Highlights of the Can Tho City Expanded Lion and Dragon Dance Festival 2026

After two days of exciting competition, the Can Tho City Open Lion and Dragon Dance Championship, themed "Celebrating the Glorious Party - Celebrating the Year of the Horse 2026," has concluded, showcasing the serious and systematic investment of the participating teams. The event became an ideal meeting point for lion and dragon dance troupes from within and outside the city to spread their pride in preserving traditional art forms.

The exam papers were meticulously prepared.

The rhythmic drumming and vibrant colors of the exciting competitions helped the 2026 Can Tho City Lion and Dragon Dance Championship attract a large crowd of spectators, creating a lively atmosphere in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year). Each participating lion and dragon dance troupe showcased its unique style through performance, formation, and control techniques. The performances went beyond simply recreating familiar routines, emphasizing technical skill, difficulty, safety, and coherence in the performance script. Many entries demonstrated a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation, preserving the essence of lion and dragon dance while adapting to a modern performance space.

Commenting on the professional quality of the competition, Mr. Luong An Duong, Chairman of the Can Tho City Lion and Dragon Dance Federation and Head of the Referee Team, said: “This year's competition showed clear progress from the participating teams. Many performances were elaborately prepared, highly educational , and featured many difficult movements while ensuring safety, demonstrating the serious and professional spirit of the athletes. Through this competition, we contribute to fostering pride and awareness of preserving the art of Lion and Dragon Dance, especially among the younger generation.”

The competition also provides an opportunity for participating teams to interact, exchange experiences, and improve their performance skills. Through practical experience, athletes gain more competitive spirit, cultivate teamwork, and develop an awareness of preserving traditional cultural identity. Professional feedback from the judging panel and shortcomings during the competition are all valuable lessons for the teams to improve.

Dao Tran Gia Han, a member of the Thao Vy Duong Lion and Dragon Dance Troupe (Phong Dien commune), said: “Participating in the competition is not only about competing but also an opportunity for me to learn new techniques, how to organize formations, and how to perform more effectively. All the troupes have improved, and I am even more aware that I need to try harder.”

Through this competition, Can Tho City's sports sector continues to affirm its role in preserving and promoting the art of Lion and Dragon dance, creating a foundation for discovering and nurturing core forces to serve performance and competition activities. According to Mr. Lam Thanh Dung, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho City, maintaining the annual expanded Lion and Dragon Dance Championship demonstrates the city's interest in this traditional art form, while contributing to guiding the movement towards stable, systematic, and sustainable development.

The 2026 Can Tho City Open Lion and Dragon Dance Championship was not only successful in terms of organization and professionalism, but also contributed to gradually standardizing the regulations and content of the competition. This is an important foundation for the Lion and Dragon Dance movement to have an annual event, creating motivation for troupes to invest in serious training, aiming for safe, professional development that is suitable for modern life.

Text and photos: HONG NHUNG

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/dau-an-giai-lan-su-rong-tp-can-tho-mo-rong-2026-a198348.html