ILOILO City – In a move seen as one of the most ambitious upgrades to Dinagyang’s crowd experience, organizers of the Dinagyang Food Festival will introduce a 360-degree stage setup in 2026 — an innovation aimed at solving long-standing congestion problems and giving festival-goers unobstructed views from all directions.
The Iloilo Hotels, Restaurants, and Resorts Association (IHRRA) announced that the four-day food festival, scheduled from January 22 to 25, 2026, will feature a unified stage at the intersection of Delgado and Valeria Streets, replacing the traditional multi-stage layout that often caused uneven crowd flow.
“This is going to be the first in the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival,” said IHRRA president Happy Abenir. “It will be situated at the intersection, and from any angle of the road you can see. So kung naga-enjoy kami sang live band, si Valeria 1 and 2, and Delgado 2 can enjoy the same band. Wala lamangan — everyone is included.”
Abenir said the circular design is intended to eliminate bottlenecks and front-stage overcrowding while ensuring equal viewing access for all festival areas.
“On top of the walkway, at the sides, we will be hanging big LED walls. So kun maski malayo ka, makita mo ang performance on stage,” she explained. “We are very particular about that because we are there to come and enjoy watching the performances. The experience is 360 — first time.”
With more open space at the intersection and multiple vantage points, IHRRA expects spectators to move more freely and enjoy entertainment without being compressed near the stage.
“There will be no crowding in front because the mall portion of the streets pwede ka ka-enjoy sang music,” Abenir added.
Beyond the entertainment overhaul, the festival will continue to showcase Ilonggo culinary favorites, with food stalls lining the stretch of Delgado and Valeria Streets throughout the event.
The introduction of the 360-degree stage underscores IHRRA’s push for a more inclusive, accessible, and modernized Dinagyang Food Festival — one that enhances both safety and spectacle for thousands of locals and tourists expected to attend./PN
