Supporting community inclusion for the seventh year running
Providing varied growth chances for the community

, /PRNewswire/ -- From its launch in 2020, Sands China has shaped the Sands Shopping Carnival into a leading yearly occasion that aids local SMEs and promotes social inclusion, demonstrating the firm's dedication to supporting local businesses and the Sands Cares ethos of advancing inclusion across the community. The seventh edition of the carnival wrapped up recently at Cotai Expo, featuring 20 social service groups and more than 100 Sands Cares Ambassador volunteers in the four-day gathering - which sought to offer stakeholders from different sectors in Macao added chances to join in, grow their operations, and connect with others. Despite difficult weather, this year's event drew robust attendance and steady public backing, uniting the community's caring spirit and forming a welcoming, varied platform that broadened participants' views and encouraged mutual aid.

As Macao's biggest consumption gathering, the Sands Shopping Carnival has long been eagerly awaited by local residents and visitors from the Greater Bay Area. This edition pulled in nearly 160,000 visits, setting a new high for the event. Total visits over seven years reached 800,000. Besides offering exhibition and sales spots for SMEs, the gathering has included local social service groups from the start, highlighting Sands China's focus on shared community progress. So far, the event has hosted 30 social service groups and aided nearly 1,500 service users, giving local groups valuable chances to display their skills and enjoy shared moments. More than 400 Sands Cares Ambassadors have given over 1,120 hours of volunteer time to the event, confirming Sands China's ongoing commitment to the Macao community.

At the carnival's "ICBC ePay Presents: Greater Bay Area Karaoke King Singing Competition," Sands China welcomed Chan Ka Keong, a visually impaired pianist from the Caritas Macau Sunshine Center, to perform live. His smooth playing connected with the crowd and earned warm applause, highlighting his skill while showing the carnival's goal of building inclusion through involvement and sharing.

Dr. Wilfred Wong, executive vice chairman of Sands China Ltd., said: "From the start, the Sands Shopping Carnival has aimed to unite Sands retailers, Macao's SMEs, and social service groups, helping local firms grow their reach while supporting those in need in the community. It has offered them a stage to show talent, encourage inclusion, and promote mutual aid. Over seven years, we have teamed with local social service groups, with numbers rising each year from five groups at the first event to 20 this time. We have also given practical learning chances to more than 1,000 service users, aiding their social integration, confidence building, and shared progress. Over 400 Sands Cares Ambassadors and Sands ECO360 Ambassadors have helped plan and run the carnival, backing community growth through their efforts. Even with poor weather this year, Sands Cares Ambassadors, event partners, exhibitors, and social service group members stayed dedicated and worked with us to handle issues. Together, we have made the carnival a key yearly event in Macao, showing the unity and shared support in the Macao community.

"Over seven years, the carnival has drawn 800,000 visits, aiding both economic and social progress. Beyond wide public involvement, it has built a spirit of mutual care and support in the community. We thank the Macao SAR government, the Macao Chamber of Commerce, our community partners, and local residents and visitors for their help. Sands China will keep the Sands Cares spirit alive and use the carnival to support Macao's growth and inclusiveness."

Building a display and sales stage for community ties

Run July 23-26 at The Venetian Macao, this year's carnival featured more than 580 exhibition booths, gathering international and local brands across eight themed zones: Household Products, Gourmet and Wine, Food Court, Cultural and Creative, Sands Retailers, Macao Specialties and Souvenirs, Play and Fun, and the Sports Experience Zone. The event included a record 20 social service groups this year, showing Sands China's ongoing push for deeper community ties. These groups cover services like rehabilitation, youth growth, animal welfare, and aid for vulnerable people. The Centro de Servicos Integrados Diurnos Chon I da Uniao Geral das Associacoes dos Moradores de Macau joined for the first time among this year's participants.

The carnival gave trainees from social service groups, especially those with special educational needs, a chance to display and sell their handmade creative items, crafts, and foods - allowing them to gain real work experience, build confidence, improve job skills, and join society more fully. During the event, participants shared the ideas behind their products with visitors and gained praise through customer talks. These moments also helped the public learn more about the work and successes of the social service groups, building understanding and inclusion in the community.

Chan Chi Neng, manager of the Noah Youth Growth and Development Centre, said: "The Sands Shopping Carnival has given young people in recovery in Macao a strong stage to show their worth to the community. It has let them move from service users to contributors, while gaining confidence by giving back. This year, we displayed a new clothing line made by our trainees and drawn from Macao's cultural roots at the carnival, letting locals and visitors see their skills and promise. We thank Sands China for this useful stage, which has boosted public awareness and backing for young people in recovery while supporting a more inclusive society."

Chan Hoi Ieong, director of the Centro de Servicos Integrados Diurnos Chon I da Uniao Geral das Associacoes dos Moradores de Macau, said: "The Sands Shopping Carnival acts as a key stage for us to reach the public and help more people see the potential and effort of our service users. Its size and reach give us a great way to connect with a bigger audience and display the items made by our users along with their professional abilities. We appreciate Sands China for giving them this talent showcase chance. Through our work together, we share the message that ability has no bounds and bias can be beaten, while building a more inclusive community."

Spreading joy with the community and encouraging involvement

To share the carnival's energy with more local families, Sands China invited nearly 90 family members from the Macau IN Volunteer Group and the Macao True Goodwill Friend Association for parent-child activities on July 23, the opening day. With nearly 50 Sands Cares Ambassadors, they enjoyed interactive sessions like children's electric balance bikes, pickleball, Little Master Chef Workshop, and carnival games. Full of laughs and fun, these activities let families spend quality time, make memories, and feel the community's warmth and support.

An inclusive stage for community talents

Sands China again teamed with Macau Special Olympics for the "MSO Little Reporter Program" this year, giving members with special educational needs a chance to act as reporters. Participants joined the carnival's opening and interviewed exhibitors, gaining direct news reporting experience. Highlights from their interviews will appear on MSO's social media, helping them improve communication and presentation skills, letting the public better see the abilities of those with special educational needs, and supporting a more inclusive community.

The 2026 Sands Shopping Carnival was arranged and co-arranged by the Macao Chamber of Commerce, with full backing from the Economic and Technological Development Bureau, the Macao Government Tourism Office, and the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute. It was sponsored by BOC Macau, ICBC (Macau), Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. Macau Branch, and Banco Nacional Ultramarino.

In line with the Macao SAR Government's "Tourism+" plan, the carnival has given local SMEs, Sands retailers, and community partners Macao's largest free exhibition and sales platform for seven straight years. It has become Macao's top yearly tourism and consumption event, aiding the city's economic variety. The carnival keeps creating positive social effects by uniting the community and offering growth and involvement chances for those in need, helping Macao form a more caring, inclusive, and lively society.

About Sands China Ltd.

Sands China Ltd. (Sands China or the Company) is set up in the Cayman Islands with limited liability and is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKEx: 1928). Sands China is the biggest operator of integrated resorts in Macao. The Company's integrated resorts on the Cotai Strip include The Venetian Macao, The Plaza Macao, The Parisian Macao, and The Londoner Macao. The Company also owns and runs Sands Macao on the Macao peninsula. The Company's portfolio offers a mix of leisure and business draws and transport operations, including large meeting and convention spaces; a wide range of restaurants; shopping malls; world-class entertainment at The Venetian Arena, The Londoner Arena, The Venetian Theatre, The Parisian Theatre, The Londoner Theatre, and Sands Theatre; and a high-speed Cotai Water Jet ferry service between Hong Kong and Macao. The Company's Cotai Strip portfolio aims to help turn Macao into a world center of tourism and leisure. Sands China is a unit of global resort developer Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS).

For more details, please visit www.sandschina.com.

Sands Cares

A strong believer in corporate social responsibility, Sands China Ltd. works with the local Macao community as part of Sands Cares - the charitable giving program of parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp. Sands Cares combines the company's giving work worldwide in four main areas: financial giving, community problem solving and collaboration, in-kind donations, and team member volunteerism.

Key areas of Sands Cares in Macao include the Sands Cares Ambassador program for volunteering in the local community; charitable contributions to NGOs and community groups; and sponsorship of community events.