Art Fair Philippines 2026 Takes Over Makati’s Arts Hub

For its 2026 edition, Art Fair Philippines moves to a bigger home in Circuit Makati.

From February 6 to 8, the fair will occupy six floors (5F, 6F, 7F, 8F, 9F, and 11F) of the 26-storey Circuit Corporate Center One along Theater Drive (beside Shopwise). Just a few steps away from Riverfront Drive, where the massive Contemporary Art Center is expected to launch in 2027. These two things mark Ayala Land's efforts to make the former racetrack complex an arts and culture hub, especially with the presence of Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater (since 2018) and the Samsung Performing Arts Theater (since 2022) within the mall.

Circuit Makati is also hosting a special evening for the performing arts through "Night at the Theater" on February 6, 7:30 p.m., at the SPAT. It brings together 12 production companies to feature preview performances from ongoing and upcoming plays and musicals (from January to June).

Art Fair Philippines' relocation allows for a more integrated environment where 50 exhibitors—including major galleries from France, Japan, Spain, and across Southeast Asia—can showcase works in a setting that offers greater spatial flexibility than previous years.

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• 125 Projects

• Ames Yavuz

• Archivo 1984

• Art Agenda

• Art Cube Gallery

• Art for Space

• Art Lounge Manila

• Art Underground

• Art Verité Gallery

• Artemis Art

• Avellana Art Gallery

• Boston Art Gallery

• Caiyun Art

• Cartellino

• Cayón

• CCP x Scarletbox

• Core Contemporary

• Der-Horng Art Gallery

• FotomotoPH

• Gajah Gallery

• Galerie Stephanie

• Gallery Kogure

• ISTORYA STUDIOS

• J Studio

• Kaida Contemporary

• Kawata Gallery

• León Gallery

• Modeka Art

• Museo Trece

• Orange Project

• Parallel+

• Pintô Art Museum and Arboretum

• Qube Gallery

• Rose Studio Art Gallery

• SHUKADO + SCENA

• SILVERLENS

• TARZEER PICTURES

• The Columns Gallery

• The Crucible Gallery

• The METRO Gallery

• TLYR Collective

• Tomura Lee

• Triangulum

• Village Art Gallery

• Vin Gallery

• White Walls Gallery

• Yeo Kaa (Ames Yavuz)

• YOD Gallery

• Ysobel Art Gallery

The Projects section serves as the fair's curated centerpiece, designed by the duo Nazareno/Lichauco to resemble a bustling town plaza of years past. This year, the section includes Imelda Cajipe-Endaya, a pioneer of feminist social realism in the Philippines. Her work famously bridges the gap between traditional and contemporary practice, utilizing mixed media to explore the domestic and political lives of Filipinas, as well as the emotional toll of migration.

Also part of the roster is Ambie Abaño, who is known for her large-scale woodcuts and multidisciplinary approach, often printing on non-traditional surfaces like lace or spandex to explore themes of identity and the internal soul. Alongside her is Max Balatbat, whose "architectural abstractions" involve a tactile process of cooking paint until it solidifies, which he then cuts and applies to canvas to mimic the gritty, layered aesthetic of Manila’s urban landscapes.

Material innovation continues with Ged Unson Merino, who presents "material memories" through complex textile works, and the duo Jon and Tessy Pettyjohn, who showcase their mastery of meditative stoneware and traditional ceramic techniques. The fair also highlights cross-cultural perspectives through the Berlin-based Sa Tahanan Co. collective and Spanish artist Ampparito, who, in partnership with the Embassy of Spain, creates provocative calendars intended as a meditation on the human lifespan.

To honor the foundations of Philippine art, Art Fair Philippines features four late masters: Brenda Fajardo, celebrated for her tarot-card-inspired historical narratives; Constancio Bernardo, a pioneer of geometric abstraction; Solomon Saprid, known for his dynamic metal sculptures; and Romeo Tabuena, a key figure in Philippine Modernism.

The Digital section explores how technology reshapes the human experience. A major highlight is the debut of The Keeper, an animated short film by painter and graphic artist TRNZ. Known for creating quiet, introspective scenes that blend personal memories with Internet culture, TRNZ’s new film explores the crushing weight of societal pressure and the pursuit of external validation.

Joining the digital space is the TLYR Collective, whose presentation centers on "digital alchemy." Their work uses generative art and augmented reality to investigate how identity becomes fluid and fragmented within virtual spaces, effectively blurring the lines between physical reality and digital simulation.

The fair continues its commitment to audience development through ArtFairPH/Talks, hosted in collaboration with the Ateneo Art Gallery and the Museum Foundation of the Philippines. These sessions allow visitors to hear directly from this year's project artists about their creative processes.

Additionally, the ArtFairPH/Residencies program is headed by New York-based curator Anne-Laure Lemaitre. Lemaitre is recognized for her expertise in site-specific art and technology, and she will be overseeing the selection of local artists for transformative cross-cultural dialogues. Applications open in February.

For a more in-depth experience of the fair, the Art Fair Philippines 2026 Daily Tour is every 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. of the three-day event.

Leading up to and during the fair (January 30 to February 8), the 10 Days of Art initiative brings large-scale works into public spaces.

Installations include a usable carousel of fantastical creatures by Ronald Ventura at Ayala Malls Circuit, an interactive piece called "Signs and Intimations" by Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan at the Fountain Area of Ayala Tower One, then "Nagsasalitang Ulo" by Mich Dulce and "Art 2 Wear" by Joel Wijangco, both at Greenbelt 5 Gallery Photography collective Fotomoto PH will also transform the Paseo Underpass with an evocative display of local photography. Isaiah Cacnio's work "Between Thoughts" is set to transform the walls of One Ayala Mall Terminal, Glorietta 4 Cinema, Glorietta Activity Center, Greenbelt 4, and Circuit Mall Makati.

Tickets are available online via the official website (artfairphilippines.com) or on-site at the fifth-floor reception desk of Circuit Corporate Center One during fair hours from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Tickets for the main event are priced at P750 for regular admission. A discounted rate of P500 is available for students, senior citizens, and PWDs, while a special P300 rate is reserved for Makati students and teachers.

For group bookings of more than 10 persons, it's best to send an email to [email protected].

Art Fair Philippines 2026 runs from February 6 to 8, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., at Circuit Corporate Center One, Circuit Makati. Ticket prices start at P750. The reception desk is on the fifth floor.

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