ILOILO City – The countdown to the country’s most celebrated cultural spectacle has begun.
Iloilo City officially ushered in the Dinagyang Festival 2026 season with a grand kickoff ceremony at SM City Iloilo Southpoint on Wednesday night, October 22, marking the start of the 100-day journey toward another world-class celebration of faith, devotion, and Ilonggo pride.
Mayor Raisa Treñas, attending her first festival countdown as city chief executive, led the launch with officials of the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI), Vice Mayor Love Baronda, and city councilors, signaling a season of heightened excitement and renewed energy for the city’s globally recognized festival.
“This evening is a delightful occasion as we gather for the grand launching of our Iloilo Dinagyang Festival 2026 here at SM City Iloilo. This is also the start of our countdown, with a series of special events leading to the main highlights in the fourth week of January,” Treñas said.
Eight competing tribes were formally introduced during the program — Tribu Bulawanon, Tribu Pan-ay, Tribu Paghidaet, Tribu Salognon, Tribu Ilayanhon, Tribu Taga-Baryo, Tribu Ilonganon, and Tribu Daghoanon — with four new entries joining the competition.
They will vie for the coveted championship under the theme “Bugay sang Ginoo, Bugay sang mga Ilonggo” (Blessings of God, Blessings of the Ilonggos), a reflection of the city’s enduring spirit of faith, gratitude, and creativity.
The mayor also recalled the festival’s historic first-ever national launch earlier this month at the Mall of Asia in Manila, led by IFFI.
“These milestones are very special to me because Dinagyang 2026 will be my first Dinagyang as mayor of Iloilo City,” she said, adding that the festival remains a symbol of pride and identity for every Ilonggo.
She added: “Through the years, the Dinagyang Festival has been a source of pride and inspiration for all Ilonggos. It reminds us why we have every reason to be proud of who we are and of our vibrant culture.”
Treñas further highlighted the festival’s international and national recognitions — including Best Cultural Festival for 2024 at the ATOP Pearl Awards 2025, and Best Overall Entertainment Program and Best Dynamic Festival (Dancing Festival) at the 2025 Pinnacle Awards and Asia Festival City Conference in South Korea.
The Dinagyang Festival and Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahan also represented Iloilo at the 2025 Parada ng Kalayaan in Metro Manila and the World Expo in Osaka, Japan.
“As we prepare to showcase our world-class Dinagyang Festival this January 2026, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc., our private sector partners, San Jose Parish Church, our stakeholders, and collaborators — including SM City Iloilo — for your unwavering support and invaluable contributions,” she said. “Because of your collective efforts, dedication, and love for Iloilo, Dinagyang remains one of the best festivals in the country — and truly, the best of the best.”
The night ended with the lighting of the countdown clock, officially setting the rhythm for a hundred days of anticipation before the grandest cultural event in Western Visayas./PN
