NCCA Highlights Filipino Identity of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao through the 7 Arts

As February approaches, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) once again leads National Arts Month (NAM) 2026, rallying Filipinos under the theme “Ani ng Sining: Katotohanan at Giting.”

This year’s theme underscores the power of the arts to speak truth, inspire courage, and contribute to peace and development.

Anchored on the outcomes of the Philippine Development Plan for Culture and the Arts and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), NAM 2026 highlights how artistic expressions reflect shared realities and collective aspirations of the Filipino people.

In accordance with Presidential Proclamation No. 683, National Arts Month is observed every February with NCCA at the helm of the celebration, spearheading programs and activities across the country.

The 2026 celebration will take place across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, ensuring inclusive participation from communities in the regions and highlighting the seven (7) art forms—Architecture and Allied Arts, Cinema, Dance, Dramatic Arts, Literary Arts, Music, and Visual Arts.

NAM 2026 Grand Launch

The official opening of National Arts Month 2026 will take place on February 1, at the Luneta Park in Manila.

The opening will be a a symbolic and performance-driven program that aims to bring the theme “Katotohanan at Giting” to life. At the center of launching is the lampara, the key symbol of NAM 2026, representing light, truth, and courage.

Through a ceremonial passing of the lampara, the program traces the journey of Philippine art from its roots and institutions to the people, and ultimately to the next generation of the country.

The program features a dynamic mix of rituals, regional traditions, music, dance, contemporary performance, fashion, and spoken word; reflecting indigenous roots, national identity, and modern creative expression.

Performances by groups like the UST Salinggawi, UST Singers, Guiguiteno Dance Troupe, Echague Tribal performers, and the Philippine Ballet Theater; a well as participation of LGBT community artists Monica Amanda Gana.

These performances aims to highlight the richness and diversity of Philippine arts.

Moreover, there will be a “Parada ng mga Sining,” a parade showcasing the seven art forms through creativity and costume.

NAM 2026 in Luzon: Los Baños, Laguna

NAM 2026 Luzon will be held in Los Baños, Laguna from February 18 to 20, in partnership with ARTIST, Inc., highlighting the art forms of Dramatic Arts, and Architecture and the Allied Arts.

The celebration opens on February 18 with art workshops and discussions at the ART Center, Los Banos bringing together artists, professionals, students, and community members for dialogue and creative exchange.

On February 19, a theatre performance will be staged at the D.L. Umali Hall, University of the Philippines Los Baños, wherein the production is a collaborative effort among practitioners of drama, architecture and its allied arts, in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Los Baños.

This regional NAM 2026 leg embodies the goal of community engagement– connecting performers, professionals, youth, and the academe through shared artistic experiences.

A weaving performance will showcase the interconnected disciplines of architecture and its related fields, emphasizing how the arts shape spaces, communities, and everyday life.

NAM 2026 in Visayas: Palo, Leyte

In the Visayas, NAM 2026 will be celebrated in Palo, Leyte, under the sub-theme “Pag-uswag han Tawo ngan Kalibungan” (Climate Justice), emphasizing the link between human development and environmental sustainability.

The celebration opened with a Climate Justice Symposium on January 12, 2026, marking the first NAM activity in the region. The symposium gathered around 150 participants from various sectors, fostering discussion on climate justice and its relevance to arts and culture.

The event concluded with a workshop to help shape programs for the official celebration on February 18, 2026.

NAM 2026 in Mindanao: Butuan City and Davao City

Meanwhile, NAM 2026 in Mindanao is set to be celebrated in two locations, one of which is in Butuan City, from February 12 – 14, 21 -22, and 24 – 26, under the theme “Lawig Mindanaw: Kalinaw ug Kahigayunan” (Peace and Access), highlighting the role of the dance, music, and film in promoting inclusion, dialogue, and lasting peace.

Featured events include Bagani Hong Lawod, a theater production by Balangay Repertory Theater that brings ancient Butuanon stories to life, and POSITIVITY 6, an exhibition showcasing the works of Butuanon and Caraganon artists exploring belonging, equality, and access. Additional performances include Sayaw Butuan Indigay, Tukar Butuan Indigay, and Sine Balangay, a film showcase dedicated to stories rooted in Butuanon culture and language.

Furthermore, the second location for the Mindanao leg is Davao City, where the theme “Ang Yuta, ang Tawo ug ang Kalinaw” (Ang Bayan, ang Tao at ang Kapayapaan) likewise centers on peace and access. From February 20 to 21, NAM 2026 activities in the Crown Jewel of Mindanao will feature a two-day program highlighting the region’s choreographers, visual artists, filmmakers, and Special Program for the Arts (SPA) teachers and students, culminating in a multimedia performance that reflects Mindanao’s narratives of community.

ART FriDates

To further extend and keep the spirit of NAM 2026, the NCCA introduces “ART FriDates,” a weekly platform for artists and cultural workers to showcase their creativity through performances and workshops.

Artists from all seven art forms are invited to participate, highlighting the diversity of artistic expression across the country.

ART FriDates will take place on all Fridays of February 2026 at the Blackbox Theater, Likhang Pilipino Complex, CITEM, World Trade Center, Pasay. Six local and provincial government units—Angono, Rizal on February 6, Province of Bulacan on February 13, Biñan, Laguna on February 20, Quezon Province on February 27, and City of Muntinlupa on March 6 will join, presenting the unique talents of their communities and promoting the richness of Philippine arts and culture. Admission is free, with open house starting at 2 PM and performances at 4 PM.

As the month unfolds, the NCCA invites everyone to witness and participate in the celebration of Filipino creativity and cultural heritage.

Dates for Ani ng Dangal 2026 and the closing ceremonies of NAM 2026 will be announced before month end, promising a fitting conclusion to a month-long celebration of artistry and shared Filipino identity.