The Macao International Parade functions this year as one of the highlight events marking the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region. The 2019 edition takes as its theme “Love, Peace and Cultural Integration”. The Macao International Parade has been a fixture annually in the city’s cultural calendar since the event’s first edition in 2011.

This year’s edition had 16 teams of performers from outside Macao, each team representing either a country or region encompassed by the “Belt and Road” initiative. There was also a total 80 local troupes of artists, making the Parade a multicultural spectacle involving 1,800 performers in all.

The parade starts from the Ruins of St Paul’s, one of the city’s landmarks. Parade performers enliven the streets of the city’s heritage sites as they progress through the Historic Centre of Macao.

Here colourful ‘giants’ delight crowds of children and adults gathered in the streets of the old town.

Onlookers get the chance to see the artists at close quarters.

Onlookers get the chance to see the artists at close quarters.

Performers in robot-style metallic costumes give Macao’s streets the appearance of a vibrant open-air theatre.

Each participating troupe presents a distinct and extraordinary performance. They give onlookers the chance to experience a diverse range of cultures and art via a procession portion of the event – known as ‘VIVA Carnival' - on the streets of Macao.

Sai Van Lake Square is the Parade’s ultimate stop. There, the artists present a final colourful show featuring dance, masquerade and other creative performance. It provides onlookers a new and heightened level of cultural and artistic experience.

A firework performance lighting up Macao’s night sky marks a perfect ending to this year’s Macao International Parade.