Gateway Art Fair 2026 Opens in Quezon City With More Than 200 Artists
Last Updated on October 1, 2026 by Over Here Toronto
Gateway Art Fair 2026 opens today, October 1, at Gateway Mall 2 in Araneta City, Quezon City. The four-day fair brings together more than 200 Filipino artists and art groups from across the country.
Now in its fifth year, the fair runs through October 4 at the Quantum Skyview on Upper Ground B of Gateway Mall 2. Admission is free. Along with the main exhibit, visitors can join free workshops, attend art talks, and see installations placed around Araneta City.
The J. Amado Araneta Foundation, Gateway Gallery, and Araneta City present the event. Metrobank serves as co-presenter, with Megaworld joining as a partner.
Visitors can check current announcements through the official Araneta City website before heading to the fair.
More Than 200 Artists Join the 2026 Fair
This year marks the Gateway Art Fair’s largest edition so far.
Organizers say more than 200 artists and art groups will take part. They come from different parts of the Philippines and work across several forms of visual art.
Groups represented during the fair’s September media launch included Yaru Nu Artes Ivatan, Mindoro Artists Group, Jose Velasco Art, and Gateway Gallery.
The full fair gives artists space to show their work, meet visitors, and connect with buyers and other people in the art community.
UP College of Fine Arts Dean Prof. Abdulmari “Toym” Ymao Jr. also pointed to the chance for visitors to speak with the people who made the pieces.
He said the event allows visitors to meet artists and learn more about the stories behind their work. He also raised questions about art and authorship as artificial intelligence becomes more common.
Gateway Art Fair Adds Its First Awards
The fifth edition also introduces the Gateway Art Fair Awards.
Organizers created three categories:
- Gateway Art Fair Masterpiece Award
- Breakthrough Artist Award
- Exhibit of the Year Award
The winners will receive prizes from Boysen Paint Philippines and Art Bar, along with specially made trophies.
The awards add another form of support for artists taking part in the fair.
J. Amado Araneta Foundation AVP Diane Romero said:
“Every doorway we unlock for an artist opens a dozen more for our culture and economy.”
The awards form part of the fair’s wider goal of giving Filipino artists more chances to show, sell, and build their work.
Free Art Workshops Start October 2
The program continues outside the main exhibit.
From October 2 to 4, Gateway Mall 1 will host free workshops and educational sessions.
Activities include:
- Mandala-making
- Collaborative drawing
- Soft sculpture
- Relief and rubber cutting
- An art education talk from the UP College of Fine Arts
Prof. Toym Ymao will also lead a session on the impact of artificial intelligence on art education.
The sessions give students, families, and other visitors a chance to take part instead of only viewing finished pieces.
The partnership with UP College of Fine Arts also goes beyond the October fair. JAAF and the university formalized their work together during the September 22 media launch.
Art Installations Spread Across Gateway Mall 2
Visitors can also find works outside the main Quantum Skyview area.
Organizers placed installations on Levels 3 and 4 of Gateway Mall 2. The works cover subjects ranging from daily commuting to the environment and animals.
One installation looks at the problems commuters face. Artist Elias Pernecita Jr. focuses on art and sustainability. Nina Chanco Libatique created an interactive work linked to pets.
Placing these pieces around the mall lets people come across local art even when they did not plan to enter a gallery.
It also helps make the event more visible to regular mall visitors.
Organizers Also Help Artists With the Business Side of Art
Gateway Art Fair 2026 began supporting exhibitors before opening day.
On September 3, JAAF worked with the Department of Trade and Industry–National Capital Region on a seminar for participating artists.
The session covered digital marketing, branding, and creative entrepreneurship.
Organizers developed the program after artists asked for help in these areas.
For working artists, selling a piece is only one part of the job. They also need to present their work, speak with customers, build a clear brand, and reach new buyers.
This year’s seminar adds those business skills to the fair’s wider artist support program.
Metrobank Offers Payment Options for Art Buyers
Visitors who plan to buy artwork also have payment options during the fair.
Metrobank says eligible credit card holders can use PayNow to send payments to participating artists.
The bank also offers 0% installment for up to three months on qualifying purchases of at least ₱3,000. Terms and card eligibility rules apply.
The fair itself remains free to enter.
Buyers should still ask the artist or exhibitor about a piece’s final price and available payment methods before making a purchase.
Gateway Art Fair Started in 2022
Gateway Art Fair first launched in 2022.
Since then, organizers have held it each year as a platform for local artists and creative groups. The program has grown in size and added more public activities along the way.
The 2023 edition brought 14 art exhibitors, five schools, and five merchants to Gateway Mall.
By 2026, organizers say the event has passed the 200-artist and art-group mark.
This year also puts more focus on artist training, public education, and formal recognition through the new awards.
What to Know Before Going
Gateway Art Fair 2026 runs for four days in Cubao.
Here are the main details:
- Event: Gateway Art Fair 2026
- Dates: October 1 to 4, 2026
- Main venue: Quantum Skyview, Upper Ground B, Gateway Mall 2
- Location: Araneta City, Quezon City
- Artists and art groups: More than 200
- Admission: Free
- Workshops and talks: October 2 to 4 at Gateway Mall 1
- Art installations: Levels 3 and 4 of Gateway Mall 2
Gateway mall hours normally run from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Visitors who plan to attend a workshop or talk should check the latest schedule before going, since some activities may run only at set times.
For updated event notices, visit the Araneta City website.
With the fair running only through October 4, visitors have four days to see the works, meet Filipino artists, and join the free public programs. Check the latest schedule before your trip and plan extra time if you want to visit both the main exhibition and the workshop areas.
