MGTO Representatives

Note: All information is correct at the time of release.

Macao Travel News

Macao cancels, postpones events due to pandemic

As part of the effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Macao SAR Government announced in late September the cancellation or postponement of all major public events scheduled in the near term. Several public venues and facilities for culture, sport and leisure have also been closed.

Macao entered a state of immediate prevention at midnight on 25 September, after new, confirmed COVID-19 cases were identified in late September. The cases are linked to an imported COVID-19 infection. The Macao SAR Government enacted immediately its district- and risk-specific epidemic prevention plan, and announced a community-wide nucleic acid testing programme (read more here).

To safeguard public safety, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) suspended local tours of the “Stay, Dine and See Macao” programme from 25 September.

Entertainment activities due to be held to celebrate the October National Day Golden Week (1 to 7 October) were also called off. The “Light up Macao Drone Gala”, originally scheduled to take place in October, was postponed until further notice.

In addition, MGTO cancelled the World Tourism Day activities including the Tray Race and greeting the Lucky Tourists on 27 September, as well as the award ceremony for the “Incubation Plan for Macao’s Key Online Influencers in Tourism”, scheduled for the same day.

The Macao Grand Prix Museum and Ritz Building, including the Tourist Information counter and exhibition hall, are also temporarily closed. Other initiatives organised and supported by MGTO such as courses, sharing sessions and festive activities have also been postponed until further notice.

Events suspended

One major event placed on hold was this year’s edition of the Macao International Music Festival, dedicated to the theme “Music October”. The ticket sales opening day, scheduled for 25 September, was postponed. The concert by internationally acclaimed Chinese pianist Chen Sa, scheduled for 3 October, has also been cancelled.

All cultural facilities managed by the Macao SAR Government Cultural Affairs Bureau – including public libraries, museums, and venues for exhibitions and performances – were also closed from 25 September.

The “Art Macao” tours and the dance performance “Pulsating Morphosis” staged at the Macao Cultural Centre were cancelled.

Several other cultural performances have been halted, including the show “The Butterfly Lovers”, as the performing groups were unable to come to Macao.

The activity “Enigma Box”, part of the cultural tour in Taipa, and the outreach activity “Journey in Musical Corners”, integrated in the Macao International Music Festival, have been postponed.

All museums run by other government bodies were closed temporarily as well. They included the Maritime Museum, the Communications Museum, and the Macao Science Center.

Several public facilities run by the Macao SAR Government Municipal Affairs Bureau were also temporarily closed. They included activity centres, exhibition venues, information centres, the Macao Giant Panda Pavilion and its facilities, the Guia Hill Military Tunnels, the Natural and Agrarian Museum, and the Macao Tea Culture House.

The Municipal Affairs Bureau has put on hold the “Taipa Flea Market” and the “Gathering at Dusk in Senado Square”. It has also asked the organisers of the San Kio Dawn Market, Hong Kung Night Market, Amazing Market and other events to reduce mass gatherings and facilitate epidemic prevention and control.

The Macao SAR Government Sports Bureau has postponed the “FIBA 3×3 Macau Masters – Wynn Cup Greater Bay Area” basketball tournament planned for 4 to 10 October. Its sports and leisure facilities have also shut down temporarily.

For the latest information about pandemic prevention in Macao, please visit the Special Webpage Against Epidemics.