National Arts Month is a reminder that creativity is not a side note in Filipino life, but it’s woven into how we tell stories, preserve memory, and imagine what comes next.
Every February, artists, institutions, and cultural spaces across the country come together to celebrate the diversity of Philippine arts, uplifting time-honored traditions and contemporary practices shaped by today’s social and cultural realities.
This year’s National Arts Month honors Filipino creativity and artistic expression under the theme “Ani ng Sining: Katotohanan at Giting.” Anchored on the goals of the Philippine Development Plan for Culture and the Arts and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, it highlights the role of the arts in fostering peace, truth, and inclusive development.
“[The theme] illustrates that art is not merely the product of a creative mind, but also the outcome of the people’s shared experiences and collective aspirations. As an expression of truth and valor, art becomes a wellspring of hope and a guiding force toward a more just and progressive society,” the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) said in a statement.
Whether you’re a regular gallery-goer or someone looking to reconnect with art more consciously, National Arts Month offers various opportunities to engage, reflect, and be inspired.
From major museum exhibitions and performances to independent galleries and community-led initiatives, here’s a curated list of activities, exhibits, and spaces worth visiting this month.
NCCA flagship Events
As the lead agency for National Arts Month, the NCCA rolls out a series of exhibitions, workshops, performances, and talks throughout February in various locations nationwide. Expect multidisciplinary showcases that highlight both traditional and contemporary practices — often in collaboration with regional artists and cultural workers.
Art Fair Philippines
Art Fair Philippines returns in 2026 with renewed energy, a larger footprint, and a sharpened focus on contemporary art.
Running from February 6 to 8, the country’s premier international art fair will take over Circuit Makati, transforming the urban events complex into a dynamic meeting ground for artists, galleries, collectors, curators, and art enthusiasts.
“We’re moving — still on the edge of Makati — but it’s very exciting because this area is being built up as an arts community. I’m sure the art fair played a big role, because we’ve always focused on widening the audience and being a platform for all kinds of art,” Art Fair Philippines Co-founder Lisa Ongpin-Periquet said in an exclusive interview with adobo Magazine.
She added, “Over the years, people realized this is something they enjoy, and the place began to incorporate it. That’s why we’re here. In a way, it’s an evolution of 15 years of contemporary art — making it part of your lifestyle and something you want to experience.”
Now in its latest edition, Art Fair Philippines continues to solidify its role as a cultural anchor in the region — one that bridges local narratives with global conversations while making contemporary art more accessible to a broader public.
The 2026 edition brings together leading galleries from across the Philippines alongside exhibitors from France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Spain, reinforcing Manila’s growing role as a hub within the Asian and international art markets.
You can read more on what to expect at this year’s Art Fair Philippines here.
ALT ART
The fourth edition of ALT ART will feature nine galleries that highlight an expansive and carefully considered range of artists, showcasing work with curated deliberation to enable deeper connections with collectors and the art public.
Happening on February 13 to 15 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., the event will feature art forms including moving-image performance, mixed media, painting, sculpture, installation, and photography, among others. It will also showcase curated gallery presentations, the new ALT Discoveries platform, ALT Project Spaces, and a Nagaraya artist feature alongside the public program ALT Conversations.
The exhibit aims to present the collective and individual stories of ALT Philippines’s time through Art by providing platforms for continued creative expression and collaboration.
Moreover, some of the artists presenting their work at the event include Miguel Lorenzo Uy, Indonesian artist Iwan Effendi; Lesley-Anne Cao, Mauro “Malang” Santos, renowned sculptor Julie Lluch, Kiri Dalena/Ben Brix, Christina Lopez, and many more.
Likhang Filipino Exhibition Halls
Filipino craftsmanship has moved beyond the margins and short-lived showcases. With the reopening of the Likhang Filipino Exhibition Halls, the country’s finest artisans finally have a space where their work is not tucked away as a “discovery,” but presented with the prominence it deserves.
Led by the Office of the President and implemented through the country’s export promotion arm, the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the launch ushers in a dynamic, multi-purpose hub that functions as an exhibition venue, incubation space, and sourcing center.
It brings together outstanding Philippine-made products across home and lifestyle, fashion and accessories, traditional arts and crafts, food and beverage, and wellness — uniting diverse sectors in a single, immersive destination.
Located at the former site of the iconic PhilTrade Center along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City, Likhang Filipino realizes the vision set forth under Executive Order No. 75, signed by President Marcos in 2024. The initiative strengthens CITEM’s mandate and reinforces the government’s commitment to advancing Philippine exports on the global stage.
Likewise, the exhibition halls will be open year-round as permanent homes for over 200 exporters and nearly 2,000 products, ranging from bold fashion pieces and contemporary design objects to heritage crafts and thoughtfully made food items. It is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
You can learn more about what’s inside the hall here.
Luneta Art Fair
The Luneta Art Fair, happening on February 7 to 8 at the Noli Me Tangere Garden in Rizal Park in Luneta, returns with a large-scale showcase of traditional and non-traditional artworks by up-and-coming artists, collectives, creative spaces, art schools, and galleries from Metro Manila and beyond. Designed as an accessible entry point into the local art ecosystem, the fair brings together a wide range of practices and voices shaping the next generation of Philippine art.
With free admission and a diverse lineup of participating artists and major events, the Luneta Art Fair offers a rare opportunity to discover emerging talent, connect with creative communities, and experience the energy of the Philippine art scene in one open, public space.
Expect artworks from emerging Pinoy artists, including Gelo Andres, Ululay, Kulas Jalea, Patrick Kent Oaferina, Jirah Millano-Perea, Joveneil De Guzman, and Pipesman. Event-goers can also witness a collection of Benilde Fine Arts in Culture-based art and experience an open gallery and an Indie film showing throughout the fair.
Maestros: Selected Works of Distinguished Filipino Artists
Maestros presents a rare look at works from the Malacañang collection, featuring pieces by National Artists and other distinguished Filipino artists. Spanning multiple art forms including music, literature, theater, film, dance, architecture and design, and visual arts, the exhibition offers a cross-disciplinary view of creative excellence in the Philippines.
The exhibit will provide rarely seen works that offer a unique opportunity to engage with the country’s cultural legacy in an intimate museum setting. This will happen at Teus Mansion in the Presidential Museum from February 3 to 28. Advance booking is highly encouraged here.
Pasinaya in Intramuros
Pasinaya 2026 takes over Intramuros with a full weekend of creativity, learning, and performance through its Palihan (workshops) and Palabas (performances) across multiple heritage sites. As the country’s largest arts festival, Pasinaya brings together artists, audiences, and cultural workers for an immersive, city-wide celebration of Philippine arts. It will happen on February 7 to 8 in Intramuros, Manila.
Presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, this fair will feature various events, including the Workshop-All-You-Can, See-All-You-Can, Network-All-You-Can, and Pay-What-You-Can models.
Likewise, it makes the arts accessible, inclusive, and deeply engaging for everyone — whether you’re there to learn a new skill, watch performances, or connect with the creative community.
Art Walk by Ayala Land
Art Walk by Ayala Land transforms Makati into a city-wide canvas through 10 Days of Art across key landmarks — from Ayala Triangle Gardens and the Paseo Underpass to One Ayala, Glorietta, Greenbelt, Ayala Museum, and all the way to Circuit Makati.
The program, which runs from January 30 to February 8, features free public art installations, live performances, and special activations designed to bring creativity into everyday urban spaces.
Open and accessible to all, Art Walk invites the public to encounter art beyond gallery walls right in the middle of the city. It’s an easy, walkable way to experience contemporary art, culture, and performance as you move through Makati’s most familiar places.
Refresh this page for more updates on activities and exhibits this National Arts Month.
