ILOILO City – Short of admitting that this year’s Dinagyang Festival was a failed experiment, organizers announced that the Ati tribes competition will revert to its traditional Calle Real route next year, and that the carousel-style performances will also be restored.
Citing strong public clamor after the 2026 edition, Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI) chairman Judgee Peña said such a decision was reached after closely listening to feedback from festival-goers who called for the return of what they consider the “soul” of Dinagyang.
“We are listening to the people,” Peña said. “Next year, we plan to bring back the tradition as it used to be. Before, everything happened along Calle Real, and that is what people remember as the heart of Dinagyang.”
The 2026 Ati tribes competition followed a modified route from the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand in the City Proper to the Iloilo Sports Complex in La Paz district, a departure from the long-standing downtown format.
While Peña maintained that the revised route did not encounter major operational issues, he acknowledged that public sentiment overwhelmingly favored the festival’s original configuration.
As part of the planned reset, IFFI is also eyeing the return of four to five judging areas, similar to previous editions when performances were evaluated at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand, Iloilo Provincial Capitol, Delgado-Mabini Streets, Ledesma-Quezon Streets, and Maria Clara Street.
“Our plan is to bring back four or even five judging areas, and to revive the carousel performance,” Peña said. “That format is part of our tradition, and we want to restore the full Dinagyang experience.”
Peña added that organizers are likewise aiming to restore the number of competing tribes to the usual eight, noting that the carousel setup allows each group to fully present its routine before a wider audience and helps ease crowd congestion.
Although conceding to a major course correction, Peña said the 2026 setup still served as a learning experience for IFFI.
“We did not see any major problems this year, but Dinagyang has always been about balancing innovation and tradition. Next year, we want to make sure that the soul of Dinagyang — the traditional route and competition format — truly returns,” he said.
As for the banderitas that were done away with this year to reduce festival-generated solid waste, Peña said sponsors for the 2027 Dinagyang would be encouraged to put them up again to further enhance the festive atmosphere of the city.
IFFI is expected to conduct further consultations with stakeholders, participating tribes, and the Iloilo City Government as preparations begin for the next Dinagyang Festival.
During the Dinagyang 2026 awarding ceremony on Sunday night, January 25, Mayor Raisa Treñas lauded the IFFI and declared this year’s edition of the festival a success.
“Drawing an estimated total crowd of 350,000, the festival delivered record attendance, vibrant performances, and zero major security incidents, underscoring effective coordination, discipline, and unity among Ilonggos,” according to a separate city hall press release.
“Every year, thousands of visitors come to Iloilo — filling our hotels, supporting our restaurants, boosting local businesses, and creating livelihood opportunities for performers, artisans, vendors, transport workers, and many others. Dinagyang is one of the reasons Iloilo is what it is today,” said Treñas.
Officials lauded the smooth flow of activities this year, strong crowd management, and a generally peaceful atmosphere, further cementing Dinagyang’s reputation as one of the country’s premier and world-class cultural festivals./PN
