Art Fair Philippines 2026 has officially opened its three-day run between February 6 to 8 at Circuit Makati, transforming the urban events complex into a dynamic meeting ground for artists, galleries, collectors, curators, and art enthusiasts.
This much-awaited fair remains a premier platform for modern and contemporary Philippine visual art. Featuring both established and emerging artists, it offers a broad view of current practices through gallery presentations and special projects across the country. The fair continues to position itself as a cultural hub – bridging local narratives with global conversations and expanding access to contemporary art.
The 2026 edition brings together leading Philippine galleries alongside exhibitors from France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Spain, reinforcing Manila’s growing role within the Asian and international art markets.
Twists and turns like a maze
Entering Art Fair Philippines 2026 is like entering a playground for the senses. The layout unfolds like a maze, walls of vibrant color, glowing light, and tactile installations guiding visitors through a space where surprise is built into every turn. The experience is immersive rather than a linear, encouraging slow looking and instinctive discovery.
The fair presents a considered mix of established and emerging galleries working across painting, sculpture, photography, installation, video, and new media.
Philippine contemporary art remains at the core of the fair, strengthened by regional and international participation that broadens the lens on current artistic practices in Asia and beyond.
ArtFairPH/Projects
One of the fair’s key highlights is ArtFairPH/Projects, spanning the fifth to eleventh floors of Circuit Corporate Center Tower 1. Curated by Imelda Cajipe Endaya, the section foregrounds work that engage with Philippine identity – addressing domestic life, migration, labor, and women’s empowerment as enduring and evolving artistic concerns.
The lineup also includes Ambie Abaño, Max Balatbat, Ged Unson Merino, and ceramic artists Jon and Tessy Pettyjohn, alongside Filipino artists based abroad through the Berlin-based group Sa Tahanan Co.. Spanish artist Ampparito returns for a third year, through the Embassy of Spain partnership, underscoring the fair’s sustained commitment to international exchange.
The section also pays tribute to late masters Brenda Fajardo, Constancio Bernardo, Solomon Saprid, and Romeo Tabuena, situating their works within ongoing conversations on feminist social realism, abstraction, and the evolution of modern Philippine art. Exhibition design by Nazareno/Lichauco emphasizes continuity across generations while allowing each body of work its own spatial clarity.
ArtFairPH/Digital
ArtFairPH/Digital continues to expand the fair’s engagement with technology-driven practices, presenting works that use animation, VR, AR, AI, and metaverse environments.
One highlight is TRNZ’s debut of The Keeper, an animated short film created with Fleet Studios that examines social pressure, ambition, and emotional labor, located on the sixth floor.
Also featured is the TLYR Collective, whose immersive, generative, and AR-based installations explore “digital alchemy” and fluid identity in virtual space, which, presented on the ninth floor.
Curated gallery highlights
Among the most notable galleries that adobo has visited was from Leon Gallery, presenting a tightly considered curation led by Liza Guerrero-Nakpil.
At Silverlens Gallery, Isa Lorenzo delivers one of the fair’s most compelling curations. Anchored by a monumental tapestry by Pacita Abad, the booth unfolds into a Baguio-themed section that weaves memory, place, and materiality into a cohesive spatial narrative.
Fotomoto features compelling photographs from Artu Nepomuceno, Jason Quibilan, Johann Guasch, Veejay Villafranca, among many others, made possible in partnership with PURVEYR.
Philippine National Artist Kidlat Tahimik’s presence was also felt at this year’s fair with his special gallery exhibit featuring works that puts him as the actual muse.
Talks and guided programming
Beyond the booths, ArtFairPH/Talks, organized with the Ateneo Art Gallery and the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, runs daily conversations among artists, curators, collectors, and cultural workers to discuss the evolving art landscape.
Meanwhile, Art Fair Philippines 2026 Daily Tour adds another layer of experience and engagement through an hour-long guided walk, offering curated insights into selected gallery exhibitions and key #ArtFairPH sections.
Led by trained guides, the tour provides context on artists, works, and curatorial frameworks shaping this year’s edition. The tour is complimentary for ticket holders, limited to ten participants, and available by registration only.
Ultimately, Art Fair Philippines 2026 maintains a careful balance between market-driven presentation and critical engagement. It remains equally resonant for seasoned collectors, industry professionals, and first-time visitors encountering contemporary art.
As the fair unfolds over three days, it affirms its place not just as a date on the calendar, but as a sustained force within the country’s cultural life.
adobo Magazine is an official media partner of Art Fair Philippines 2026.
