Negosentro Media | NCCA Celebrates the Shared and Diverse Filipino Identity of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao Through the 7 Arts | As February draws near, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) once again takes the lead in mounting National Arts Month (NAM) 2026, uniting Filipinos nationwide under the theme “Ani ng Sining: Katotohanan at Giting.”
The theme highlights the transformative role of the arts in expressing truth, nurturing courage, and contributing to peace and sustainable development. Grounded in the goals of the Philippine Development Plan for Culture and the Arts and aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), NAM 2026 underscores how artistic expression mirrors shared experiences and collective aspirations of the Filipino people.
Observed every February under Presidential Proclamation No. 683, National Arts Month is spearheaded by the NCCA through a nationwide series of programs and activities. The 2026 celebration spans Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, ensuring broad regional participation while showcasing the country’s seven art forms: Architecture and Allied Arts, Cinema, Dance, Dramatic Arts, Literary Arts, Music, and Visual Arts.
Grand Launch at Luneta Park
The official opening of National Arts Month 2026 will take place on February 1 at Luneta Park in Manila, setting the tone for a month-long celebration of Filipino creativity.
Designed as a symbolic, performance-driven program, the launch brings the concepts of katotohanan (truth) and giting (courage) to life through the lampara, the central symbol of NAM 2026. Representing light, truth, and bravery, the ceremonial passing of the lampara traces the journey of Philippine arts—from their historical roots and institutions to the people and, ultimately, to the next generation.
The opening program features a vibrant mix of rituals, regional traditions, music, dance, contemporary performance, fashion, and spoken word. Performances by groups such as UST Salinggawi, UST Singers, Guiguiteno Dance Troupe, Echague Tribal performers, and the Philippine Ballet Theater, alongside LGBTQ+ community artist Monica Amanda Gana, highlight the diversity and dynamism of Philippine arts. A “Parada ng mga Sining” further animates the celebration, showcasing the seven art forms through imaginative costumes and creative presentation.
NAM 2026 in Luzon: Los Baños, Laguna
The Luzon leg of NAM 2026 will be held in Los Baños, Laguna from February 18 to 20, in partnership with ARTIST, Inc. The program focuses on Dramatic Arts and Architecture and the Allied Arts.
Activities begin on February 18 with workshops and discussions at the ART Center, Los Baños, bringing together artists, professionals, students, and community members for dialogue and creative exchange. On February 19, a collaborative theater production will be staged at the D.L. Umali Hall, University of the Philippines Los Baños, uniting practitioners of drama and architecture in partnership with the local government of Los Baños.
This regional celebration emphasizes community engagement, fostering connections among artists, the academe, youth, and professionals. A weaving performance will symbolically demonstrate the interrelationship of architecture and its allied disciplines, illustrating how the arts shape spaces, communities, and everyday life.
NAM 2026 in Visayas: Palo, Leyte
In the Visayas, National Arts Month 2026 will be celebrated in Palo, Leyte, under the sub-theme “Pag-uswag han Tawo ngan Kalibungan” (Climate Justice). The focus highlights the intersection of human development, environmental sustainability, and artistic expression.
The region’s NAM activities began early with a Climate Justice Symposium on January 12, 2026, attended by approximately 150 participants from various sectors. The event fostered dialogue on climate justice and its relevance to arts and culture, culminating in a workshop that helped shape the official regional celebration scheduled for February 18, 2026.
NAM 2026 in Mindanao: Butuan City and Davao City
In Mindanao, NAM 2026 unfolds across two key locations, beginning in Butuan City from February 12–14, 21–22, and 24–26, under the theme “Lawig Mindanaw: Kalinaw ug Kahigayunan” (Peace and Access). This leg emphasizes the role of dance, music, and film in promoting inclusion, dialogue, and lasting peace.
Highlights include Bagani Hong Lawod, a theater production by Balangay Repertory Theater that brings ancient Butuanon stories to the contemporary stage, and POSITIVITY 6, an exhibition featuring works by Butuanon and Caraganon artists exploring themes of belonging, equality, and access. Other activities include Sayaw Butuan Indigay, Tukar Butuan Indigay, and Sine Balangay, a film showcase dedicated to narratives rooted in Butuanon culture and language.
The second Mindanao venue is Davao City, where activities will run from February 20 to 21 under the theme “Ang Yuta, ang Tawo ug ang Kalinaw” (The Land, the People, and Peace). The two-day program highlights regional choreographers, visual artists, filmmakers, and Special Program for the Arts (SPA) teachers and students, culminating in a multimedia performance that reflects Mindanao’s collective stories and cultural identity.
ART FriDates: Extending the Celebration
To sustain the momentum of National Arts Month, the NCCA introduces ART FriDates, a weekly platform where artists and cultural workers can present performances and conduct workshops. Open to practitioners from all seven art forms, ART FriDates celebrates the diversity of artistic expression across the country.
ART FriDates will be held every Friday of February 2026 at the Blackbox Theater, Likhang Pilipino Complex, CITEM, World Trade Center, Pasay. Participating local government units include Angono, Rizal (February 6), Province of Bulacan (February 13), Biñan, Laguna (February 20), Quezon Province (February 27), and City of Muntinlupa (March 6). Admission is free, with the open house starting at 2:00 PM and performances beginning at 4:00 PM.
As National Arts Month 2026 unfolds, the NCCA invites the public to witness and take part in a nationwide celebration of Filipino creativity and cultural heritage. Dates for Ani ng Dangal 2026 and the closing ceremonies will be announced before the end of the month, promising a meaningful culmination to a vibrant tribute to Philippine arts and shared national identity.
