Macao International Youth Dance Festival Opens with More Than 800 Performers
Dragon Media News Desk
The International Youth Dance Festival 2026 has opened in China’s Macao Special Administrative Region, bringing together more than 800 young dancers from 33 local and international groups.
The opening parade began on Saturday at the landmark Ruins of St Paul’s, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and proceeded through historic streets to Senado Square. Along the route, dancers presented a variety of performances and interacted with local residents and tourists.
Held under the theme “Dancing Youth, Rising Future,” the festival features flashmob performances, indoor and outdoor shows, artistic workshops, promotional activities and a photography contest at different locations in Macao and Hengqin. The event will continue until July 23.
Zhou Zhihao, a performer from southwest China’s Sichuan Province, said he was pleased to present the traditional dance of the Qiang ethnic group during his first visit to Macao.
He said the festival provided an important platform to introduce traditional culture to international audiences and exchange artistic experiences with performers from different countries.
Alexandros Tomaras, a participant from Athens, Greece, said performing alongside young people from Macao offered a valuable opportunity to connect with people from different continents and cultural backgrounds.
Although lifestyles vary around the world, dance has the power to bring people together, he said. Tomaras, who was visiting Asia for the first time, described the cultural exchange as a beautiful experience.
The festival is organised by the Education and Youth Development Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region government, with support from several government agencies, including the Municipal Affairs Bureau, Macao Government Tourism Office, Cultural Affairs Bureau and Sports Bureau.
According to the organisers, the festival aims to strengthen friendship, cultural understanding and artistic cooperation among young people from different countries and regions through dance.
