As the year draws to a close, Macau is welcoming visitors with a vibrant program of cultural events and festive attractions designed to create lasting winter memories.
One of the season’s centerpieces is “Light up Macao 2025,” running from December 6 to January 11, 2026. The festival will transform the Nam Van, Northern, and ZAPE districts into immersive light art zones.
28 installations fuse local and international creativity
Under the theme “Lightscape • Horizon,” 28 light installations—created by teams from Macau, mainland China, Portugal, South Korea, Australia, and the United States—will showcase a blend of local imagination and global artistry.
A key highlight will be a dynamic 3D projection mapping show that animates the façade of the Macao Grand Prix Museum. The six-minute projection will run every 15 minutes in the evenings.
All installations will be open to the public free of charge from 6pm to 10pm daily.
Festivities to light up the night
Complementing the visual displays, a carnival featuring food stalls, cultural booths, and games will take place near the Macao Grand Prix Museum on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and designated holidays.
Meanwhile, MGTO will host “ZAPE Christmas Wonderland” between Rua de Cantão and Rua de Pequim, offering a Christmas-themed street zone with illuminations, installations, and interactive experiences.
A night walk through Macau’s old streets
From December 6 to March 5, 2026, visitors can join “2025 Luminescent Night at Travessa do Armazém Velho”—a nighttime walk set amid starlit displays.
Lanes along Rua dos Ervanários, Rua de Nossa Senhora do Amparo, Rua da Tercena, and Pátio de Chôn Sau will be transformed into an immersive light theater featuring interactive art, mobile games, and workshops.
Together with various community events, Light up Macao 2025 aims to enrich the city’s holiday atmosphere and boost nighttime spending.
Winter wonderland with a multi-sensory feast
Adding to the seasonal celebrations, City of Dreams has launched “Splendor of A Festive Dream,” running until January 4, 2026.
Its most eye-catching centerpiece is a 13-meter-tall golden reindeer that rotates gently to music like a giant music box. As night falls, a pink-gold Christmas tree and illuminated reindeer scatter the garden, accompanied by a daily “Bubble Show” of floating bubbles and ambient soundscapes.
Santa Claus will make surprise appearances to greet guests and hand out festive gifts. Visitors can also send seasonal messages via unique postcards available on-site.
The garden’s “Dancing Note Elves” installation forms part of the ongoing “Artletics” exhibition by French contemporary artist Laurent Perbos, exploring the interplay between athletics and aesthetics. Among the featured works is “Beauty and Gesture,” previously showcased at the French National Assembly during the Paris 2024 events.
Silk Road exhibition opens at Poly MGM Museum
For art and history lovers, the Poly MGM Museum has launched “Silk Road Beyond Borders,” an exhibition running until August 10, 2026.
Featuring more than 200 artifacts, the exhibition traces the history of cultural exchange along the ancient Silk Road, aligning with Macau’s aspiration to serve as a platform where “Chinese culture serves as the mainstream and diverse cultures coexist.”
‘Elevated’ dining experience
For thrill-seekers, “Dinner in the Sky” offers a culinary experience suspended 50 meters in the air. Guests can enjoy a menu prepared by a five-star chef while sharing a six-ton metal platform with 22 other diners—combining fine dining and high-altitude adventure.
