The tournament officially opened on the evening of June 17 at the Bac Ninh Provincial Gymnasium. The event is jointly organized by the Vietnam Lion and Dragon Dance Federation and the Bac Ninh People's Committee.

Mai Son, Standing Vice Chairman of the Bac Ninh People's Committee, presents flowers to congratulate participants at the opening ceremony of the 2026 National Lion and Dragon Dance Club Championship.

Among those attending the opening ceremony were Mai Son, Standing Vice Chairman of the Bac Ninh People's Committee, representatives of the Vietnam Sports Authority, leaders of the Vietnam Lion and Dragon Dance Federation, and delegates from local agencies and participating teams nationwide.

The championship serves as an important platform to assess training and competitive standards among the country's leading lion and dragon dance clubs.

Athletes perform during the opening ceremony of the 2026 National Lion and Dragon Dance Club Championship at the Bac Ninh Provincial Gymnasium.

It also provides an opportunity to identify outstanding athletes for further development and selection to Vietnam's national team for future international competitions.

In addition, the event helps referees, sports administrators and organizers gain practical experience in managing and conducting major tournaments.

Teams will compete in eight categories, including traditional lion dance, speed lion dance, male pole-jumping lion dance, mixed male-female pole-jumping lion dance, traditional dragon dance, speed dragon dance, freestyle dragon dance and luminous dragon dance.

As one of the country's premier lion and dragon dance competitions, the championship demands not only technical excellence but also teamwork, endurance, creativity and synchronization among performers.

Following the opening ceremony, athletes delivered a series of impressive performances, combining traditional cultural elements with modern artistic expression. Organizers said the performances reflected both competitive spirit and the pursuit of excellence.

The Bac Ninh 2 team performs during the 2026 National Lion and Dragon Dance Club Championship.

Competition events will continue through June 19. Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded in both individual and team categories, while overall championship flags will be presented to the best-performing delegations.

The 2026 championship marks the first time Bac Ninh has hosted a national-scale lion and dragon dance tournament, adding a highlight to the province's cultural and sporting calendar while promoting the image of Kinh Bac, a region known for its rich cultural heritage, dynamism and hospitality.

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