MoCAF is back for round 5
I got slight Backrooms vibes, wandering through the recently opened SAVÈA Bay City Manila third floor courtyard, what with all the half-completed conference rooms and general liminal feeling about it; but that’s fine, because I was on my way to this year’s launch of MoCAF (Modern and Contemporary Art Festival), and that room was already lively and complete.
MoCAF has always situated itself as an alternative art space, so the Backrooms vibe kinda makes sense. Skewed towards a younger audience than your average art fair in Manila, MoCAF has now reached Year 5, and it’s not just hype that it hits different. Gallery owners there talk of its potential for showcasing upcoming artists who might not get platformed, offering a more “accessible” experience for those who wander its now semi-permanent home at Marquis Events Place in Taguig (this is the second year for the venue), and serving up artist merchandise in a user-friendly environment.
Festival director Coleen Wong said it’s more than just a vibe of inclusivity that sets MoCAF apart. “Actually, that’s what we started out as, and I think now that they know they’re in this space, we want to make it more experiential, more of a place to explore.”
Marquis Events Place clearly hits the sweet spot. “It’s more bright and lively, with room to play around in, because it’s not just a courtyard, but you also have the spaces in other floors as well,” Wong says.
“So wherever you go, we want there to be no dead space.”
Got it: no eerie Backrooms vibes.
In just five years, since lockdown gradually lifted, MoCAF has expanded to represent hundreds of visual artists, alongside handcrafters, artisans and other creatives. With 50 local and international galleries (up from its initial 19) and featuring 800-plus artists and artisans, it’s definitely a grower.
Alongside 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 expands that trajectory further through MoCAF XTN (Extended), which opens additional exhibition spaces and offering broader opportunities for galleries and artists.
Highlights this year will include a special exhibit of Jerika See and Sheila Go; a collaboration between Toym Imao and Tarantadong Kalbo; and works by renowned artist Jappy Agoncillo.
Toym and Kalbo were on hand, offering a tantalizing auditory hint of their upcoming collab: “Do you know the song by Starland Vocal Band from the 1970s? Our version will be After-noon Delights”—a play on the Tagalog word for “then.” Expect a glimpse of local history with “subversive” angles and elements, if it’s anything like their 100-foot mural “Trip to Heaven/Hell on Wheels” at the Bangkok Art & Culture Centre in 2023.
Another highlight is MoCAF Discoveries, the festival’s dedicated platform for young artists which has so far featured more than 200 new names. This year, selected alumni from previous batches will return, offering inspiring testament to the platform’s impact on their careers.
For the first time, MoCAF 2026 will also feature digital artists and illustrators, printed and framed in collaboration with Art Caravan; a major collaborative exhibition with Chinabank (as major bank partner) will also showcase 100 artworks by 100 artists.
Alongside this, MoCAFLimited returns with a curated selection of artist-made, limited-edition merchandise, developed in partnership with Team Manila (whose co-founder and creative director Jowee Alviar was at the launch).
XTN Artisans continues to provide dedicated space for handcrafters, makers, and independent creative brands, with familiar names such as MILKWEAR and Baybayin Bags, alongside new participants including Armore Collective, Anmari & Co., and Binibini Marikit.
Hungry? Expanded XTN Bites food and beverage offerings will include favorites like ODD Café, Butterboy and Hijo De Mexican Cantina, plus new participants such as The Good Poison, Fiasfud, Bored & Hungry, The Spirits Library and SIPP, among others.
Wong has made it clear in the past: MoCAF is meant to be unintimidating, welcoming to new collectors and artists. It’s a “dismantling of barriers” that have long kept broad audiences from engaging with contemporary art.
Expect the unexpected, says Wong: MoCAF is a space where brands encounter artists, collaborations are formed, and visitors leave with something they did not expect to find.
There’s hands-on exposure to the arts for students and young professionals, and a sense of community-building as much as a mere art event.
As for 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.
Tickets are priced at P380 with students, PWDs and senior citizens availing of discounted rates. Tickets available through Klook, the official ticketing partner of MoCAF. Discounts and merch packages are also offered upon checkout.
MoCAF 2026 will take place from July 3 to 5 at Marquis Events Place in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
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For more information on MoCAF and upcoming MoCAF XP activities, visit www.mocaf.net. Follow @mocafmanila on Instagram and TikTok, and like MoCAF on Facebook for updates.
