AGP Executive Report

Hands-on Culture: The Tap Siac Craft Market returns on Nov. 19–22 and 26–29, with 62 workshops in ceramics, glass, leather and more. Registration through Macao One Account closes Oct. 30; each workshop costs MOP50. November Calendar: Cultural Affairs and Sports Bureau chief Deland Leong previewed a busy month, including a civilisations forum on Nov. 9–10, a new City Culture Festival alongside the Macau Grand Prix, and events marking Dr Sun Yat-sen’s 160th birthday. Culture Meets Leisure: Melco’s Tsingtao Beer Carnival runs at City of Dreams through Nov. 22, pairing Qingdao beer culture with Macao entertainment and tourism. Firecracker Heritage: A free seminar at the Macau Museum of Art explored the history and design of Macao firecracker labels, complementing an ongoing Sands Gallery exhibition. Sino-Lusophone Arts: The 8th Encounter in Macao and 29th Lusofonia Festival brought nearly 690 artists and performers together for shows, exhibitions, film and food celebrating Chinese and Portuguese-speaking cultures.

Cultural Exchange: A Macao exhibition on “One Country, Two Systems” drew more than 3,000 visitors during its first European tour, with stops at universities in three Portuguese cities and a focus on Macao’s long-standing ties with Portugal. Arts and Festivals: The Encounter in Macao and Lusofonia festivals brought nearly 690 artists together for almost 50 programmes, from performances and concerts to film and picture-book events. This year’s Lusofonia Festival highlighted Brazilian culture alongside traditions from Portuguese-speaking communities. Maritime Heritage: More than 4,500 people visited the Maritime Festival’s main event, exploring vessels, rescue boats and activities celebrating the city’s nautical culture. Inclusive Education: A Greater Bay Area conference in Macao explored support for deaf students; Colégio Diocesano de São José 5, the city’s only school offering sign-bilingual inclusive education from kindergarten to primary school, has 36 hearing-impaired students.

Sino-Lusophone Culture: Macao’s Encounter in Macao arts festival and Lusofonia Festival brought nearly 690 performers together for almost 50 programmes, from concerts and film to food, crafts and traditional music. This year’s Lusofonia celebration spotlighted Brazilian culture. Maritime Heritage: More than 4,500 people joined the Maritime Festival’s fun day, exploring vessels, rescue boats and maritime safety activities; more events are planned at Guia Lighthouse, the Maritime Museum and Maritime Training School this weekend. Education: Macao University of Tourism and Australia’s Griffith University signed an agreement for a dual bachelor’s degree, while a Greater Bay Area conference explored inclusive education for deaf students. Children’s Health: The Health Bureau says 29 per cent of local kindergarten and primary school students are nearsighted. Student Achievement: Pooi To students won 12 prizes in an international maths comic contest, using illustrated stories to bring mathematical ideas to life.

Macao’s Expo Scene: Three major fairs brought more than 1,000 exhibitors to Cotai, with displays spanning technology, Lusophone products, food and consumer brands. Arts Across Cultures: The 8th Encounter in Macao festival and 29th Lusofonia Festival have opened, bringing nearly 690 artists to the city for around 50 programmes, from music and dance to film and a picture-book fair. Art Meets Retail: Local institution Articross is working with coffee and bakery brands on experience-led projects that blend contemporary art with everyday city life. Heritage and Design: A new feature explores how Portuguese hilltop streets and Chinese feng shui traditions shaped Macao’s distinctive urban landscape. Live Music: K-pop group FLARE U has included Macao on its first fan-concert tour, which begins in Seoul this December.

East Meets West: A new look at Macau’s urban design traces Portuguese hilltop streets and Chinese coastal settlements to different traditions, with feng shui shaping the city’s distinctive mix. Arts & Lusophone Culture: The 8th Encounter in Macao and 29th Lusofonia Festival have opened, bringing nearly 690 artists and almost 50 programmes, from community performances and concerts to film and exhibitions. Live Music: K-pop group FLARE U has included Macau on its first fan-concert tour, which begins in Seoul this December. Heritage: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle will lead a Mass on Oct. 31 marking 450 years of the Diocese of Macau, a historic gateway for Catholic missions across Asia. Education & Reading: Macao ranked third in PISA 2025 mathematics, with 549 points; the Cultural Affairs Bureau has also set up more than 40 free 10-minute reading corners around the city.

Education: Macao ranked third in mathematics in the latest PISA results, scoring 549 points behind China and Singapore. Live Music: K-pop group FLARE U has included Macao on its first fan concert tour, which opens in Seoul on December 26 and 27 before continuing to other Asian cities. Culture: The 8th Encounter in Macao arts festival and 29th Lusofonia Festival have opened, bringing nearly 690 artists to about 50 programmes, from community performances and a picture-book fair to concerts and film screenings. Reading: The Cultural Affairs Bureau has set up more than 40 “10-Minute Reading Corners” across the city to encourage everyday reading and build a citywide network.

Arts & Festivals: Macao’s 8th Encounter in Macao arts festival opened alongside the 29th Lusofonia Festival, bringing nearly 690 artists to venues across the city for almost 50 programmes, from concerts and film to community performances and a picture-book fair. Live Music: K-pop group FLARE U has announced its first fan-concert tour, with Macao among the stops planned after its Seoul opening in December; dates for the Macao show have not been announced. Faith & Heritage: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle will lead a Mass on October 31 as the Diocese of Macao marks its 450th anniversary, a milestone for a religious institution with deep roots in the city. Local Traditions: A new feature explores how younger generations are reshaping Chinese colour customs, including the traditional association of red with celebration and white with mourning. Art & Lifestyle: Macao art institution Articross is teaming up with local coffee and bakery brands and shopping malls to create retail experiences centred on culture and shared activities.

China–Lusophone Culture: Macao’s 8th Encounter in Macao arts festival and 29th Lusofonia Festival opened on Oct. 23, bringing nearly 690 artists to the city for almost 50 programmes, from community performances to concerts and film. Food and Discovery: Three exhibitions at Cotai Expo are free through Oct. 24, with Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking products, coffee and baking among the attractions. Faith and Heritage: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle will lead an Oct. 31 Mass marking the Diocese of Macao’s 450th anniversary, continuing the city’s long history as a centre of Catholic life in Asia. Reading in the Community: The Cultural Affairs Bureau has established more than 40 “10-Minute Reading Corners” across the city and is inviting residents to help build a citywide reading network.

Macao’s Open-Air Showcase: Three exhibitions at The Venetian are free to visit through Oct. 24, featuring products from Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries, coffee and baking festivals, and more than 1,000 exhibitors. Mazu Culture: Macao is co-hosting the 11th Global Mazu Culture Forum in Fujian from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2. The event will include its first overseas in-person sub-forum, on Mazu culture and China-Brazil exchanges, in São Paulo. Faith and Heritage: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle will lead events on Oct. 31 marking the 450th anniversary of the Diocese of Macao, including a Mass at Forum de Macau and a talk on evangelization in Asia. Fishing Roots: An exhibition at the Maritime Museum revisits Macao’s fishing community through photographs, historic tools and stories, with its final days running through Monday. Reading Around Town: The Cultural Affairs Bureau has set up more than 40 “10-Minute Reading Corners” across the city, inviting residents to help build a citywide reading network.

Cross-border Travel: Hengqin Port has recorded more than 30 million passenger crossings this year, up 27.1% year on year and reaching the milestone 68 days earlier than in 2025. Sport & Heritage: Bionord Wolf United and Guangzhou Qiuqi won the men’s and women’s titles at the Greater Bay Area 3x3 final, played beside Macao’s Ruins of St Paul’s. Faith & History: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle will lead Mass on October 31 for the Diocese of Macao’s 450th anniversary, marking a legacy that helped shape Catholic life across East Asia. Sino-Lusophone Culture: The three-day Lusofonia Festival begins Friday, bringing music and dance celebrating Macao’s cultural connections. Local Memory: A photo exhibition on Macao’s fishing community is in its final days at the Maritime Museum, recalling the city’s maritime roots. Reading: The Cultural Affairs Bureau has installed more than 40 free “10-Minute Reading Corners” around Macao and Hengqin, with an open invitation for more venues to join.

Faith & Heritage: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle will lead an Oct. 31 Mass marking 450 years of the Diocese of Macao, whose history is closely tied to the city’s role in Catholic missions across Asia. Community Health: Macao is adding a mental-health support hotline and outreach team; the hotline, 2871 2355, will direct callers to services, while outreach workers seek people who may need help. Living Memory: “People and the Sea” at the Maritime Museum looks back at Macao’s fishing community through photographs, tools and research. The exhibition closes Monday. Reading City: More than 40 free “10-Minute Reading Corners” are now open around Macao and Hengqin, bringing books and seating to neighbourhood spaces. Festivals: The three-day Lusofonia Festival is set to begin Friday, celebrating Sino-Lusophone cultural exchange with music and dance performances around the city.

Macao Franchise Expo: The four-day expo, running through October 24, brings together lifestyle brands, original local IPs and food showcases, including coffee and bread festivals. Exhibitors see it as a chance to connect with new markets. Mental Health: A cross-departmental support network has handled more than 600 cases since July, aiming to better connect people with psychological services. Local Heritage: The Maritime Museum’s photo exhibition on Macao’s fishing community is in its final days, inviting visitors to explore the traditions and memories behind the city’s maritime roots. Lusofonia Festival: Food, music and performances from Portuguese-speaking communities return to Taipa Houses from Friday to Sunday, with Brazilian culture in the spotlight. Reading Corners: More than 40 free “10-Minute Reading Corners” are now open across Macao and Hengqin, bringing books and seating to community spaces.

Reading Around Macao: The Cultural Affairs Bureau has set up more than 40 free “10-Minute Reading Corners” across Macao and Hengqin, in places including parks, sports centres and community facilities. The programme is still inviting venues to take part. Lusophone Culture: The 29th Lusofonia Festival runs this Friday to Sunday at Taipa Houses, celebrating Brazil during the China-Brazil Cultural Year. Expect music, food and crafts from ten Portuguese-speaking communities, with Brazilian singer Fafá de Belém among the performers. Tourism & Learning: Melco donated MOP1 million to the Macao University of Tourism Development Foundation to support teaching, research and international cooperation. At the Global Tourism Economy Forum, travel leaders also stressed community involvement and collaboration as keys to more resilient tourism. Festivals & Travel: Macao welcomed 146,124 visitors for the Chong Yeong Festival, up 31% from last year. A youth contest in Hengqin also brought heritage and technology together, with local students presenting ideas to improve quality of life.

Reading Around Town: Macau’s Cultural Affairs Bureau says more than 40 free “10-Minute Reading Corners” are now open across the city and Hengqin, with venues and community groups invited to join the network. Lusofonia Festival: The three-day festival opens Friday at Taipa Houses, bringing food, music, crafts and performances from 10 Portuguese-speaking communities. Brazilian singer Fafá de Belém headlines as Macau marks the China-Brazil Cultural Year. Youth Culture: A Greater Bay Area street-dance competition in Guangzhou blended intangible heritage with contemporary dance, bringing young performers together to reinterpret tradition. Language & Learning: Macau’s first King Sejong Institute, partnered with MUST and South Korea’s Sejong University, is expanding Korean-language and cultural education. Double Ninth: Macau recorded 146,124 visitor arrivals on the Chong Yeong Festival, up 31% year on year, as families observed the traditional day of ancestor remembrance.

Culture & Heritage: The 29th Lusofonia Festival runs Friday to Sunday at Taipa Houses, celebrating Portuguese-speaking communities with food, music and performances. Brazilian singer Fafá de Belém headlines, as Macao marks the China-Brazil Cultural Year. Youth Voices: A Hengqin contest brought local students together to present tech ideas and tell stories of Chinese cities’ traditions, linking cultural heritage with contemporary creativity. City Life: Macao welcomed 146,124 visitors on the Chong Yeong Festival, up 31% from last year, as families observed the holiday by visiting ancestral graves. Sport & Community: The 3×3 Greater Bay Area Tour final is underway at the Ruins of St Paul’s through 21 October, with teams competing for more than MOP700,000 in prizes. Learning & Exchange: Macao’s first King Sejong Institute is expanding Korean language and cultural education at MUST, while a Greater Bay Area youth street-dance competition gave intangible heritage a contemporary twist.

Sport & City Life: Chinese Taipei’s Wang Wei-Hsuan won the Macao Open on Sunday, sealing victory with a playoff birdie after an eagle on the 18th. The 3×3 Greater Bay Area Tour Macao Final tipped off Monday at the Ruins of St. Paul’s and runs through Oct. 21. Tourism & Exchange: Macao hosted a “Sojourn in Guizhou” promotion on Oct. 17, bringing together cultural and tourism representatives to explore cooperation and travel offerings. The Global Tourism Economy Forum also opened in Macao, with leaders discussing ways to make tourism more resilient and sustainable. Culture & Learning: Sejong University and MUST are expanding Korean language and cultural education through Macao’s first King Sejong Institute. A youth street-dance competition in Guangzhou also blended contemporary dance with intangible cultural heritage. Coming Up: The Lusofonia Festival begins next week, bringing traditional music and dance to Macao’s neighbourhoods and celebrating Sino-Lusophone cultural exchange.