MGTO introduces event highlights at press conference
【MGTO】Promotional video for the 34th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest
Organized by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), the 34thMacao International Fireworks Display Contest (“the Contest”) will dazzle the cityscape from 12 September to 4 October. Centering around the main theme of “Set Sail for Macao, where the Silk Road Sparkles”, the Contest will weave fireworks and drone shows into a series of mesmerizing extravaganzas for the first time. In tandem with the Fireworks Carnival and other outreach activities, the spectacular displays will be woven with vibrant community activities to enrich what Macao has to offer as a metropolis pulsing with events, sparking the synergy of “tourism + events” for more robust tourism and nighttime economy.
MGTO held a press conference today (26 August) as the organizer to unveil the ten contestant teams, event highlights and outreach activities. A blessing ceremony was held on the same day.
MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes highlighted that arriving at the 34th edition, the Macao International Fireworks Display Contest remains the city’s iconic annual event. Since its inception, the Contest has been carrying on the commitment to innovation and diversity, painting Macao’s unique charm of “tourism + events” on the sky for local and visiting spectators. This year, ten dazzling fireworks displays will be staged in the Contest with the debut of large-scale drone shows, to orchestrate wondrous stories in a symphony of lights and music for a new pinnacle of enjoyment.
Ten fireworks companies light up the sky
The 34th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest will take place above the sea from across Macau Tower at 9 p.m. and 9:40 p.m. on 12, 19 and 25 September, 1 and 4 October. The fireworks nights will cover the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day. In accord with the program, fireworks companies from Brazil, Switzerland, Italy, Canada, Portugal, Korea, Thailand, China, the Philippines and the United Kingdom will successively present spectacular displays around the major theme, each spanning about 18 minutes.
This year marks the debut of the fireworks companies from Brazil, Switzerland, Italy and Portugal in Macao, whereas six other companies have competed in Macao before, including the British, Philippine and Chinese companies which won the top three places in the Contest last year (2025). The strong line-up highlights the city’s impact as an international exchange platform.
One major theme and three chapters
Large-scale drone shows lift and draw the curtain on the Contest
Revolving around the major theme of “Set Sail for Macao, where the Silk Road Sparkles”, the Contest incorporates large-scale drone shows as opening and closing highlights for the first time.
The Contest consists of three chapters overall — “Encounter with History”, “Encounter with Civilization” and “Encounter with the Future”. The ten fireworks teams will launch a kaleidoscope of fireworks as the “Encounter with Civilization”, interwoven with the major theme “Set Sail for Macao, where the Silk Road Sparkles”. Over 3,400 drones will illuminate the sky with magnificent formations, to unveil and conclude the first and final fireworks nights known as the “Encounter with History” and “Encounter with the Future”.
Fireworks for double celebrations on Mid-Autumn and National Day
The Portuguese and Korean companies will present fireworks displays on 25 September, the Mid-Autumn Festival. On 1 October, the companies from Thailand and China will enliven the celebrations of the National Day with the splendor of fireworks. Following the two finale displays on 4 October, a prize-giving ceremony will reveal the winners of the year.
New vantage points in Zhuhai and Hengqin
MGTO once again recommends six great vantage points this year as follows: from Kun Iam Ecumenical Centre to Leisure Area of Kun Iam Statue Waterfront on Avenida Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, the waterfront at Macao Science Center, Avenida de Sagres (next to Mandarin Oriental, Macau), Anim’Arte NAM VAN, Caminho Marginal do Lago (next to YOHO Treasure Island Hotel) and Avenida do Oceano in Taipa. Five new vantage points beyond Macao are also recommended this year — Shizimen, Jialin Mountain and Lovers’ South Road in Zhuhai; Hengqin Financial Island and Hengqin Bridge. From different angles, spectators can enjoy the fireworks that set off the unique scenery in both destinations connected by the sea.
Sound systems are installed at the spectators’ zones in Macao. Synchronized music will stream from TDM - Radio Macao's Chinese Channel (FM100.7) at 9 p.m. and 9:40 p.m. every fireworks evening, while the fireworks displays will be live broadcast on TDM Ou Mun TV Channel and TDM Entertainment TV Channel, as well as on TDM’s website and mobile application.
An array of outreach activities
Photo Contest features new category for Hengqin residents
The Photo Contest, Student Drawing Contest and AI Generative Art Contest will once again be held in parallel with the Fireworks Contest to offer an opportunity for students and enthusiasts of photography and AI creation to bring fireworks to life in creative artworks. This year, the Photo Contest will include a new category for Hengqin residents, who can record the beauty of fireworks through the lens.
The three parallel contests are coordinated respectively by the Photographic Society of Macao, the Macau Artist Society and the Association Culture Metadata Technology of Macau. For more information and application forms, please visit the Fireworks Contest’s website: https://fireworks.macaotourism.gov.mo, the Photographic Society of Macao’s website: www.psm.org (for Photo Contest), the Macau Artist Society’s website: https://masmacau.com (for Student Drawing Contest), or follow the WeChat Account of the Association Culture Metadata Technology of Macau: https://www.aaam.org.mo (for AI Generative Art Contest).
Join interactive game to win one-person roundtrip air ticket
The Contest features an online interactive game this year. Visitors and residents can enter MGTO’s WeChat mini-program interactive zone to complete the game tasks and guess the champion team, to join the lucky draw for a chance to win MGTO’s souvenirs and one roundtrip air ticket between Macao and the Chinese mainland, among other prizes.
Enjoy fun and delicacies at Mak Mak-themed Fireworks Carnival
MGTO and the General Union of Neighborhood Associations of Macau will once again co-host the Fireworks Carnival next to the waterfront of Macao Science Center from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on each fireworks evening. In decoration themed as Mak Mak, the Fireworks Carnival will offer a fascinating blend of delicacies, performances and games, sparking more joy on the fireworks nights.
Traffic arrangements for kind attention
During the fireworks shows, temporary suspensions will be imposed on the metered parking and motorbike parking spaces at Rua da Torre de Macao, Sai Van Lake Square and Rua do Lago Sai Van. Temporary traffic restrictions will also be implemented on the Avenida Panorâmica do Lago Sai Van, Rua do Dr. Lourenço Pereira Marques, Avenida do Oceano da Taipa and Avenida dos Jardins do Oceano near Ocean Gardens, for the public’s kind attention.
Contingency plans for safety concerns
Fireworks installment and launch pose certain safety risks and must be conducted in strict compliance with safety standards to ensure the quality and safety of operations throughout the process. The entire procedure of installment commonly requires about four days.
With the Contest falling into the typhoon season, MGTO will also closely monitor the special weather forecasts from the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau through the interdepartmental mechanism and promptly assess the weather’s impact upon safety and the Contest’s schedule. Contingency plans will be implemented in accord with the typhoon conditions. Event rearrangements will be announced to the public as soon as possible.
Prestigious event sets off destination appeal
Since 1989, the Macao International Fireworks Display Contest has attracted top-notch fireworks companies from worldwide and developed into one of Macao’s prestigious events. Over the years, the Contest has kept reaching a new level of excellence for enjoyment and widening the variety of parallel activities, manifesting Macao’s charm as an international destination teeming with spectacular events and vibrant communities. The Contest keeps enriching Macao’s offerings as a world centre of tourism and leisure on the road to stellar tourism development.
