Over 200 Artists Are Coming Together at TOPS ArtFest

Cebu has always been a vibrant creative landscape with its rows of galleries and art hubs in the city. And from October 22 to 25, 2026, over 200 artists, storytellers, and visionaries are coming together for the third edition of TOPS ArtFest, happening at TOPS Cebu—a mountaintop observation deck in Busay, Cebu City.

Centered around the theme "Building and Breaking Norms," this year’s festival explores the delicate balance between tradition and innovation. Through exhibitions, installations, and performances, it challenges both creators and audiences to examine the conventions they inherit, the ideas they carry forward, and the new possibilities that emerge when artistic boundaries are pushed. It also aims to transform TOPS into an immersive, interactive environment where art moves past gallery walls and engages directly with the surrounding landscape and community.

Featured artists include newly declared National Artist for Visual Arts, Nune Alvarado, and Luis Yee Jr. (a.k.a. Junyee), a pioneer of installation art in the Philippines. Their presence honors the deep-rooted foundations of Philippine art while pushing the conversation forward on what art can become.

"Some works may feel familiar. Others may challenge what audiences expect art to be. Some may invite quiet reflection, while others may encourage conversation, surprise, or even a little discomfort. And that is part of the point," shares Festival Director Lorenzo Miguel Dino. "TOPS ArtFest 2026 believes that art does not have to give us all the answers. Sometimes, it simply gives us a new question."

A highlight of this year's festival is Perspective Play, a plein-air painting competition inviting student and professional artists to capture the scenic views of TOPS in real time. Plein-air—the practice of painting outdoors directly within the environment—challenges participants to translate the mountain landscape into unique expressions ranging from realism to figurative abstraction.

The competition takes place at The Circle, TOPS, on October 23, 2026, with on-site registration running from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Participants will have the opportunity to paint outdoors overnight through the morning, submitting their finished pieces at Hostel Honeycomb across designated periods on October 23 and 24.

The contest features two categories:

• Student Category: Open to enrolled students (valid ID required) working in oil, acrylic, watercolor, or pastel. Top prizes include P20,000 (1st Place), P15,000 (2nd Place), and P10,000 (3rd Place), along with three P5,000 Merit Awards.

• Professional Category: Open to established artists working strictly in oil or acrylic on canvas. Cash prizes are set at P50,000 (1st Place), ₱40,000 (2nd Place), and ₱30,000 (3rd Place), plus three ₱15,000 Merit Awards.

Winners will also receive gift certificates from Art Caravan and official certificates of recognition. Winning entries will be showcased during the Tops ArtFest 2026 Awards Night on October 25, giving attendees a firsthand look at how different creative minds interpret the exact same landscape.

TOPS ArtFest runs from October 22 to 25. he opening ceremony is on October 22 at 6 p.m., 3/F Exhibition Area, TOPS Events Space, The Circle. The event is free and open to the public.

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