Xavier Art Fest 2026 | Manila’s Free Art Fair with 46 Galleries, Including Two from Tokyo
Xavier Art Fest 2026: 46 Galleries, Free Admission, and Two Galleries from Tokyo
Hello, this is SEILA.
This weekend, Manila hosts Xavier Art Fest 2026. From Friday, October 23 to Sunday, October 25, 46 galleries come together under one roof, and admission is free.
The venue is in Greenhills, about 30 to 45 minutes from Makati and 40 to 60 minutes from BGC.
And two galleries from Tokyo are taking part.
Event Details
Dates | Friday, October 23 – Sunday, October 25, 2026 |
Hours | Oct 23: invitation-only preview in the morning, open to the public 4:00–7:00 pm<br><br>Oct 24–25: open to the public 9:00 am–7:00 pm |
Venue | Fr. Rafael Cortina Sports Center, Xavier School San Juan (64 Xavier St., Greenhills, San Juan City) |
Admission | Free (the morning of Oct 23 is an invitation-only preview) |
Exhibitors | 46 galleries in total |
Organizers | Alumni Association of Xavier School (AAXS) + Batch of 2001 |
Beneficiaries | The school's scholarship fund, and "Para Kay Cher" (For Teacher), which helps retired Xavier teachers with medical expenses |
AAXS is the school's official alumni association. Every graduate is automatically a member, and each year a different batch takes charge of running the fest. This year it is the turn of the Batch of 2001.
The venue is the school gymnasium (fully air-conditioned, of course!).
From Japan: Kobayashi Gallery and Gallery Kogure
Kobayashi Gallery was founded in 1978. In June 2025 it held "A Wild Sea," an exhibition of 18 Filipino artists in Tokyo, and it has shown at Art Fair Philippines in Manila several times since 2020.
Gallery Kogure is based in Jimbocho, Tokyo, and exhibits in more than ten countries a year. It has been showing at Art Fair Philippines since around 2018.
They are joined by Gajah Gallery from Singapore, Pintô Art Museum in Antipolo, Qube Gallery from Cebu (see our NIN.DOT article), Mugna Gallery from Valencia on Negros Island, and The Annext, which nurtures young artists, among others.
19 Works in the Charity Auction
Nineteen works go under the hammer, from major names in Philippine contemporary art such as Lao Lianben (Stone), Andres Barrioquinto (The Butterfly Thief), Manny Garibay, and Nicole Coson, to younger artists like Isko Andrade.
Why a High School Alumni Association?
This fest is organized not by a gallery or a museum, but by the alumni association of a single school.
Xavier School was founded in 1956 by Jesuit priests who had been expelled from China, to educate the children of the Chinese community in Manila. Its graduates include the Sy family of the SM Group and other families that drive the Philippine economy.
I'll write more about this in my upcoming "Complete Guide to Manila's Art Fairs," coming soon.
I won't be able to make it in person this time, so I'll be following the energy and excitement through the official social media♡
SEILA
This article is based on announcements from the organizer's official Instagram (@xsartfest) and was produced with the organizer's permission.