ILOILO City – The Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI) is open to the possibility of making the Iloilo Sports Complex in La Paz district one of the performance or judging areas for the Dinagyang Ati tribes competition in 2026.
Professor Eric Divinagracia, IFFI artistic director and member of the Artistic Committee, revealed the plan during a guesting on Radyo Pilipinas Iloilo on Sunday morning, March 30.
Dinagyang Festival, held every January, is one of the Philippines’ most celebrated cultural and religious festivals. It honors the Santo Niño (Holy Child Jesus) and commemorates the arrival of Malay settlers and the barter of Panay Island.
A major highlight of the festival is the Ati tribes competition, where performers in elaborate costumes showcase synchronized dancing and drumming inspired by the traditions of the Ati people.
Divinagracia said that one of the innovations being considered for the 2026 Dinagyang Festival is the revival of a performance area at the sports complex, which had served as a venue for the competition years ago.
“We are looking forward to possibly releasing this idea next year so we can engage the public and open discussions about the potential return of one component of the festival to the Sports Complex,” he said.
He explained that IFFI wants to gather early feedback from the public regarding the proposal, noting that placing a performance area at the Sports Complex could allow more spectators to witness the Ati tribes’ performances.
IFFI is specifically considering limiting the downtown performance or judging areas to two – the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand and the Iloilo Provincial Capitol – which would host the morning performances. In the afternoon, the competing tribes would then perform at the Sports Complex, giving them time to rest in between.
“It’s possible to hold the main tribes competition there, but in the afternoon,” Divinagracia said. “In previous editions, the dancers would perform downtown and immediately proceed to the Sports Complex, which was extremely exhausting.”
He added that gauging public reactions will help IFFI and the Iloilo City Government make appropriate adjustments or innovations to accommodate the growing number of people who want to watch the Ati Tribes competition.
The current four judging areas — Freedom Grandstand, Provincial Capitol, Mabini-Delgado Street, and Quezon-Ledesma Street — often become too crowded to accommodate all spectators.
“People really want to watch, and the Sports Complex is a large space that could allow more people to witness the performances,” Divinagracia said. “We’re floating the idea now so that the public can react and we can listen to what you have to say.”
According to Divinagracia, the proposal was already shared with IFFI members a month after Dinagyang 2025 as part of a feedbacking session. However, it remains a proposal until further deliberations and approval take place — making public input crucial in the decision-making process./PN
