A team from Foshan, Guangdong Province, successfully defended its Lion King title at the 13th International Lion Dance Championship 2026 – MGM Cup, which concluded in Barra Square in front of A-Ma Temple yesterday after two days of competition featuring 25 teams from 14 countries and regions.
The Chinese Dragon & Lion Dance Sports Association – Foshan Nanhai Huangfeihong Zhonglian Cable Lion Dragon & Martial Art Association claimed the Freestyle Lion Dance Championship (High Pole) title for the second consecutive year, following 36 matches across four categories.
The event attracted more than 270 athletes and recorded nearly four million online and offline views across more than 10 social media and streaming platforms, integrated resort operator MGM said in a statement yesterday.
Singapore’s Wushu Dragon and Lion Dance Federation – Yi Wei Athletic Association finished as the second in the high-pole category, while the Chinese Taipei Dragon Lion Dance Association came third.
In the Women’s Traditional Lion Dance Championship, Macau’s Mak Chi Leong Dragon & Lion Dance Association retained its title for the second consecutive year. The local team scored 9.16 points to edge out Singapore’s Yi Wei Athletic Association by 0.1 points, while Australia’s Dragon and Lion Dance Federation – Zhenwu Guan Lion Dance Troupe finished third.
Eighteen-year-old Ieong Ka Ian from Macau’s Mak Chi Leong Dragon & Lion Dance Association, who performed as the lion’s tail for the local women’s team, told the Post her troupe performed better than during their usual training sessions, though she had not expected to retain the title.
“I didn’t really expect it. I’m surprised that we were able to perform so well for two consecutive years,” Ieong said, noting that the team managed to overcome a slight hitch during their routine to complete it smoothly.
Ieong acknowledged that lion dance training is physically demanding, but encouraged aspiring young performers to persevere. She added that she would welcome the opportunity to compete overseas.
In the remaining divisions, Malaysia’s Dragon and Lion Dance Federation – Tarian Singa Kwong Ngai won the Youth Traditional Lion Dance Championship, while Clube Desportivo Hang Sung de Macau took top honours in the Junior Traditional Lion Dance Championship.
Representatives from both the Foshan and Macau winning teams praised the tournament as a world-class platform that fosters international cultural exchange and promotes the growth of women’s and youth participation in traditional lion dance.
This year’s edition also introduced several cultural and creative initiatives. For the first time, MGM collaborated with the Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau (CTT) to issue a commemorative postmark and themed postal products, alongside a lenticular postcard* combining historical images of lion dances in Barra with scenes from this year’s competition.
Additionally, the championship partnered with Macau-based cultural enterprise GAKYIM to produce official medals for the top three teams in each category using recycled coffee grounds and traditional Chinese incense-blending techniques. GAKYIM head J. Kai Sit noted that the project successfully balanced traditional incense-plaque craftsmanship and fragrance with the durability and hardness required for official competition medals.
*A lenticular postcard is a specialised postcard covered with a clear, ridged plastic lens layer that creates an illusion of depth (3D) or movement (flip animation) when viewed from different angles.
When held and tilted, the postcard appears to change images, animate a short scene, or show realistic stereoscopic depth without requiring 3D glasses. – Gemini
Representatives of the organisers, the winning teams’ athletes across all four categories, other team members and guests pose for a group photo during the prize-giving ceremony for the “13th International Lion Dance Championship 2026 – MGM Cup” in Barra Square yesterday. – Photo: MGM
