How Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino 2026 celebrates OPM’s past, present, future

Free performances and events await fans for this year's Filipino music celebration MANILA, Philippines – Today’s Original Pilipino Music (OPM) offers a melting pot of genres, influences, and voices, with some local artists even making a name for themselves internationally. As Filipino music practitioners face both challenges and opportunities to reach new heights, the National Commission of Culture and the Arts (NCCA) reaffirms its commitment to celebrate the industry’s past, present, and future by holding the annual Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino (LMP). This year, from July 28 to August 1, there will be free performances and events for the public to enjoy, as well as recognitions and awards for artists that fans can look forward to. Here’s a rundown of what to expect. Packed opening day at the MET Kicking off this year’s celebration are two events on Tuesday, July 28, at the historical Metropolitan Theater (MET), where distinguished and emerging figures in the OPM landscape will be honored. Musika at Himig Natin: Ang Konsiyerto at the MET will bring together renowned voices and emerging artists on one stage to pay tribute to the rich history of OPM and present its bright future. Beginning at 2 pm, audiences will be able to enjoy free performances by Bituin Escalante, Charina Balmores, Isay Alvarez, Reuben Laurente, Robert Seña, Rachelle Gerodias, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Singers, UST Symphony Orchestra, Mandaluyong Children’s Choir, and PHILBANDA. Together, these artists will set the celebratory tone for the week. After the opening program, the NCCA will hold the prestigious SUDI National Music Awards, which recognize exceptional contributions and achievements in Filipino music. First launched in 2020, honorees across multiple genres and forms of production are selected each year for their impact and influence. However, the awards ceremony is only held every three years, making this year’s ceremony even more special. Twelve awardees from 2021 to 2024 are set to receive their recognition: Ben&Ben, The New Cebu Arts Foundation, Inc., and MSU-IIT Integrated Performing Arts Guild for 2021 SB19, Gary Valenciano, Regine Velasquez, Alfonso ‘Coke’ Bolipata, and Maria Alexandra Chua for 2022 Dr. Marie Jocelyn Marfil, UST Singers, and Vincent de Jesus for 2023 National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) Foundation, Inc. for the Lifetime Achievement Award The awardees will also grace the Metropolitan Theater stage with performances beginning at 8 pm. Free conference This year’s Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino will also launch the MusikaTalakayan sa LMP 2026, a two-part free conference and concert series on the country’s dynamic and evolving music landscape. Held on July 30 and 31 at Centro de Turismo, Intramuros, the series will be a venue for musicians, artists, cultural workers, and music enthusiasts to have meaningful conversations about the challenges and opportunities for Filipino music. At 9 am, the conference will tackle the theme Musika at Industriya: Pamana, Kaalaman, at Malikhaing Ekonomiya, to initiate discussions on Philippine musical heritage, education, and documentation, and how the creative economy has a crucial role in sustaining the local music industry. It will also be an opportunity for participants to converse, connect, and collaborate across multiple sectors of the Filipino music community. Later in the day at 4 pm, the concert Pagtatanghal: Musika at Tinig sa Mas Malapit na Espasyo, will present intimate performances as a way to complement the festival’s larger performances. Through the smaller and more focused listening experiences, the artists’ expressive depth can be better appreciated and celebrated with peers and music enthusiasts. The lively and celebratory Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino 2026 will conclude on August 1 with the Bagong Musika at Himig Natin: NCCA Composition Prize World Premiere Series, an event where selected winning works from the NCCA Composition Prize will be performed for the first time. Beginning at 5 pm at The Metropolitan Theater Ballroom, the free concert will present compositions across various categories such as chamber music, handbell choir, solo organ, solo piano, solo rondalla, solo string, and solo wind. This showcase of creativity and talent among today’s Filipino composers also highlights the growing repertoire of contemporary Philippine music. – Elise Suarez/Rappler.com Elise Suarez is a Rappler intern from Puerto Princesa City and a Humanities student of the University of Asia & the Pacific. How does this make you feel? Loading