The 2026 Lusophone Cultural Carnival will take place at the Hengqin Culture & Art Complex from Friday to Sunday, running daily from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., featuring a Lusophone food zone, performances, and interactive games, according to a statement from the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) yesterday.
For the first time, the carnival introduces a dedicated Portuguese-speaking Countries and Regions Exhibition, gathering vendors and cultural representatives from the local Macanese* community and nine Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs) to showcase their customs and heritage, the statement said.
The statement noted that the carnival’s Lusophone food zone highlights Chef Neta, a renowned Macanese chef, who will prepare signature classics including Turmeric Pork Chop Buns and Portuguese Sausage Buns.
Workshops & Portuguese street games
The hands-on workshop zone provides interactive sessions in Portuguese tile painting, paper fan making, crochet, and sand art. Each workshop is capped at 30 participants per session with an admission fee of 19.90 yuan (24 patacas) per person on a first-come, first-served basis, the statement added, noting that creative design stalls will also display Lusophone cultural products, including artistic ceramics and handcrafted sardine artwork.
Visitors can participate in traditional Portuguese street games, including the “Big Feet” race, table football (aka foosball), and mini soccer obstacle courses, with commemorative gifts awarded to challenge winners, the statement noted.
Live performances
Over the three-day carnival, 20 live performances will take centre stage, bringing Brazilian dance groups and Fado musicians to the platform. Students from schools across Macau and Hengqin, including the Hengqin School Affiliated to Hou Kong Middle School and Hengqin Ziqi Primary School, will also perform, highlighting the unique blend of Chinese and Portuguese cultures.
Cross-Industry Partnerships
Moreover, the Macau Grand Prix will host an interactive booth providing photo-op installations and WeChat mini-games, the statement said, adding that the carnival has also partnered with the 2026 Hengqin Pickleball Championship, allowing participating athletes to claim exclusive festival shopping vouchers by presenting their credentials.
The event is jointly organised by the Livelihood Affairs Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and the Cultural Affairs Bureau.
* The Macanese people are a Eurasian ethnic group with roots in the 16th century, stemming from intermarriage between early Portuguese seafarers and local Asian women (such as Cantonese, Malay, Japanese, Indian, and Sinhalese) in Macau, as well as Chinese Catholic converts who adopted Portuguese surnames. – Gemini, MPD
This poster provided by the Cultural Affairs Bureau yesterday promotes its 2026 Lusophone Cultural Carnival from Friday to Sunday.
