Macao SAR Establishment Day (December 20): Handover History
Macao Special Administrative Region Establishment Day is a public holiday on December 20. At midnight on December 19–20, 1999, Portugal handed Macao back to China after more than 400 years, and the city became a Special Administrative Region under the principle of “one country, two systems”.
| Name | Macao SAR Establishment Day |
|---|---|
| When | Every year on December 20 |
| Next date | Sunday, December 20, 2026 · in 56 days |
| Type | Public Holidays |
| Observed in | 🇲🇴 Macau |
| Topic | Culture & HeritagePatriotic & History |
| First observed | 1999 |
| Public holiday? | Yes |
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Date | December 20 every year |
| Year | 1999 |
| From | Portugal |
| Principle | One country, two systems (for 50 years, until 2049) |
| Official languages | Chinese and Portuguese |
| UNESCO site | Historic Centre of Macao (2005) |
Four Centuries of History
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1557 | Portuguese traders settle in Macao |
| 1887 | Sino-Portuguese Treaty of Peking recognises Portuguese administration |
| 1987 | Joint Declaration on the Question of Macau signed |
| 1993 | Basic Law of the Macao SAR adopted |
| December 20, 1999 | Handover to China |
| 2005 | Historic Centre of Macao listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site |
East Meets West
- Ruins of St. Paul’s — the stone façade of a 17th-century church, Macao’s most famous landmark.
- Senado Square with its wave-patterned Portuguese pavement.
- A-Ma Temple, one of the oldest temples in the city, which may have given Macao its name.
- Macanese cuisine — a fusion of Portuguese, Chinese, African and Asian flavours; try Portuguese egg tarts and minchi.
- Macau Grand Prix, a famous street race held every November.
How the Day Is Marked
- Flag-raising ceremony at Golden Lotus Square.
- Parades, performances and fireworks.
- Lights and decorations across the city during the festive season.
👉 Also December 20: International Human Solidarity Day
One Country, Two Systems in Practice
| Area | Macao | Mainland China |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | Pataca (MOP) | Renminbi (CNY) |
| Driving | On the left | On the right |
| Official languages | Chinese (Cantonese widely spoken) and Portuguese | Standard Chinese (Mandarin) |
| Border | Separate immigration checks | — |
Macao’s Economy
Macao is famous as one of the world’s biggest gaming and entertainment centres, with resorts in the Cotai area. In recent years the government has worked to diversify the economy into tourism, conventions, traditional Chinese medicine and finance. In 2017 Macao was named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, recognising its unique Macanese cuisine.
Other Macao Holidays
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| Chinese New Year | January/February (lunar) |
| Ching Ming Festival | Early April |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | September/October (lunar) |
| National Day of the People’s Republic of China | October 1 |
| Macao SAR Establishment Day | December 20 |
When is Macao SAR Establishment Day?
Macao SAR Establishment Day is observed every year on December 20. Here are the dates for the coming years:
| Year | Date | Day of the week | Countdown |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | December 20, 2026 | Sunday | in 56 days |
| 2027 | December 20, 2027 | Monday | in 421 days |
| 2028 | December 20, 2028 | Wednesday | in 787 days |
| 2029 | December 20, 2029 | Thursday | in 1152 days |
| 2030 | December 20, 2030 | Friday | in 1517 days |
| 2031 | December 20, 2031 | Saturday | in 1882 days |
FAQ
It is celebrated on December 20.
Portugal handed Macao to China on December 20, 1999.
Macao keeps its own economic and administrative system, with a high degree of autonomy, while being part of China, for 50 years after 1999.
Yes. The Historic Centre of Macao was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.