Macao Beckons with September Sparkle and Autumn Discoveries

An evening of fireworks by the water, a playful celebration in the streets and a journey into local neighbourhoods make Macao an inviting choice for a September escape. The Macao International Fireworks Display Contest lights up the night sky, while World Tourism Day brings the annual tray race and a Mak Mak carnival filled with creative activities. Between the celebrations, the upgraded Tourism and “Leisure” Buses offer fresh ways to explore beyond the familiar sights.

There is plenty to look forward to later in autumn, too, with the Macao International Music Festival welcoming celebrated performers from October. For Hong Kong travellers ready to plan ahead, the “Experience Macao” Mega Sale puts hotel, ferry, dining and attraction offers within reach. Eligible foreign visitors arriving at Hong Kong International Airport can also take advantage of Fly You to Macao, adding another destination to their journey. Choose your highlights and make Macao your next stop.

Let Macao Light Up Your Night

Make time for an evening by the water as the 34th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest fills the sky with colour and music. Ten teams from around the world interpret the theme “Set Sail for Macao, where the Silk Road Sparkles”, each presenting approximately 18 minutes of pyrotechnic storytelling. September’s line-up pairs Brazil with Switzerland, Italy with Canada, and Portugal with Korea, before the contest continues into October. Drone performances give the opening and closing nights an extra flourish. Arrive early at the waterfront of Macao Science Center to enjoy the Fireworks Carnival, with food stalls, games and stage performances amid Mak Mak-themed decorations. It is an appealing way to make a full evening of the occasion, with entertainment before the displays begin. Alternatively, find a viewing spot at Anim’Arte NAM VAN and settle in to enjoy the displays as colour and music bring the night to life.

The 34th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest
Date: 12, 19 and 25 September; 1 and 4 October 2026
Time: 9:00pm and 9:40pm (approximately 18 minutes per display)
Venue: Waterfront by Macau Tower
Admission: Free

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Celebrate Macao’s Playful Side

The festivities move into the streets for World Tourism Day. On 27 September, cheer on hotel and restaurant staff as they race from the Ruins of St. Paul’s to Senado Square, balancing a beer bottle on a tray. This unusual test of speed and skill is accompanied by a colourful “Mascots Parade”, adding to the celebratory mood. At Tap Seac Square, the Mak Mak World Tourism Day Promotion Carnival 2 brings local merchants and young arts groups together for more creative discoveries. Browse the cultural and creative market, enjoy singing, dance, music and magic performances, and look out for face painting, clown encounters and mascot interactions on selected days. Those keen to try their hand at something new can register for workshops featuring Portuguese tiles, music boxes and DIY perfume. With activities to watch and others to join, the celebrations offer a cheerful introduction to Macao’s hospitality and community life.

2026 World Tourism Day
Date: Tray Race: 27 September 2026; Carnival market: 20–27 September 2026
Time: Tray Race: 3:00pm–6:00pm;
Carnival market: 4:00pm–8:00pm;
Venue: Tray Race: Ruins of St. Paul’s to Senado Square; Carnival: Tap Seac Square
Admission: Tray Race: Free; 
carnival admission and workshop fees: please refer to www.macaotourism.gov.mo

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Hop Aboard for Neighbourhood Discoveries

Beyond the festivities, make time to explore Macao’s neighbourhoods with the upgraded Tourism and “Leisure” Buses. For the first time, four community routes depart from the Ruins of St. Paul’s and Rua do Cunha, linking these popular sights directly with local districts. Operated by local tourism businesses, the routes connect multiple community stops, encouraging visitors to discover more of everyday Macao. Planned interactive installations in the ZAPE and San Kio districts add a cultural dimension, with themes including Mak Mak, contemporary Chinese aesthetics and Cantonese opera, alongside weekend performances. Inner Harbour Pier 25, expected to open in September, promises heritage displays and waterfront views, while Anim’Arte NAM VAN offers weekend arts and family activities.

Tourism and “Leisure” Buses
Duration: Until 3 January 2027; Saturdays, Sundays and National Day, Christmas and New Year holidays
Time: Noon to early evening; approximately hourly, with six departures per route daily
Venue: Various routes across Macao; four new routes depart from the Ruins of St. Paul’s and Rua do Cunha
Admission: Free

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An Autumn in Tune with Macao

For those planning a return visit, the 38th Macao International Music Festival offers a compelling reason to mark the autumn calendar. Under the theme “Silk Resonances”, the festival opens in October with Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe’s My Grand View Garden, starring Chen Lijun. Puccini’s Turandot brings another theatrical highlight, with Jackie Chan making his operatic directorial debut in a production that introduces Chinese martial arts to the stage. Piano lovers can hear Lang Lang in Recital: Iberian Rhapsody, while Tan Dun conducts the China National Symphony Orchestra in two contrasting programmes. Elsewhere, discover Brazilian body percussion with Barbatuques, Portuguese melodies from Lisboa String Trio and Sofia Vitória, and Baroque works performed at the Cathedral. “Floating Notes Across the City” extends the experience into local neighbourhoods through performances and interactive musical activities. With tickets already on sale, September is an opportunity to choose your performances and build a visit around them.

The 38th Macao International Music Festival
Duration: 2 October–29 November 2026
Time: Varies by programme
Venue: Macao Cultural Centre, Cathedral and various locations across Macao
Admission: MOP120–980 for ticketed concerts and operas; selected outreach activities are free.
Booking or registration may be required.

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Great Deals for Your Next Macao Escape

Bring those travel plans a step closer at the “Experience Macao” Mega Sale, part of Hong Kong Holiday & Travel Expo 2026 Autumn. China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited, EGL Tours, Wing On Travel and KKday will offer deals on hotel stays, ferry journeys, dining and popular attractions. Highlights include hotel packages with breakfast for two from HK$199 per person, selected one-way ferry offers for two from HK$50 per person, and hotel buffets from HK$99 per person. Daily specials also include dining vouchers and buy-one-get-one-free offers on selected buffet meals and water park admission. Whether you are arranging an overnight stay, a family outing or a visit centred on food and entertainment, the sale offers opportunities to put together your next Macao itinerary. Check which offers are available on each day before heading to the booth: quotas are limited, and the respective travel agencies’ terms and conditions apply.

“Experience Macao” Mega Sale
Date: 25–27 September 2026
Time: Sales: 11:30am–7:00pm;
          Exhibition: 11:00am–8:00pm
Venue: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Booth 5C-H01)
Admission: Please check with the expo organiser for admission details.

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One Journey, Two Destinations

For eligible foreign visitors arriving in Hong Kong, Fly You to Macao offers a convenient way to include both destinations in one trip. Available until 31 December 2026, the promotion provides a free one-way direct coach ticket from the restricted area of Hong Kong International Airport to Macao via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Overseas travellers can extend their journey to explore Macao’s attractions, enjoy its events and dining, and make time for leisure. It is another way to turn the possibilities on the calendar into a visit to remember.

Fly You to Macao
From now until 31 December 2026
www.macaotourism.gov.mo/en/article/promotion/fly-you-to-macao