MoCAF 2026: Celebrating the Pulse of Philippine Modern and Contemporary Art

MoCAF, the Modern and Contemporary Art Festival, marks its fifth consecutive edition since its founding in 2022.

MoCAF 2026 will feature an expanded lineup of over 50 local and international galleries, a range of new and continuing programs, and partnerships across the arts, food, and beverage industries, making it the largest and most ambitious edition of the festival to date.

Since its inaugural edition, MoCAF has grown from a 19-gallery showcase into one of the most significant platforms for contemporary art in the country. In just five years, the festival has expanded to represent hundreds of visual artists, alongside handcrafters, artisans, and other creatives.

Alongside the highly anticipated artworks from Ysobel Art Gallery, Fundacion Sansó, Art Underground, and White Walls Gallery, MoCAF is also excited to welcome this year’s participating international galleries: SHIKISAISHA GALLERY (Japan), Gallery Kogure (Japan), White Space Art Asia (Singapore), and Kate Contemporary Madrid (Spain).

This year’s festival furthers that trajectory through the continued development of MoCAF XTN (Extended), which opens additional exhibition spaces and creates broader opportunities for galleries and artists to present their work.

“Audiences can expect MoCAF 2026 to be bigger, more exciting, and even more engaging this year. We’re bringing in a stronger lineup of galleries, artists, and creatives, including both returning names and new participants joining us for the first time,” says Coleen Wong, the MoCAF Festival Director since the very first MoCAF.

Among the new galleries and exhibitors lined up for this year’s MoCAF, several familiar names will showcase remarkable artistic talent and masterful works.

These include the special exhibit of Jerika See and Sheila Go, the collaboration between Toym Imao and Tarantadong Kalbo, works by renowned artist Jappy Agoncillo, and the return of Chinabank as the festival’s major bank partner through an initiative featuring 100 artworks by 100 artists for this year’s festival.

MoCAF 2026 introduces and expands several programs designed to reflect the festival’s commitment to inclusivity, young talent, and the full breadth of the contemporary creative community.

Among the highlights is an evolution of MoCAF Discoveries, the festival’s dedicated platform for young artists. Over four years, Discoveries has already featured more than 200 young artists.

This year, selected alumni from previous batches, including participants from the inaugural 2022 edition, will return to showcase how their practice has grown, offering an inspiring testament to the platform’s lasting impact on the careers it has helped launch.

For the first time, MoCAF 2026 will also feature digital artists and illustrators, with works printed and framed in collaboration with Art Caravan. The initiative affirms digital creativity as a valid and celebrated art form, bringing screen-native works into the physical exhibition space for audiences to encounter firsthand.

A major collaborative exhibition with Chinabank will also stand as one of the largest group presentations within the festival, featuring 100 artworks by 100 artists. Alongside this, MoCAFLimited returns with a curated selection of artist-made merchandise, including a limited-edition capsule collection developed in partnership with Team Manila.

The festival will also offer hands-on creative experiences through workshops, which will continue as a core part of the festival following strong audience response.

XTN Artisans continues to provide dedicated space for handcrafters, makers, and independent creative brands. This year’s lineup brings back familiar names such as MILKWEAR and Baybayin Bags, alongside new participants including Armore Collective, Anmari & Co., and Binibini Marikit, further expanding MoCAF’s showcase of design, craft, and contemporary Filipino creativity.

An expanded XTN Bites food and beverage offering will also give visitors more ways to enjoy the festival throughout the day. Returning favorites include ODD Café, Butterboy, and Hijo De Mexican Cantina, joined by new participants such as The Good Poison, Fiasfud, Bored & Hungry, The Spirits Library, and SIPP, among others.

“MoCAF has always been envisioned as a space that feels welcoming and safe, not just for artists and creatives, but also for the public. Whether you’re a collector, an artist, or someone simply curious about art, there will be something to see, experience, and take part in,” Wong shares.

Central to MoCAF’s mission is the dismantling of barriers that have historically kept broad audiences from engaging with contemporary art. The festival is designed to be accessible to first-time visitors and seasoned collectors alike, with a programming philosophy rooted in discovery, openness, and genuine connection.

Beyond its exhibitions, MoCAF serves as a site of unexpected possibility where brands encounter artists, collaborations are formed, and visitors leave with something they did not expect to find.

The festival also provides meaningful hands-on exposure to the arts for students and young professionals who join the ground crew each year, reinforcing MoCAF’s role as a community-building institution as much as an art event.

In line with MoCAF’s continuing commitment to inclusivity and access, MoCAF Gives Back returns this year to support initiatives that uplift communities beyond the festival space. The program continues its support for ScholarSip by Fundacion Sansó, which helps fund the tertiary education of art scholars, and the Mbrace Project, which extends care and meaningful support to Filipino children in need.

“It feels surreal to be bringing MoCAF back for its fifth year. Seeing how much it has grown, not just in size, but also in reach, identity, and community, makes me feel very grateful. MoCAF is not just growing as a festival; it is growing with the art community itself,” Wong adds.

MoCAF 2026 continues to affirm the festival’s founding belief: that contemporary art is not the exclusive domain of the few, but a living, growing conversation that belongs to everyone willing to take part in it.

Tickets are priced at PHP 380. Students, PWDs, and senior citizens may avail of discounted rates. Tickets will be available through Klook, the official ticketing partner of MoCAF. Discounts and merch packages will also be offered upon checkout.

MoCAF 2026 will take place from July 3 to 5, 2026, at Marquis Events Place in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. For more information on MoCAF and upcoming MoCAF XP activities, visit www.mocaf.net.