Mayor Greg Gasataya and the Bacolod Gugma Foundation, Inc. (BGFI) officially sealed their partnership for the 2026 MassKara Festival through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed Wednesday, August 19, paving the way for “another vibrant celebration” this October.
Gasataya, together with Festival Director Rodney Ascalon, announced several significant changes aimed at enhancing public safety, crowd management, and the overall festival experience, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said.
“The arena competition is expected to move from the Paglaum Sports Complex to a new venue following safety assessments. The street dancing competition will likewise have a new route, while the grand awarding ceremony will remain at the Bacolod Public Plaza,” the mayor said.
Ascalon announced that the festival will officially launch in the first week of September under the theme “Share the Smile, Celebrate Gugma,” promising fresh experiences while strengthening the celebration’s focus on local heritage and community participation.
He said the festival will continue its grassroots approach, building on last year’s efforts to involve communities, barangays, and various sectors through events at the Plaza and the Bacolod City Government Center.
“We actually picked up from last year, taking note of comments from the media. What they liked most about last year was that we really rooted the MassKara celebration in the grassroots. We involved the community, we had a lot of sectoral events for both the Plaza and the BCGC, and we deeply involved the barangays,” Ascalon said.
Reflecting this community-centered approach, the Miss Bacolod MassKara pageant will also adopt a new format. Unlike previous years when the competition was open to all Bacolodnons, this year’s candidates will exclusively represent their respective barangays.
The grand launch will introduce the 15 candidates vying for the Miss Bacolod MassKara crown, as well as the festival’s competition lineup, including 10 entries in the Electric MassKara, eight in the Barangay Category, and seven in the School Category for the arena and street dancing competitions.
MassKara 2026 will also be divided into two phases. Food kiosks will open as early as October 1, while the Pre-MassKara Celebration will run from October 1 to 8 and feature sports tournaments, pre-pageant activities, and various mall events.
The festival’s major highlights are scheduled for October 16 to 18.
With new venues, a stronger grassroots approach, and several fresh attractions, MassKara Festival 2026 is set to offer a renewed celebration that brings communities, visitors, and Bacolodnons together in the spirit of smiles, culture, and love, the press release said.*
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