The MassKara Festival 2026 was launched with the unveiling of its new “Share the Smile. Celebrate Gugma” campaign along with the introduction of this year’s Miss Bacolod MassKara contestants and street dance competition participants at Roy’s Hotel in Bacolod City on Friday, Sept. 11.
The festival will officially run from October 1 to 18, with post-festival activities extending through October 25. The festivities will peak with the Electric MassKara and streetdance competitions from October 16 to 18.
New venues for the major street dance and arena competitions and Miss Bacolod MassKara 2026, a twin-logo concept, and an expanded lineup of activities aimed at making the celebration more accessible to Bacolodnons and visitors were also announced at the launch.
Festival Director Rodney Mitz Ascalon, who is in his second year at the helm of MassKara, said the 2026 celebration seeks to strengthen the festival’s identity while creating more opportunities for communities and different sectors to take part.
“MassKara is more than a festival; it is a feeling, it is our identity, and it is our way of sharing who we are,” Ascalon said during the launch.
Ascalon said the festival is designed to create a place for everyone, including drivers and TODAs, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, women, athletes, artists, youth, volunteers, and animal advocates.
“MassKara should not only be watched; it should be experienced, it should be shared, and it should belong to everyone,” he said.
Ascalon said the Miss Bacolod MassKara 2026 will be held at the STI Gymnasium.
The MassKara street dancing will be held along Araneta Street, while the new venue for the arena competition will be between the bridgeways of SM City Bacolod in the reclamation area, he said.
The awarding of the street dancing and arena competition winners will be at the Bacolod Public Plaza, Ascalon added.
The school and barangay street dance and arena competitions will be held October 17 and 18, respectively.
The eight barangay category participants will come from Barangays 6, 10, 13, Alangilan, Bata, Mandalagan, Handumanan, and Taculing.
The school category will feature Montevista Elementary School, Sum-ag Elementary School, Vista Alegre-Granada Relocation Elementary School, Vista Alegre Elementary School, Mandalagan Elementary School, Handumanan Elementary School 1, and Education Training Center School II.
Ascalon said talks are also underway for a high school category.
Seven barangays will take part in the Electric MassKara Festival 2026 to be held at the Upper East on October 16. Participating are Barangays 12, 17, 19, 21, 14, Villamonte, and Tangub.
TWIN LOGO
The launch also highlighted the festival’s new twin-logo concept, described as a first-of-its-kind creative direction that presents two visual faces of MassKara while reflecting the festival’s evolving identity.
The twin logo was created by Mark Lester Jarmin, a Bacolod artist recognized for his work in digital arts and regarded as one of the city’s creative talents whose work continues to contribute to the visual identity of local culture and celebrations.
Jarmin’s work adds another layer to this year’s MassKara identity, bringing together digital artistry, local culture, and the festival’s continuing evolution while maintaining the recognizable spirit of the City of Smiles.
The festival’s organizers said the twin-logo concept is envisioned to eventually become more visible across different platforms, spaces, and experiences associated with MassKara.
The launch also introduced the newest ambassadors of the celebration, ‘To Max and ‘Day Kara, who are expected to embody the spirit of the City of Smiles and the festival’s message of sharing joy and celebrating love.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
MassKara Festival 2026 will feature an extensive calendar of competitions, community activities, sporting events, pageants, food experiences, concerts, and entertainment , organizers said.
Also among the festival’s highlights are the MassKareppin, MasskaRap Battle, Choreographers Showdown, PetsKara, Drum and Lyre Corps Competition, SingKara, Super KidsKara, and the MassKara, Hataw Sayaw sa Plaza.
Major concerts and entertainment events are also scheduled at the Bacolod City Government Center, Plaza, SM City Bacolod, Ayala Malls Capitol Central, Megaworld, and other festival venues.
Organizers said additional schedules, particularly for accredited sporting events, will be announced in succeeding releases.
The launch also introduced the newest ambassadors of the celebration, ‘To Max and ‘Day Kara, who are expected to embody the spirit of the City of Smiles and the festival’s message of sharing joy and celebrating love.
For Ascalon, the second year of his leadership is not simply about expanding the festival but about deepening its relevance to the people of Bacolod.
“We don’t just make MassKara bigger; we make it matter,” he said.
Organizers said schedules and venues remain subject to change and encourage everyone to follow the official MassKara Festival 2026 platforms for the latest announcements and updates.
BENITEZ, GASATAYA
Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the MassKara Festival showcases Bacolod as a place worth visiting. He pointed out that Bacolod City is the third fastest-growing city in the country.
Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya thanked the sponsors of MassKara Festival 2026, saying their continued support will play a major role in the success of this year’s celebration.
“Your support is a big part of the success of MassKara. We may not be able to repay your generosity, but we assure you that we will honor every commitment we have made and deliver what we have promised,” Gasataya said.
“We will give our best in this year’s MassKara Festival,” he said.*
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