th Encounter in Macao – Arts and Cultural Festival between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries” is held from October 2026. This edition of the Festival is held in parallel with the “29^th Lusofonia Festival”, assembling nearly 690 artists and performers from home and abroad, who will present nearly 50 outstanding programmes across community spaces and modern theatres such as traditional music and dance performances in the community, a picture book fair, concerts, a film festival and the “Annual Arts Exhibition Between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries”, further leveraging Macao’s role as “a base for exchange and cooperation where Chinese culture is the mainstream and diverse cultures coexist”.

The opening ceremony of the 8^th “Encounter in Macao – Arts and Cultural Festival between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries” and of the “29^th Lusofonia Festival” was held today (23 October) at the Amphitheatre of the Taipa Houses. The ceremony was officiated by the Deputy Director of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, Yin Rutao; the Counsellor and Director of the Department of Information and Public Diplomacy of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, Gao Yuan; the Vice President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Mok Chi Hang; the Consul-General of the Republic of Angola in Macao, Eduardo Velasco Galiano; the Consul-General of Portugal in Macao, Alexandre José dos Reis Leitão; the Consul-General of the Republic of Mozambique in Macao, Rodrigues Victorino Muebe; the Secretary-General of the Permanent Secretariat of Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao), Ji Xianzheng; the Vice President of the Administration Committee on Municipal Affairs of the Municipal Affairs Bureau, Tam Wai Fong; the Deputy Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, Cheng Wai Tong; the Chairman of the Executive Committee of Teledifusão de Macau, S.A., Lo Song Man; and the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Executive Committee and General Manager of Air Macau Company Limited, Wu Lixin; and was attended by members of the Cultural Heritage Committee and representatives of various cooperating entities.

“29^th Lusofonia Festival” focuses on Brazilian culture, promoting traditional music and dance performances in the community

Organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau and co-organised by the Macao Government Tourism Office and the Municipal Affairs Bureau, the “29^th Lusofonia Festival” is held from 23 to 25 October at the Taipa Houses. The Festival combines music and dance, games, gastronomy and cultures of the different Portuguese-speaking countries, allowing residents and tourists to experience the diverse charm of Lusophone cultures.

This year marks the “China-Brazil Cultural Year”, and the Festival places a special focus on Brazilian culture, also showcasing the characteristics of various Portuguese-speaking countries. The event features cultural exhibitors from the Portuguese-speaking communities residing in Macao, namely Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor, Goa, Daman and Diu, as well as the Macanese community, presenting music, handicrafts, traditional costumes, gastronomy and tourist information.

Meanwhile, art troupes from Brazil, Equatorial Guinea and East Timor, along with more than 40 local Portuguese-speaking artists will perform on the stage of the Amphitheatre of the Taipa Houses and at the small stage at Largo do Carmo, offering electrifying performances to the public. On Saturday and Sunday afternoon, Portuguese traditional games, table football tournaments and various games for children will be available at Largo do Carmo. In addition, temporary Portuguese-style food stalls will be available at the Taipa Municipal Garden and Largo do Carmo, offering different specialties from the Portuguese-speaking countries. Light music performances will also be presented, allowing the public to enjoy the cultural feast with delicacies. To offer the public more fun, the “Giveaway Check-in Station” will be set up during designated periods. Participants who join the check-in activity and complete the designated tasks will enter a lucky draw and be eligible to win fabulous prizes.

In order to further bring culture and arts closer to audiences, the activity “Where Culture Flourishes, Happiness Happens – Traditional Music and Dance Performances in the Community” will be held on 24 and 25 October at the leisure area of Lok Kuan Building in Seac Pai Van, the leisure area in Lok Yeung Fa Yuen building, and Anim’Arte NAM VAN. The Fumei Yingge Dance Troupe of Guangdong Puning City from Mainland China, will present the energetic traditional Yingge dance. The EPO Dance Troupe from Equatorial Guinea and the Timor Furak dance troupe from East Timor will also present vibrant performances combing traditional African rhythms with contemporary dance, as well as traditional dance and costumes, showcasing East Timor’s unique local flair, vividly demonstrating the charm of the Sino-Lusophone performing arts.

“8^thArts and Cultural Festival between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries” launched simultaneously, presenting a panoply of activities that show the Sino-Lusophone integration

Themed “Books Nourish the Soul”, this edition of the “Chinese and Portuguese Picture Book Fair” is held from 23 October to 1 November at the Carmo Hall and Carmo Fair, respectively, further expanding its reach in the community. More than one thousand picture books and children’s books mainly in Chinese and Portuguese are displayed and on sale at the two venues. Various outreach activities including book promotion sessions and workshops will be held, allowing participants to learn about the creative process and the stories behind the picture books.

In addition, the “8^th China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries Film Festival”, themed “Resonance of Light and Shadow”, will present its opening film on 13 November at Anim’Arte NAM VAN, followed by nearly 30 works from China and the Portuguese-speaking countries and regions at the Cinematheque・Passion from 16 November to 7 December.

Renowned Mozambican singer Stewart Sukuma will perform with the Macao Chinese Orchestra on 14 November, in collaboration with the Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Macao Chinese Orchestra, Zhang Lie, jointly presenting the primal rhythms of Africa and the sound of traditional Chinese instruments, highlighting the unique charm of the harmonious fusion of Chinese and Mozambican music.

The “2026 Annual Arts Exhibition between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries” will be held from November 2026 to January 2027 at the Exhibitions Gallery of the Taipa Houses. The exhibition will bring together contemporary visual art works by artists from Chinese Mainland, Macao and the Portuguese-speaking countries, exploring the vision of mutual integration and shared development amid the encounter of diverse cultures.

In order to further promote the participation of residents and tourists and enhance their cultural and artistic experience, this edition of the Arts and Cultural Festival between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries continues to provide special offers. Members of the public can enjoy exclusive offers for a series of activities by presenting tickets for the film festival or the concert, or receipts from purchases at the Picture Book Fair featured in the “8^th Encounter in Macao – Arts and Cultural Festival between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries”.

For more information about the Festival, please visit the event’s official webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/FCP.

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