ILOILO City – Foodies poured into the city center Thursday night, January 22, as more than 200 food stalls opened simultaneously to launch the Dinagyang food festival, transforming key downtown streets into a sprawling culinary hub and underscoring Iloilo City’s push to cement its status as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.
Food Festival Committee chairman Jay Treñas said around 230 food stalls are participating this year, offering a wide range of Ilonggo, Filipino, and international dishes. Of these, more than 160 food kiosks lining Delgado–Valeria streets are being organized by the Iloilo Hotel, Restaurants, and Resorts Association (IHRRA), while about 70 additional stalls are managed by the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC).
Treñas said the expanded layout was deliberately designed to ease congestion and enhance the festival experience, featuring proper vendor spacing and a 360-degree setup that allows festivalgoers to enjoy performances from anywhere within the food festival zone.
“This year’s food festival is bigger and more organized,” Treñas said. “We made sure that vendors have enough space to operate properly and that people can move freely. The 360 degree setup also means that wherever you are in the food festival, you can still enjoy the performances without having to crowd a single area.”
Beyond crowd management, Treñas stressed that the food festival remains a major platform for promoting Ilonggo cuisine to both local and international audiences, highlighting the city’s culinary identity through traditional flavors and modern interpretations by local chefs and entrepreneurs.
“This is really about presenting Iloilo’s food culture to the world,” he said. “We want our visitors to taste what makes Ilonggo cuisine distinct — from traditional dishes to modern interpretations by our local chefs and entrepreneurs.”
Adding to the draw, Treñas said a lineup of local and national artists and bands will perform throughout the festival in partnership with various organizations, reinforcing the food fest as both a gastronomic and entertainment centerpiece of Dinagyang.
“It’s not just about eating; it’s about the whole experience — good food, good music, and the Dinagyang spirit all coming together,” he added.
The Dinagyang Food Festival is one of the major highlights of the weeklong Dinagyang 2026 celebration and is expected to attract large crowds daily, further boosting Iloilo City’s image as a leading food and cultural destination in the country./PN
