The land of lotus
Historically, Macao was known poetically as the “Land of the Lotus” – a nickname rooted in its earlier geography, when the peninsula was said to resemble a lotus bud, before decades of land reclamation transformed the coastline. Today, the white lotus serves as the emblem of the Macao Special Administrative Region. That symbolism comes into full bloom during the annual Macao Lotus Flower Festival, organised by the Municipal Affairs Bureau, when public spaces across the city are filled with potted lotus plants. In the Taipa Houses area, elaborate floral displays transform the heritage precinct into one of the festival’s focal points.
Jun 12 to Jul 17 | Multiple locations | Free admission
Inspiring stage productions
The 36th Macao Arts Festival, organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, is currently under way. Festival highlights include a reimagined production of the classic “Swan Lake” (pictured) by the Shanghai Ballet, presented in collaboration with British choreographer Derek Deane on June 19 and 20. Closing this year’s festival is “Her Dynasty” by The Nine Theatre from Beijing on June 25 and 27. Performed in Mandarin, with Chinese and English surtitles, the production revisits the life of Chinese empress Wu Zetian. For the full programme and ticketing details, please visit the festival’s official website.
Now through Jun 27 | Multiple locations | www.icm.gov.mo/fam
Tiny windows, big stories
Stamp collectors and philatelic enthusiasts from around the world are converging on Macao for the city’s first global stamp exhibition. The Macao 2026 Specialized World Stamp Exhibition will be jointly organised by the Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau and the Macao Philatelic Association under the patronage of the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie. The exhibition is expected to feature around 1,500 display frames and approximately 50 booths, bringing together exhibitors, collectors and industry representatives from across the globe.
Jun 26 to Jul 1 | Cotai Expo Hall A,The Venetian Macao | Free admission | www.macao2026.org.mo
Walk the south shore
The second phase of the South Shore Waterfront Green Promenade, stretching between the Macao Tower and the Portas do Entendimento large-scale art installation, has officially opened to the public, adding a new recreational space along the city’s waterfront. Stretching 17,000 square metres, the expanded promenade features waterfront walking and cycling paths, alongside extensive landscaped greenery. The new leisure area includes waterfront seating where visitors can relax while taking in views of the shoreline and the Sai Van Bridge.
Daily | Enter via Portas do Entendimento, the footbridge in Avenida Panorâmica do Lago Sai Van, or the zebra crossing next to the car park under Sai Van Bridge| Free access
A ‘blazing’ performance
British conductor Christopher Warren-Green takes the podium as the Macao Orchestra joins forces with acclaimed Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov for an evening of Romantic-era masterworks at the city’s Cathedral. The concert, titled “The Blazing Keys”, features Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s celebrated “Piano Concerto No. 1”, widely regarded as one of the most powerful and recognisable works in the piano repertoire. The programme also includes the “Rhenish” Symphony by German composer Robert Schumann.
Jun 27 | 8pm | Cathedral | MOP200
Jewellery, the Westwood way
Jewellery takes centre stage in this exhibition exploring the aesthetic legacy and lasting influence of British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood (1941-2022). As part of an international touring exhibition, the Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery Exhibition 2026 Macau brings together pieces that chart four decades of the Vivienne Westwood fashion house’s archive and runway history, presented together as a collection for the first time.
Now through Jul 15 | 11am to 8pm (last admission at 7pm) | Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau | Free admission (booking in advance required) | art.sjmresorts.com
