‘2026 Sands Shopping Carnival’ Kicks Off in Macao, Boosting Local Economy and Tourism

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The “2026 Sands Shopping Carnival”, one of Macau’s flagship annual events, kicked off last Thursday at the Cotai Expo at The Venetian Macau. Running for four consecutive days, from July 23-26, the carnival marked its seventh consecutive year since its inception in 2020, providing Macau’s SMEs, Sands retailers, and community partners with the city’s largest free exhibition and sales platform.

In support of the Macao SAR Government’s “Tourism+” strategy, this year’s carnival featured more than 580 distinct exhibition booths and an exciting and diverse program of activities, further cementing its status as Macao’s premier annual tourism and consumer event, while boosting visitor numbers and local spending throughout the city.

Since its first edition in 2020, the Sands Shopping Carnival has continued to grow in both scale and impact and has developed into a highly anticipated annual event for Macao residents and the Greater Bay Area visitors. Over the past six years, the carnival has attracted more than 640,000 visitors.

Together with this year’s edition, the carnival has provided over 4,000 complimentary exhibition booths, offering local SMEs, social service organisations, and Sands retailers a valuable platform to broaden their customer base, promote their brands, and market their products directly to consumers.

Eight Themed Zones and Diverse Participation

The 2026 Sands Shopping Carnival features eight themed exhibition zones: Home Goods, Food and Wine, Dining Area, Culture and Creativity, Sands Stores, Macau Specialties and Souvenirs, Fun and Leisure, and Sports Experience Zone. The event brings together a variety of international and local brands, as well as the city’s nonprofit organizations.

This year’s participating SMEs include Macao’s century-old brands, Macao classic brands, distinctive shops, and niche specialty businesses recognized under the Macao government’s “Expertinctive Shop” programme. The carnival aims to leverage its exhibition platform to showcase Macao’s unique brands and businesses.

In addition, the expanded Cultural and Creative zone welcomed the participation of diverse creative brands from Hong Kong and other Greater Bay Area cities. Meanwhile, the sought-after Food Court offers a one-stop culinary experience featuring distinctive and trending eateries across the city.

The new Sports Experience Zone featured a basketball shooting challenge, which helped generate excitement for the 2026 NBA China Games—scheduled to take place this October at The Venetian Arena—along with a very popular pickleball experience. Together, these activities offer four consecutive days of summer fun, combining dining, shopping, and entertainment for the public to enjoy.

Community Commitment and Official Support

Dr. Wilfred Wong, executive vice chairman of Sands China Ltd., reflected on the event´s journey: “Launched amid the pandemic in 2020, the Sands Shopping Carnival was born out of our commitment to standing shoulder to shoulder with Macao’s SMEs through challenging times. At the time, we took the bold step of opening up our resources and sharing our customer network with local SMEs at no cost, creating for them Macao’s largest free sales platform.

“Through seven years of dedicated efforts, the carnival has grown into a signature event in Macao, bringing together business opportunities, vibrancy and a strong sense of community. It has earned strong support from local residents and visitors from across the Greater Bay Area, drawing more than 640,000 visits over the past six years.

“The carnival not only helps boost local consumption but also provides an important platform to showcase Macao’s creativity, diversity, vitality and spirit of inclusion. As we continue to evolve the event, we remain committed to expanding its scale, enriching its offerings and engaging social service organisations to strengthen its position as an annual signature event for Macao.

“Our sincere gratitude goes to the Macao SAR government, the Macao Chamber of Commerce, and various sectors of society for their long-standing support of the event. Looking ahead, Sands China will continue to leverage the carnival’s strengths as a signature event to create more opportunities for Macao brands, bring joy to local residents and visitors alike, and support Macao’s economic diversification and development as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.”

Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, highlighted Macao’s recent tourism performance: “Earlier this July, the China Tourism Academy announced that Macao, China had secured the top position in its ‘2025 Top Ten Destinations for Chinese Outbound Tourist Satisfaction’ ranking for the second consecutive year, reflecting Chinese mainland visitors’ strong recognition of the city’s tourism experience.

“Macao received high praise in the ‘leisure and entertainment’ and ‘attractions and accommodation’ categories, an achievement made possible by the collective efforts of the community. As quality retail service plays a vital role in enhancing visitors’ overall experience, we encourage the retail sector to continue responding to market needs and delivering attentive services, further strengthening Macao’s position as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.”

Ma Chi Ngai, president of the board of directors of the Macao Chamber of Commerce, offered his perspective: “Now in its seventh year, the Sands Shopping Carnival has grown from a pioneering initiative into a signature tourism event that combines exhibitions, shopping, entertainment, and leisure experiences. This remarkable achievement reflects not only Sands China’s unwavering commitment to fulfilling its social responsibilities but also the dedication and perseverance of Macao’s SMEs over the years.

“Throughout the journey, we have worked closely with Sands China, united by the shared belief of supporting the growth of local SMEs. Together, we have been committed to fostering synergy between Macao’s integrated resort operators and local SMEs, creating opportunities for shared prosperity and mutual benefit.

“We are delighted to see a growing number of local SMEs leveraging this platform to showcase the potential and vigour of Macao businesses. Beyond stimulating local consumption, the event also reinforces Macao’s position as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, while supporting the city’s economic diversification efforts. On behalf of the Macao Chamber of Commerce, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Sands China, government departments, sponsoring organisations, exhibitors, residents and visitors for their invaluable support, and wish the event every success.”

Attractions, Discounts and Family Activities

The carnival offers shoppers more than 5,000 special MOP 1 items each day, along with huge discounts of up to 90 percent off. Additionally, a series of popular family-friendly activities is making a triumphant return, including:

• ICBC ePay Presents: Greater Bay Area Karaoke King Singing Competition

Since its debut in 2020, the event has been widely received. Building on the strong momentum of last year’s edition, it is once again open for free registration to contestants from Macao and other Greater Bay Area cities, giving them a valuable opportunity to showcase their talents on stage.

• BOC Smart Kids Presents: Little Master Chef Workshop

Led by Sands China’s food and beverage team, the family-favourite workshop has received enthusiastic supportsince its debut, attracting over 2,200 children over the past six years. Held daily throughout the carnival, the workshop features a different culinary theme each day. Participation is free, with on-site registration available.

• Bank of Communications Presents: “Play and Fun” Kids Area

The dedicated area features a kids’ playground, inflatable slides and carnival games, allowing children to play to their heart’s content while creating joyful family moments.

• Busking Corner

An open stage is available at the venue, inviting singing enthusiasts to register on site and share their passion for music and musical journeys with the audience.

Logistics and Public Access

The first day of the event (July 23) featured an exclusive session for invited guests only, while the following three days were open to the general public daily, free of charge, from 12 pm to 10 pm. To make it easier for the public to get to the venue, the event provided free bus service and free parking. For more information, visit and follow the official website, as well as the Sands Cares Facebook page, to stay up to date on the latest news.

Organisations and Support

The 2026 Sands Shopping Carnival was organised by Sands China Ltd. and co-organised by the Macao Chamber of Commerce (MCC), with the full support of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT), the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), and the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM). It is sponsored by BOC Macau, ICBC (Macau), Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., Macau Branch, and Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU).

Opening Ceremony

Guests of honour at Thursday’s opening ceremony included the director of MGTO, the head of the Economic Activities Development Department of DSEDT, the director of Board of Directors of IPIM, the assistant to the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, the president of the board of directors of MCC, the head of the Gaming Research Department and Liaison of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, the deputy general manager of BOC Macau Branch, the deputy chief executive officer of ICBC Macau, the vice president of Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. Macau Branch, the deputy chief executive officer of BNU, the executive vice chairman of Sands China Ltd., and the executive vice president and chief financial officer of Sands China Ltd. and managing director of Venetian Macau Limited.

Long-Term Commitment to Local SMEs

Sands China remains committed to advancing Macao’s SMEs through a variety of innovative and targeted measures. In addition to hosting the annual Sands Shopping Carnival, the company also prioritizes local procurement to further foster the development of the SMEs. Its commitment to the local SME sector has remained consistent since the launch of Sands China’s Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme with the Macao Chamber of Commerce in July 2015. The programme is in line with the Macao SAR government’s initiative to “buy local” and demonstrates Sands China’s ongoing dedication to supporting local enterprises as part of its corporate social responsibility efforts.