The Municipality of Buenavista is set to celebrate the 19th Palayag Festival from January 9 to 18, 2026, under the theme “Salida Abante: One Culture. One Heart. One Buenavista.”
The Palayag Festival is Buenavista’s annual cultural celebration highlighting the municipality’s rich heritage, unity, and continuing progress. Now in its 19th year, the festival brings together residents, visitors, and stakeholders through a dynamic lineup of activities showcasing local traditions, creativity, and a shared community identity.
This year’s celebration will feature a diverse range of cultural, sports, agricultural, and entertainment activities, including a Cultural Presentation, Agri Trade Fair and Exhibit, Sinadya sa Plaza, Barangay Float Competitions, and the much-anticipated Lin-ay sang Buenavista 2026.
A major highlight of the 2026 Palayag Festival is the expanded water-based activities, which include Baroto, Bugsay, Mini Paraw, and the newly introduced Jetski Race. Additional new events such as the Kids’ Push Bike Race and Bangkarera are also set to encourage broader participation across different age groups.
Adding to the festive atmosphere are performances by celebrity acts Elias J TV and Don Petok, expected to draw large crowds throughout the celebration.
One of the most news-worthy feature events of this year’s festival is “Sabor Kultura,” a culinary showcase featuring indigenous recipes of the Serum Ati Community. The event highlights ancestral food traditions and underscores the municipality’s commitment to cultural preservation, inclusivity, and respect for indigenous heritage.
In recent years, the Palayag Festival themes have reflected Buenavista’s evolving journey as a community. The 16th Palayag Festival, themed “Balik Palayag,” symbolized the town’s return to celebration after the pandemic. This was followed by the 17th Palayag Festival, “Palayag sa Mas Masanag nga Palaabuton (Sail to a Brighter Future),” which emphasized hope and recovery, and the 18th Palayag Festival, “Balik Layag: Our History. Our Dream. Our Future,” which reaffirmed the municipality’s roots and long-term vision.
Building on this progression, the 19th Palayag Festival marks a shift from recovery and reflection toward decisive collective action. The theme opens with “Salida Abante,” an acronym for the municipality’s 12-point development agenda for 2026–2028, symbolizing a unified movement forward and Buenavista’s readiness to advance together. Meanwhile, “One Culture. One Heart. One Buenavista.” emphasizes the shared identity, solidarity, and sense of purpose that bind the community despite diversity in traditions and backgrounds.
The Municipality of Buenavista invites the public and visitors to join the 19th Palayag Festival and celebrate a community moving forward together—rooted in culture, united in heart, and inspired by a common vision.
Further details and the official schedule of activities will be released through the Municipality of Buenavista’s official communication channels.
