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The Full Moon Illuminates the Macao Bay: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival in Macao

Published: 2026-09-26 👁 100 views

Last updated 2026-09-26 — From September 11 to 23, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau of Macao and its outlying islands will host a series of “The Full Moon Illuminates the Macao Bay” events to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, allowing residents and visitors alike to enjoy the reunion of people and moon, and the gathering of family and friends. Highlights include the “Lantern Viewing and Moon Appreciation Event,”...

From September 11 to 23, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau of Macao and its outlying islands will host a series of “The Full Moon Illuminates the Macao Bay” events to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, allowing residents and visitors alike to enjoy the reunion of people and moon, and the gathering of family and friends. The program includes the “Lantern Viewing and Moon Appreciation Event,” “Origami Lantern Art Workshop – Sparkling with Colorful Paper,” “Happy Gathering: Mooncake Making and Game Zone,” and “Traditional Mid-Autumn Story Picture Exhibition.” With such a rich array of activities, don’t miss out on this festive celebration.

The most iconic impression many have of Macao is its egg tarts, as pictured here at the famous Margaret’s Egg Tarts shop.

One of the featured events, the “Lantern Viewing and Moon Appreciation Event,” will take place at 8:30 PM on September 22 (the 15th day of the eighth lunar month) at Tap Seac Square. A large creative tree will be set up on-site, and moon-gazing visitors can participate in the “Origami Lantern Art Workshop – Sparkling with Colorful Paper,” where instructors will guide participants in folding paper panda ornaments and various colorful floral and fruit shapes. When lit, the lanterns will create a dazzling display, adding atmosphere to the festival. The event will also feature a special “Happy Gathering: Mooncake Making and Game Zone” and “Traditional Mid-Autumn Story Picture Exhibition,” offering participants and children a more diverse and enriching experience to connect with traditional culture and art. These activities aim to uncover the fun side of the festival and the joy of artistic creation, serving as a platform to promote traditional festive culture.

That evening, the Guangdong Song and Dance Art Troupe will perform a variety of traditional ethnic music, singing, festive dancing, acrobatics, magic, and entertaining segments featuring actors dressed as characters from the Mid-Autumn legend—such as Chang’e—for photos with the public. The troupe brings together elite artists from Guangdong Province, including performers such as instrumentalist Lin Xianhui, vocalists Xu Chanjuan, Wu Simeng, dancers Chen Shanshan, Wen Yuyan, and Lu Qianfan, among others. This group includes young vocalists who have won top honors at the 2009 National Music Competition’s Golden Bell Awards and the inaugural “Teresa Teng Song Contest” in the Guangzhou division. Some members have been invited multiple times to perform in countries and regions such as Japan, Canada, Switzerland, Vienna’s Golden Hall, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, earning widespread acclaim for their exceptional performances.

Macao’s architecture is rich with strong Portuguese influences, as seen here at the Ruins of St. Paul’s.

Other event venues will also host exciting evening programs, featuring a lineup that includes performances of classic songs, Cantonese opera, moon appreciation over tea, lantern riddles, and Go games—offering a joyful way for the community to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival together.