Iloilo’s thriving creative community takes center stage this October as Iloilo Arts Festival 2026 transforms Iloilo Business Park, Megaworld’s township in Iloilo City, into a month-long showcase of music, dance, visual arts, film, fashion, craftsmanship, and Ilonggo culture.
Among this year’s highlights are a special performance and art exhibit by internationally acclaimed Ilonggo singer Jed Madela, a retrospective honoring National Artist for Dance Agnes Locsin, and the Ilonggo Cinema Festival, featuring 37 Ilonggo films.
Presented by Iloilo Business Park together with the Iloilo City Government, Iloilo City Local Culture and Arts Council, Iloilo City M.I.C.E. Center, and Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc., the festival carries the theme “Panan-awan,” a Hiligaynon word for perspective or one’s way of seeing.
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| President and CEO of MREIT Inc., Head of Arts and Culture Arnie Batac; Iloilo Arts Festival Assistant Festival Director Jay Treñas; Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. Former President Allan Tan; Ilonggo singer Jed Madela; and FVP and Head of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls Javier Hernandez mark the opening of Iloilo Arts Festival 2026 at Iloilo Business Park |
Ilonggo Icons Take Center Stage
The celebration opens on October 3 with Jed Madela taking the stage for a special musical performance. Beyond music, Madela also shares another side of his creativity through an exhibit of his V-Boy Mad Madd World collection, featuring a blind box series of original art toys personally designed by the award-winning artist.
On October 17, the festival honors National Artist for Dance Agnes Locsin with “Dance Is My Life,” a retrospective exhibition celebrating her distinguished career and contribution to Philippine dance. Archival photographs, costumes, and multimedia materials trace the evolution of her work and the artistic legacy she continues to build.
Art, Film and Ilonggo Creativity
Throughout October, exhibitions and creative programs unfold across the township. At the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art’s Hulot Gallery, “BREATHE” by Ilonggo photographer Dr. Malbar G. Ferrer captures Iloilo’s landscapes, people, and everyday life.
Festive Walk Iloilo also hosts “Tan-aw: Interactive Visual Art,” featuring works and activities by Ilonggo artists, while “Tan-aw: Art Projection” transforms the Parksquare at Casa de Emperador into a canvas for large-scale visual displays.
From October 14 to 18, Festive Walk Cinema hosts the Ilonggo Cinema Festival (ICFest), presenting 37 Ilonggo films and welcoming filmmakers and artists including Joey Reyes, Jo Andrew Torlao, Kevin Pison Piamonte, and Gabby Padilla.
The festival also celebrates craftsmanship and design through wood carving, watercolor and block-printing workshops, alongside “Habi Noir: The Ilonggo Fashion Affair” on October 23, featuring Ilonggo designers Totong Gellangarin, Yepyep Mesina, Doddie Vril Tan, John Lee Betita, Jeff Ticao, and Jun G Candelario.
A food fair at Festive Walk Parade completes the month-long celebration.
A Home for Iloilo’s Creative Community
As Iloilo City’s Center of Arts and Culture, Iloilo Business Park continues to provide a platform for Ilonggo artists, cultural institutions, and audiences to come together.
Home to the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA) and the Emperador Brandy Museum, the township continues to strengthen Iloilo’s growing creative landscape through programs that bring art, heritage, and contemporary expression closer to the community.
For updates, visit megaworld-lifestylemalls.com and follow Iloilo Business Park and Festive Walk Iloilo on their official social media pages.