The “SJM Resorts Presents: 2026 Sneaker Con Macau” kicked off at Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau on Saturday, aiming to bring global sneaker culture back to the city.
Since its founding in 2009, Sneaker Con* has hosted over 30 events annually across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, making it one of the most influential brands in sneaker culture, according to a statement released by MACCREW on Saturday.
The two-day event, organised by Yue Seng Sports Culture and MACCREW, featured a vibrant lineup of activities including a panel discussion with NBA basketball stars, a crossover product launch along with excusive sneaker trade and display.
MACCREW founder Allen Cai Ao Long said in a speech that Macau’s role as a cultural bridge, adding that “Macau is a charming city where Chinese and Western cultures meet, and it stands as a core hub for pop culture in the Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Cai expressed his hope to use sneaker culture as a bridge to show the world a different side of Macau, as well as the “vibrant spirit” of Macau’s youth. Moving forward, he will continue to cultivate the streetwear market in the GBA and build more diverse cultural platforms to support youth pop culture, Cai said.
Following the opening ceremony, former NBA players Metta Sandiford-Artest (aka Metta World Peace) and Carlos Boozer took the main stage for a panel discussion titled “Beyond the Court: The Elite Players’ Personal Collections”. They spoke about the stories behind the most meaningful pairs in their private collections and recounted their searches for original “holy grail” sneakers, captivating the large crowd, the statement added.
Meanwhile, the “Spalding x Sneaker Con x MACCREW Collaborative Basketball Launch Event”** officially debuted a co-branded basketball designed by Macau artist MCZ_Thomas, the statement said, adding that rooted in the concept of “unity, power, and infinite radiance”, the design fuses street graffiti with Eastern lotus imagery and cosmic elements. The intertwined lotus petals and lightning patterns on the ball’s surface symbolise athletic breakthroughs.
* Sneaker Con is widely recognised as the world’s premier sneaker event—often dubbed “The Greatest Sneaker Show on Earth”. – Gemini
** Spalding is an iconic American sporting goods company founded by A.G. Spalding in 1876. – Gemini
MACCREW founder Allen Cai Ao Long (third from right) and other representatives pose during the opening ceremony for the “SJM Resorts Presents: 2026 Sneaker Con Macau” Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau on Saturday. – Photo: Ida Cheong
