Sands Shopping Carnival – 4 free days of family fun happening now at Cotai Expo

97

Event Overview & Partnership

Now in its sixth year, the 2025 Sands Shopping Carnival opened July 17 at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Expo. Organised by Sands China Ltd. and co-organised by the Macao Chamber of Commerce—with support from DSEDT, MGTO, and IPIM—the four-day carnival promotes tourism+ integration by providing a free business platform for local SMEs and Sands retailers while offering residents and visitors a vibrant summer destination.

Opening Ceremony & Official Endorsements

Thursday’s invitation-only preview featured an opening ceremony with government, finance, business, and community leaders, including MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes and MCC Vice President of the Board of Directors U Kin Cho.

Their speeches underscored shopping’s pivotal role in tourism diversification and praised the carnival’s growth—from three community partners to a recordhigh 19—across food, crafts, and cultural ventures.

Scale & Attractions

Running noon–10 p.m. daily (public Fri–Sun), the carnival spans 21,000 m² of air-conditioned space with 580+ booths across eight zones:

• Sands Retailers
• Household Products
• Gourmet & Wine
• InternationalCuisine Food Court(eco-friendly utensils provided)
• Macao Cultural & Creative
• Play & Fun (children’s games)
• Coffee Zone (new, reflecting Macau’s café boom)
• Macao Specialties & Souvenirs

Highlights include daily MOP 1 items and discounts up to 90%. Free parking and shuttle buses connect to Nam Van, Border Gate, and Hengqin Port.

Signature Competitions & Workshops

• Bank of Communications Presents: GBA Kids Top Model Contest (ages 5–16)
• ICBC ePay Presents: GBA Karaoke King Competition (ages 16+)
• BOC Smart Kids: Little Master Chef Workshop (daily, on-site sign-up)

These attractions, alongside interactive booths and family shows, boost foot traffic and community engagement.

Local SME & Community Revitalisation

Since 2020, the carnival has hosted nearly 3,400 booths and drawn 540,000 visitors, driving sales growth for SMEs.

This year, 19 community organisations and outstanding vendors from Sands China’s Community Revitalisation Series – Rua das Estalagens Entrepreneurship Programme are featured in food court and household zones—strengthening Macau’s unique economic fabric.

Economic & Tourism Impact

Dr. Wilfred Wong, Executive Vice Chairman of Sands China, noted that the carnival originated as a pandemic recovery initiative for SMEs and now draws crowds from across the Greater Bay Area, reinforcing Macau’s position as a world centre of tourism and leisure. He thanked government, banking, SME, and community partners for their ongoing support.