Aliwan Fiesta, the Grand Festival of Champions, is returning to Manila in 2026!

Filipinos will once again experience the very best each province has to offer—vibrant, ornate floats; striking dance performances; stirring music; and the captivating beauty, skill, and talent of queens from all over the country.

MBC Media Group (MMG) President Ruperto “Jun” Nicdao Jr. confirmed the much-awaited festival’s comeback.

“We’re already planning for the 2026 Aliwan Fiesta… in fact, earlier today, we started talking about where we’re gonna do it, how we’re gonna do it, and so forth. So definitely, we’ll have Aliwan Fiesta,” he said.

Dancing, music, and floats aside, another highlight in this culture-rich festivity is the "Reyna ng Aliwan," a pageant Miss Universe Third Runner-Up Ahtisa Manalo herself competed in back in 2017. Representing the Niyogyugan Festival of Quezon Province, she finished as Second Runner-Up.

“I was proud by the way of all our alumni from the Reyna ng Aliwan who made it big, not only in the local scene but also in the international pageant scene. So congratulations, Ahtisa, you made the Philippines and Aliwan Fiesta really, really proud,” Nicdao said.

In 2024, Mia Loureen Tamayo of Cebu’s Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival was crowned Reyna ng Aliwan.

Meanwhile, the Cotabato City ginakit—an ornamented wooden boat—won the float competition, and Iloilo’s Dinagyang Festival clinched both Tugtog ng Aliwan and Street Dance Competition Grand Champion titles.

Aliwan Fiesta was established by MMG in 2003.