Intramuros hosts Dayaw from 13 to 15 October 2026

Intramuros and Dayaw 2026 will bring Indigenous cultural traditions to Manila from 13 to 15 October 2026, with the programme centred at Foro de Intramuros. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts will open the celebration with a parade on 13 October along the historic walls of the walled city.

Dayaw 2026 opens with a parade at Foro de Intramuros

The opening parade will feature 41 Indigenous Peoples clusters from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It begins at 8am on 13 October 2026, followed by a ceremonial opening programme at Foro de Intramuros at 9am, according to the NCCA celebration report.

The three-day Dayaw programme brings Indigenous communities from across the Philippines together for Indigenous Peoples Month. The event is intended to present living traditions and the continuing contributions of Indigenous Peoples to the country’s cultural heritage. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts has invited the public and media to attend the opening.

Intramuros links Dayaw to a protected historic setting

The venue gives the programme a direct connection with Manila’s historic core. The Intramuros Administration describes the district as a monument to the Hispanic period of Philippine history and is responsible for its orderly restoration and development under Presidential Decree No. 1616.

The administration’s mandate covers the appearance and conservation of the district’s Philippine-Spanish architecture from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century. That role makes Foro de Intramuros more than a neutral event venue: the Dayaw programme places contemporary Indigenous cultural expression inside a protected historic environment. The Intramuros Administration visitor guide identifies the agency’s heritage and restoration responsibilities.

Dayaw brings Indigenous communities to Manila in October

The opening will include participants in traditional dress, with the parade running along the historic walls before the ceremony at Foro de Intramuros. Eight Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan awardees, also known as National Living Treasures, are scheduled to attend: Barbara Ofong, Rosie Sula, Estelita Bantilan, Samporonia Madanlo, Marife Ganahon, Adelita Bagcal, Bundos Fara and Teofilo Garcia.

Dayaw’s focus is cultural knowledge rather than a single performance. The event presents Indigenous artistry, traditional practices and community participation in a district whose current conservation framework is tied to its Spanish colonial architectural character. For visitors, the programme offers a specific October date for encountering living heritage in a historic part of Manila.

Visiting Intramuros: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Dayaw 2026 takes place from 13 to 15 October 2026 at Foro de Intramuros in Manila. The opening parade begins at 8am on 13 October 2026, followed by the ceremonial programme at 9am.
• The public is invited to attend the opening, and the parade follows the historic walls before moving to Foro de Intramuros. No closure of the district or change to its general access is announced for the celebration.
• Foro de Intramuros is within Intramuros, the historic walled district in Manila. The event’s route and venue are the relevant locations for visitors planning to attend the opening.
• Visitors should expect a historic urban setting with walls, plazas and heritage structures. The programme takes place in an area managed for the conservation of Philippine-Spanish architecture from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Intramuros

When does Dayaw 2026 take place at Intramuros?

Dayaw 2026 runs from 13 to 15 October 2026 at Foro de Intramuros in Manila. Its opening parade is scheduled for 13 October 2026.

What happens at the Dayaw opening in Intramuros?

The opening parade features 41 Indigenous Peoples clusters and begins at 8am on 13 October 2026. A ceremonial programme follows at 9am at Foro de Intramuros.

Where is Intramuros and how do you get there?

Intramuros is the historic walled district within Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Dayaw’s opening venue is Foro de Intramuros, with the parade taking place along the district’s historic walls.