Ayumi Hamasaki cancels Macau concert

Japanese pop star Ayumi Hamasaki confirmed on her Instagram account on Tuesday that her Macau concert has been cancelled, expressing that she is "extremely regretful" about the decision.

The cancellation follows the abrupt halting of her Shanghai concert due to "unforeseen circumstances" or "force majeure." 

Hamasaki stated that her Asian tour was originally scheduled to end in Macau on January 10, 2026, but the concert was cancelled after discussions with the organizers.

Kyodo News suggested the cancellation may be related to tensions in Sino-Japanese relations following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's comments in a parliamentary debate regarding Taiwan.

Hamasaki promised that ticket holders for the cancelled Shanghai and Macau shows will be given priority access to purchase tickets for her tour planned for 2026.

The singer's large-scale concert in Shanghai was originally scheduled for November 29, but she received an urgent notification to call off the performance on the morning of November 28. Following the Shanghai cancellation, online photos circulated allegedly showing Hamasaki performing the entire show once without an audience; she later confirmed this in an Instagram Story.