Top 8 Festivals in the Philippines 2026

Every country has its own unique traditional festivals, and different festivals also reflect different local customs, which also attract tourists to experience them for themselves. The Philippines is one of the countries with the most festivals as well as some unexpected special celebrations held by local people. Visitors can not only enjoy the unique natural scenery here but also have the opportunity to participate in local events and celebrations. For your full enjoyment of this country, the following six festivals should not be missed.

Christmas in the Philippines

Christmas in the Philippines is not just a holiday, it is a season that captures the heart of the nation. Known for being the longest Christmas celebration in the world, the season begins as early as September and continues until the first week of January. This extended period, often referred to as the "Ber months," is marked by a sense of joy and anticipation that fills homes, streets, and public spaces alike.

One of the most distinctive features of Filipino Christmas is the blend of religious devotion and festive celebration. Central to the season is the Misa de Gallo, a series of nine dawn masses leading up to Christmas Eve, where families gather to pray and sing traditional carols. Homes and streets are decorated with parols, colorful star-shaped lanterns symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem. Bright lights, elaborate decorations, and Christmas trees transform even small towns into vibrant festive displays.

Beyond religious observances, the season is filled with community and family-centered activities. Caroling is a cherished tradition, with groups of children visiting homes to sing for small treats or coins. Festive markets offer seasonal foods such as bibingka and puto bumbong, traditional rice cakes enjoyed during the holiday.

Certain cities have unique celebrations: in San Fernando, Pampanga, the "Christmas Capital of the Philippines," a massive lantern festival features thousands of illuminated parols in a spectacular display. Meanwhile, Manila hosts grand light displays and shopping events that attract tourists from across the country.

In short, Christmas in the Philippines is a vibrant mix of faith, family, and festivity, creating a season unlike any other in the world.

Nativity Scene in Hotel

Sinulog Festival

Sinulog Festival is one of the top traditional religious festivals in the Philippines. For the Philippines, a country where most of the nationals are religious, this festival can be said to be the liveliest one. Typically, this festival is usually held on the third Sunday in January every year. The year 2026 will be held on January 18. During this festival, there will be a week-long celebration in the local area.

Since the 16th century, Magellan, the navigator, gifted the people of Cebu a statue of the Holly Child when he traveled through the Philippines. This gift was deeply appreciated by the chief's wife, who even started to dance with it. After that, the custom of dancing with the image of the Holly Child was passed down and became a famous scene in the festival.

In addition to these distinctive legends of its origin, Filipinos are now celebrating the festival in a colorful way. There are large-scale activities such as street parades and river cruises. These parades include performing groups from all over the country. The local people, tourists, and performers sang and danced together in the street, which was very lively. Devotees will also take part in the "Holy Walking Parade". During the period, visitors can also see fireworks shows and a wide array of street fairs. If you are lucky, you will meet internationally renowned DJs and local musicians. All kinds of float parades, national dance performances, and party concerts culminate in a festive atmosphere and an experience that will make your trip worthwhile.

Lechon Festival

There are many festivals in the Philippines. One of the important reasons is that they regard many foods as one festival. The Lechon Festival is a very typical example.

This festival is held annually on June 24th in Balayan, Batangas. From the early morning of the festival day, the streets are filled with a festive atmosphere. Whole suckling pigs are skewered and roasted on the fire until golden brown. Then people decorate them and parade them around the street in the city. At the end of the day, everyone will celebrate by splashing water, and almost all nearby towns will participate in this tradition. As a tourist, you can also participate in it, and after the event, everyone sits around and eats roast suckling pigs as the grand feast comes to an end.

Panagbenga Festival

Flowers are indispensable in summer in the Philippines, and the Panagbenga Festival could be one of the best festivals to experience this summer atmosphere. The name "Panagbenga" comes from the phrase "panag-apog" in Kankanaey, which means "the season of blossoms". Obviously, this festival is to commemorate the flowers that bloom in summer. If you are interested in flowers, then don't miss this festival which can bring you a real visual feast.

The festival is celebrated every February and usually lasts for a month. In this month-long festival, thousands of tourists will come to Baguio to witness the flower festival. The event starts on the first Saturday in February and ends on the first Sunday in March. The approximate time in 2026 could be from February 3 to March 3. As a month-long festival, you don't have to worry about missing out on a particular day either, as each day will have unique arrangements. These will be unique memories for you.

On the first day, there will be a spectacular opening parade here. Different from the parades held in most festivals, the parades here will include street dance competitions featuring primary school students, as well as drum and violin competitions. In addition to parades and competitions, there is excellent food, dynamic live music, and gorgeous and vivid costumes. You can head over to Burnham Park to feel the local market atmosphere here, and maybe you can find something you like. The most attractive thing is the spectacular local floats. All the vehicles in the parade are decorated with flowers, where flowers are the protagonists and full of life.

MassKara Festival

Among many festivals, Bacolod, located in the western part of Negros Island in the Philippines, will hold a festival of solitary customs-Mask Carnival. The festival will be held on the fourth Sunday in October, on October 26, 2026. Every October, people in the city will wear colorful costumes and colorful "smiling face masks". Therefore, Bacolod is also known as the "City of Smiles". MassKara means many faces, which means that visitors can see many novel masks at this festival. Street vendors will also sell all kinds of masks and souvenirs. You can also personally participate in the production of masks, adding fun to the trip and leaving a souvenir for yourself.

At this celebration, you can sing and dance to passionate Latin dance music. Here, you can also follow groups of dancers through the city. You can admire the local wild traditional costumes. You can enjoy the performers shaking their skirts to powerful Latin music or beating gongs and drums. You can also enjoy the exquisite and energetic dance performances of the dancers. Even in the evening, the festive atmosphere is still high, and the activity atmosphere is even more lively. You can go to the open-air stage, drinking party and fireworks show to release yourself. Come to Bacolod and have some fun.

Pahiyas Festival

If you want to experience the pleasure of harvest, then don't miss the Pahiyas Festival in the Philippines. During the festival, you can see colorful houses as fancy as fairy tale houses decorated by local residents with grains, kiping, vegetables, fruits, and flowers. From a distance, they look like rows of buildings where elves live, and the colors are very beautiful.

At the same time, it is also a unique experience for foreign tourists to learn about the culture and lifestyle of Filipino locals. These decorative acts are actually used to commemorate the local patron saint of agriculture, San Isidro Labrador, who symbolizes the bumper harvest next year.

It is held every year on May 15 in the town of Lucban, Quezon. During the festival, local people will not only hang agricultural products as decorations around their houses but also hold activities to pick fresh agricultural products for free, so that you can easily realize fruit freedom. The activities also include the Holy Mass, the San Isidro Labrador Procession, and the Grand Parade. At that time, the most indispensable part of the festival is food. Not only is the food cooked in the traditional way but also the rice leaves used to decorate the outer wall are edible, which is a unique holiday to limit delicious food!

Ati-Atihan Festival

If you plan a trip to Boracay in January, staying in Kalibo for a few days may bring you a better travel experience with the lively celebration of the Ati-Atihan Festival. Usually, the festival is held on the third Sunday of January, on 18 January 2026.

It is one of the oldest festivals in the Philippines. In the Philippines, it is also known as the largest carnival in Kalibo whose grand celebration will last for a week. On the first day, after the opening Mass, people will parade and dance to the sound of drums. The next day will start with an early morning rosary procession and end with a community mass and dance. The festive atmosphere will reach its peak on the third Sunday in January. At that time, thousands of Filipinos will have colorful painted faces, and all kinds of statues will be carried in their hands.

Performers will parade through the streets dressed in indigenous costumes, making for a very lively scene. In addition to this, tribal dance is also one of the characteristics, which is to convey happiness. Locals will shout "hala bira purya pasma" or "Viva Kayseor Santonio" to the beat. Tourists should never be shy to join in the dance. It will be a good memory if you get a chance to sing and dance with the locals.

Moriones Festival

The Moriones Festival is one of the Philippines' most fascinating and visually striking religious celebrations. Held annually during Holy Week, in the town of Marinduque, it commemorates the story of Longinus, the Roman centurion who pierced the side of Jesus on the cross and later converted to Christianity.

The festival is famous for its colorful and elaborate costumes. Participants, known as "Moriones," wear mask-like helmets and Roman soldier attire, often complete with tunics, sandals, and spears. These costumes are handmade, richly detailed, and often passed down through generations. Streets and town centers become lively stages for reenactments, parades, and performances that dramatize biblical events, particularly the search for Longinus.

One of the most notable aspects of Moriones is the blend of devotion and pageantry. Locals not only perform in the parade but also participate in processions that last for hours, showing their faith and commitment. The event draws thousands of visitors, both domestic and international, who are captivated by the spectacle of masked soldiers marching through narrow streets, accompanied by drums, chants, and traditional music.

Beyond the costumes and reenactments, the festival fosters a strong sense of community, as families, villages, and towns collaborate to organize the parades, create the masks, and host visitors. While rooted in Catholic faith, the Moriones Festival is also a showcase of Filipino creativity, artistry, and cultural pride.

Although only 8 Philippine festivals the introduced here, there are actually many more in the Philippines for you to experience. Whether you like to feel the festive atmosphere or have a soft spot for a certain kind of food, the Philippines is able to meet your requirements for festivals. If you are interested in any festival, then don't miss them. Travel with Odynovo to experience the variety of Philippines's different festivals.