A-Ma Temple hosts lion dance championship from 10 to 11 October
Published on 10/04/2026 at 07:18 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
A-Ma Temple in Macau hosts the 13th International Lion Dance Championship from 10 to 11 October 2026, bringing a public sporting programme to Barra Square in front of the historic temple. The event is organised by MGM and the Asian Dragon and Lion Dance Federation, with the Macao Government Tourism Office listing free admission.
Four lion dance categories come to A-Ma Temple on 10 October
The championship begins on Saturday, 10 October 2026, with a lion dance troupe parade from 9.35am, followed by an opening ceremony at 10am. Competition then covers the junior traditional category and freestyle lion dance on high poles, with the official programme running until 7pm.
The second day, Sunday, 11 October 2026, is devoted to youth and women’s traditional lion dance competitions. The schedule places the youth competition between 10am and 12.05pm, the women’s competition between 2pm and 4.05pm, and the award presentation between 4.30pm and 5.20pm. The official event listing gives the dates, venue, programme and admission information.
Barra Square places the MGM Cup beside A-Ma Temple
The competition venue is Barra Square, in the Barra District, directly in front of A-Ma Temple. MGM describes the site as a Macau World Heritage landmark, while the event organisers present the championship as a meeting point between Chinese lion dance and the city’s historic setting.
This location gives the October programme a precise architectural context. A-Ma Temple is a multi-level complex on the western slope of Barra Hill, made up of a gate pavilion, memorial arch, prayer hall, Hall of Benevolence, Hall of Guanyin and the Buddhist pavilion known as Zhengjiao Chanlin. Its pavilions were built at different times, and the present scale of the complex was reached in 1828, according to the heritage authority’s description.
The lion dance competition therefore unfolds beside a layered religious complex rather than inside its prayer halls. The sporting programme uses the open square, leaving the temple itself identifiable through its gate, granite halls, green glazed roofs and hillside setting. MGM’s event programme for Barra Square lists four competition categories and teams from 14 countries and regions.
Visiting A-Ma Temple: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The MGM Cup takes place at Barra Square in front of A-Ma Temple on 10 and 11 October 2026. The official programme lists the opening parade and ceremony on 10 October, followed by competitions on both days.
- Admission is free according to the Macao Government Tourism Office. The competition is staged in the square, while A-Ma Temple remains the adjoining heritage landmark and place of worship.
- The venue is in the Barra District of Macau, at the foot and lower slope of Barra Hill. The event page identifies Barra Square as the location, but does not specify a particular station or transport line.
- The temple complex rises on a hillside and includes several pavilions linked by stepped approaches. Visitors attending the square programme should expect a slope when continuing into the temple grounds.
- Chinese and Portuguese are official languages in Macau, and the national currency is the Macanese pataca.
- 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.
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Frequently asked questions about A-Ma Temple
When does the lion dance championship take place at A-Ma Temple?
The MGM Cup takes place on 10 and 11 October 2026 at Barra Square in front of A-Ma Temple. The opening parade is scheduled for 10 October 2026.
Where is A-Ma Temple and how do you get there?
A-Ma Temple is in the Barra District of Macau on the western slope of Barra Hill. The event venue is Barra Square, directly in front of the temple.
What is A-Ma Temple?
A-Ma Temple is a multi-pavilion religious complex and part of the Historic Centre of Macao World Heritage site. Its buildings include a prayer hall, the Hall of Benevolence, the Hall of Guanyin and Zhengjiao Chanlin.
