A series of festivals, including the 2025 Luminescent Night at Travessa do Armazém Velho and Light up Macao 2025, has taken over Macau this year-end and will continue through the early months of 2026.
The popular Light up Macao 2025, organised by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), illuminates three major districts – Nam Van District, Northern District and Zape District – from December 6, 2025 until January 13, 2026.
The immersive light festivals not only boost community tourism and nighttime economy for Macau, they also emphasise the city’s blended leisure offerings.
MGTO director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes said the events reflect Macau’s tourism + strategic approach to destination development, beautify urban spaces, and brings communities together.
Light up Macao 2025, themed Lightscape•Horizon, sees creative teams from around the world presenting light installations, interactive installations, and illuminations. Admission is free for residents and visitors from 18.00 to 22.00.
Various outreach activities, such as coffee grind workshops, luminescent pickle ball games, and Portuguese tile workshops, are also conducted across the three districts.
Rutger Verschuren, area vice president Macau & Hengqin of Artyzen Hospitality Group and general manager of Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau, told TTG Asia that while these events alone are not a “primary driver” of tourism, “they add colour and depth to Macau’s overall tourism offerings”.
“In that sense, it is a good step forward, and I hope it can be complemented over time by initiatives such as well-curated night markets and evening cultural activities in the peninsula that bring life back to the streets,” he added.
In Macau’s 2026 Policy Address made in November, the government expressed commitment to deepening the tourism + strategy by promoting collaboration across different sectors, such as Tourism + Sports and Tourism + Education. These efforts will contributing to adequate diversification and sustainable development of Macau’s economy.
Verschuren said: “Historically, Macau’s tourism has been closely linked to entertainment and gaming, particularly focused on Cotai’s integrated development. The next phase must be about broadening the reasons to visit – and more importantly, to stay longer.”
Macau has welcomed more visitors in 2025. In the first eleven months of the year, arrival numbers rose by 14.4 per cent year-on-year to reach 36,489,230 while same-day visitors and overnight visitors grew by 24.7 per cent and 2.4 per cent respectively.
“Relationships and connections with countries around the world through air transportation are necessary for an island nation like Japan, thus we believe we have a mission to make air transportation sustainable,” said Mitsuko Tottori, president of JAL.
