Culture & Entertainment · Philippines Bureau
Thousands Descend on Bacolod for Vibrant MassKara Festival 2026
The annual MassKara Festival has drawn massive crowds to Bacolod City this weekend, with participants and spectators celebrating the signature event through street dancing competitions and cultural performances.
LSN Philippines ·
BACOLOD CITY — Thousands of residents and visitors have converged on the city since Friday for the 2026 edition of the MassKara Festival, one of the Philippines' most anticipated annual celebrations. The festival's main events are now in full swing, featuring the iconic street dancing performances that have become synonymous with the event.
Saturday's highlight saw revelers sporting the festival's distinctive smiling masks parading through city streets as school contingents, barangay groups, and other organizations competed in spirited dance routines. The competitions showcased elaborate choreography and colorful costumes as different communities vied for top honors in the street dancing category.
Friday evening's competitions saw Barangay Tangub claiming victory in one of the preliminary events, setting an early benchmark for the weekend's festivities. The barangay's success marked the beginning of a series of contests scheduled throughout the festival period.
The MassKara Festival, celebrated annually in Bacolod, draws participants from across the region and beyond. The event is known for blending cultural traditions with contemporary performance art, attracting both local tourism and international attention to the city.
Photo: MassKara Festival street dancers in their smiling masks, Bacolod City, October 2019. Michol Sanchez via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).