The 15th Genting World Lion Dance Championship will take center stage from July 25-27, 2025 at the Arena of Stars, Resorts World Genting in Malaysia.
Organised by Resorts World Genting and Federation of Selangor & Federal Territory Dragon and Lion Dance Association as the consultant, this year’s tournament will feature 40 lion dance teams from 15 countries and territories compete for the prestigious world title in Genting Highlands.
The countries and territories competing in the tournament are China, Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Canada, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, USA, Brunei, Myanmar, Taiwan, Singapore (defending champion) and Malaysia.
Malaysia will be represented by the nation’s top three lion dance teams, including Xuan Long Dragon and Lion Dance from Rawang,Catholic High School Alumni Association Dragon & Lion Dance Troupe from Petaling Jaya, and Tarian Singa Kwong Ngai from Kuala Lumpur, who won the top spot, second and third place respectively at the 20th Malaysia National Lion Dance Championship on Sept 22, 2024.
Audience can expect an unforgettable experience filled with breathtaking stunts and fierce competition, all under one roof.
In the lead up to the championship, an official press conference and draw lots ceremony was held at Wisma Genting, Kuala Lumpur on April 17, 2025.
Present at the event were Resorts World Genting sales, marketing and public relation executive vice-president Spencer Lee, Selangor & Federal Territory Lion and Dragon Dance Association chairman Leong Lik Tong, Futuromic Photo AV Sdn Bhd business development director Dato’ Billy Lai and its marketing and corporate senior manager Alex Moh.
Lee said, “This year’s championship is more than just a competition, it’s a global celebration of history, unity and talent. As we mark our 60th anniversary, we’re proud to elevate the art of lion dance to new heights and inspire the next generation of performers.”
Meanwhile, Leong announced the competition’s prize pool has been significantly raised with a whopping US$48,600 in total prize money.
“The grand champion will receive a cash prize of US$18,000 and have their team’s name engraved on the perpetual trophy, as well as individual trophies and medals.
“The first runner-Up will take home US$10,000, and the second runner-up will receive US$6,000, both accompanied by trophies and medals.
“Additionally, seven teams will receive Excellence Awards worth US$1,800 each,“ he said.
“A new addition this year is a special category – the “Best Difficulty Award” for the team that executes the most daring and intricate stunts. The winning team will receive US$2,000 cash prize and a trophy recognizing their technical mastery and creative innovation,” he added.
At the press conference, Miss Universe Malaysia 2024 Sandra Lim, a martial artist herself, made a surprise announcement via video, revealing that she will make a special appearance and performing for audiences at the final of 15th Genting World Lion Dance Championship.
In a statement, Tourism Malaysia director general Datuk Manoharan Periasamy said lion dance is a popular cultural arts performances among the Chinese community in Malaysia during Chinese New Year.
“This unique performance deserves to be shared and highlighted internationally. Resorts World Genting’s efforts in uplifting and upholding this culture in the global arena are to be commended. We believe this competition will be a major highlight for Visit Malaysia Year 2026,” he said.
The 15th Genting World Lion Dance Championship is supported by Tourism Malaysia and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, with official sponsors including Tomei and Nikon by Futuromic Photo AV Sdn Bhd.
Tickets for the three-day passes are available via rwgenting.com and the Resorts World Genting mobile app, priced at RM298 for numbered seating (PS1) and RM198 free seating (PS2).
For more information, visit rwgenting.com or its official social media channels.
