Spotlight Shines on Country’s Performing Arts Scene
CREATEPhilippines and MIPAM 2026 brought live performances, industry workshops, and a dozen exhibitors to Pasay City from September 11 to 13
CREATEPhilippines and the Manila International Performing Arts Market (MIPAM) teams up to bring the best of the country and the region’s creative talent to the world stage.
The three-day event runs from Sept. 11-13, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, across two locations: the Likhang Filipino Tent and Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex.
At the Likhang Filipino Tent, festivities kicked off with toe-tapping performances by P-pop group XCEGON, singer Julia Pascual, talent from the Darren Vega Music School, and performers from Angono, Rizal — long recognized as the country’s Art Capital.
Industry veterans were present to help unpack the business side of the arts through mainstage talks and smaller pocket sessions. They were able to break down practical topics like managing music royalties and filling taxes as a freelance creative, subjects that rarely get airtime but matter enormously to working artists.
Across 52 exhibitors spanning music, dance, and storytelling, the floor connects performers, producers, and festival programmers directly. Five partner organizations offer immediate, hands-on assistance:
- DTI-NCRO: Business registration and enterprise scaling
- IPOPHL: Copyright and intellectual property protection
- Taxumo: Tax filing and legal compliance
- AWPI: Healthcare and social welfare support for artists
- FILSCAP: Music licensing royalty collection and distribution
Students and aspiring performers get this chance to skip textbooks and talk directly to working professionals. Whether you want to explore new creative outlets or learn how the business actually operates behind the scenes, you will leave with practical takeaways and fresh inspiration.
MIPAM 2026 wraps Sept. 13, with free entry and shuttle service between venues running through the event’s final day.
An event to immerse in culture and the arts
The CREATEPhilippines and MIPAM2026 event wasn’t just an event to celebrate culture and the arts – it was an opportunity to immerse and introduce kids who want to immerse themselves in the creative and performing arts. Through this exposure, they are given a chance to watch and discover for themselves the beauty and power of creativity.
Frequently Asked Questions
MIPAM, or the Manila International Performing Arts Market, is a three-day event connecting local performers and producers with the global market.
MIPAM runs Sept. 11 to 13, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., across the Likhang Filipino Tent and Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez at the CCP complex, with the two venues running side by side.
Yes. The event is open to the public at no cost, and free shuttles run continuously between the two venues throughout the event.
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