16 lion and dragon dance teams will compete at Lam Vien Square
More than 500 athletes from 16 lion and dragon dance teams in Vietnam will gather at Lam Vien Square in Da Lat, Lam Dong Province, to compete in the 2026 National Lion and Dragon Dance Championship.
On April 7, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that it had coordinated with the Vietnam Lion and Dragon Dance Federation to hold a press conference on the second National Strong Lion and Dragon Dance Teams Championship 2026. The event will bring together 16 troupes with over 500 officials, coaches and athletes from various provinces and cities across the country.
This is a national cultural and sporting event aimed at honouring the traditional art of lion and dragon dance, preserving cultural identity, and promoting local tourism.
Participating teams come from provinces and cities such as Ninh Binh, Bac Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Khanh Hoa, Ba Ria–Vung Tau, Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City and Vinh Long. Notably, this year’s tournament also features a team from Military Region 3, adding diversity to the competition.
Host Da Lat will field three teams—Long Shen Da Lat, Thien Minh Da Lat and Style 2D Da Lat—promising impressive performances.
Teams will compete in three main categories: pole-jumping lion dance (mai hoa thung), featuring acrobatic techniques on high poles; ground lion dance (dia buu); and dragon dance, showcasing fluid movements that demonstrate the strength and agility of the traditional creature. Therefore, the events require athletes to demonstrate high technical skills and seamless coordination.
According to the organisers, from 5:00 p.m. on April 7, before the opening ceremony, all 16 teams would take part in a parade around Lam Vien Square. Vibrant colours and the rhythmic beats of festival drums are expected to energise the atmosphere and amplify the appeal of the event. Official competitions take place from April 8 to 12, with main events and award ceremonies scheduled from April 8 to 10 at Lam Vien Square.