THE DAVAO City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) announced a restructured calendar of events for the 2026 Kadayawan Festival, for a more condensed timeline packed with daily activities and competitive expanded events.
During an interview with city-run radio on Tuesday, CTOO Chief Willenito Tormis Jr. revealed that this year’s Thanksgiving festival will run under the official theme “We Are One Kadayawan.”
“For us, it acknowledges the importance of unity among Davaoeños. Despite different cultures, beliefs, and preferences, we are united here in Davao to experience our bountiful harvest and the beauty of our city,” Tormis said, signaling a centralized celebration of unity across the city’s 11 ethnolinguistic tribes.
Unlike recent month-long celebrations, Tormis confirmed that the Kadayawan events will be concentrated into a consecutive two-week period to maintain high energy for both locals and tourists.
“Daily cultural showcases will run back-to-back, building directly toward the highly anticipated Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan street dancing competition and the Pamulak floral float parade,” he said.
Among the key changes to this year’s events lineup is the launch of ‘Kadayawan All Over the City’, which is a brand-new competitive event that aims to showcase unique Kadayawan experiences and cultural displays directly within private business establishments, hotels, and restaurants.
Popular heritage events, specifically the Tunog Kadayawan (musical showcase) and Sayaw Kadayawan (traditional dance showcase), will return this year as official, high-stakes competitions.
Tormis said the Kadayawan Short Film Competition, which is a new digital arts segment, will also debut this August, inviting filmmakers to highlight Davao’s vibrant indigenous heritage and bountiful agricultural harvest.
Meanwhile, the Big Kadayawan Sale: Pocket activations and city-wide retail promotions will run throughout the entire month of August to support local commerce alongside core cultural activities.
Addressing previous public concerns over shifting harvest cycles, Tormis reassured the public that coordination with the City Agriculture Office points toward a bountiful festival season.
Due to recent climate shifts, the city’s signature fruits, including durian, marang, and mangosteen, have begun hitting local markets as early as June.
“We expect the harvest to extend until September. So our projection is a bountiful harvest,” Tormis said.
