“Sway” Hitmaker Bic Runga Is Coming to Manila for the First Time This October
Last Updated on August 13, 2026 by Over Here Toronto
Filipino fans of ’90s and early-2000s pop have a reason to revisit an old favorite this October. New Zealand singer-songwriter Bic Runga, best known for her timeless hit “Sway,” will perform in Manila for the first time on October 1, 2026, at the SM City North EDSA Skydome.
Presented by Midas Promotions, SWAY: BIC RUNGA LIVE IN MANILA will bring the acclaimed artist to the Philippines for a one-night concert featuring songs from her long-running career. The show will give fans a chance to hear material from her latest album, Red Sunset, released earlier this year.
An intimate concert setting could make this a special night for longtime listeners who grew up with Runga’s soft vocals and thoughtful songwriting.
Note: Concert details, such as ticket prices, schedules, and event information, may change. For the latest announcements and updates, please check the official pages of Midas Promotions.
The Beginning of a Lasting Career
Runga first rose to prominence in New Zealand with “Drive” in 1996. The song introduced her soft vocals and thoughtful songwriting to a growing audience and soon became one of the early highlights of her career.
Her debut album, Drive, arrived in 1997 and became a strong commercial success. The album featured “Sway,” the song that would become her best-known track and later reach those far beyond New Zealand. Drive went on to achieve seven-times-platinum certification in New Zealand.
Runga followed it with Beautiful Collision in 2002, another standout release that showed how her sound had developed since debut. The album reached eleven-times-platinum certification in New Zealand and featured several recognized songs, including “Get Some Sleep,” “Something Good,” and “Listening for the Weather.”
A Major Name in New Zealand Music
Bic Runga’s career has earned her a long list of awards and honors in New Zealand. She received the prestigious APRA Silver Scroll songwriting award early in her career, following the release of “Drive” in 1996.
Runga is a multi-Tūī and Silver Scroll award winner, with her work recognized by fellow songwriters and the wider New Zealand music industry. Her wins include Best Female Vocalist four times and Best Producer three times. She has also served as a writer-director on the APRA board.
In January 2006, Runga received one of New Zealand’s national honors when she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM).
A decade later, she received the Legacy Award at the 2016 New Zealand Music Awards and was inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame. Her induction placed her among artists who have made a lasting contribution to music and culture in Aotearoa New Zealand. She was the youngest inductee at the time.
Runga added another major recognition in 2023 when she received the Rolling Stone Icon Award at the Rolling Stone Aotearoa Awards. The honor recognized the lasting impact of her music and her place in New Zealand’s music history.
Red Sunset Opens a Fresh Chapter
Runga’s concert comes at a new stage in her career with the release of Red Sunset, her sixth studio album. Released in February 2026, the album is her first collection of new material in several years and was recorded in Paris during the winter of 2025.
The album includes 10 tracks, among them “Red Sunset,” “Paris in the Rain,” “It’s Like Summertime,” and “Ghost in Your Bed.” Runga has been performing songs from the album alongside selections from her earlier catalog during her tour.
In an interview by the New Zealand Music Commission, she described the long-awaited album as a project she did not want to rush:
After such a long time between albums, I didn’t want to rush this one. These songs came together slowly, in a very particular place and time, and that space really shaped how the record sounds and feels.
The new album gives the concert more than just a nostalgic angle. Fans can expect a chance to hear familiar songs alongside newer material from an artist who has continued to write and record on her own terms.
A One-Night Concert for Filipino Fans
With Runga now touring behind Red Sunset, the Manila date offers both sides of her career: the songs that made her a household name in New Zealand and the newer music that shows where she is today.
The concert will offer Meet & Greet and Soundcheck add-ons for fans who want a closer experience with Runga.
As this will be her first performance in the country, the October 1 show gives Filipino fans a rare chance to hear her signature songs live without having to travel overseas.
Tickets go on sale through SM Tickets on August 15. With the show limited to one night, those who have been waiting years to hear Runga live in the Philippines will want to mark the date. Here’s what fans need to know before the big night:
- Date: October 1, 2026
- Venue: SM City North EDSA Skydome, Quezon City
- Promoter: Midas Productions (Facebook | X | Instagram)
- Ticket Outlet: SM Tickets
- Ticket Sale Date: August 15, 2026 at 12:00 noon
- Ticket Prices:
- P4,500 (VIP Seated)
- P3,500 (Floor Seated)
- P2,500 (Bleachers)
- P3,000 (Add-on/top-up Meet & Greet + Soundcheck Perk)
Are you planning to catch Bic Runga live in Manila this October, or is there a song you hope makes it to the setlist? Let us know in the comments.
Do you have a story to share? Email us at hi@overheremanila.com or join us at our Instagram page at @OverHereManila.
