The Gateway Art Fair returns for its fifth year, continuing its mission of creating opportunities for Filipino artists and bringing art closer to the public. Quezon City’s annual celebration of visual arts will feature more than 200 artists from across the country, alongside free art workshops and talks, art installations around Araneta City, and other activities for art enthusiasts.
Presented by the J. Amado Araneta Foundation (JAAF), Gateway Gallery, and Araneta City, and co-presented by Metrobank, the Gateway Art Fair will run from October 1 to 4, 2026, at Gateway Mall 2. First launched in 2022, the annual event reflects JAAF’s commitment to opening gateways to opportunities through art, culture, and creative development.
For its fifth edition, the Gateway Art Fair is expanding its support for participating artists through a capacity-building workshop developed in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry NCR Office. The program will equip artists with marketing tools and knowledge to help them navigate the creative industry as entrepreneurs.
The fair will also introduce the first Gateway Art Fair Awards, which will recognize selected artistic talents and provide opportunities for greater exposure. Awardees will receive prizes from Boysen Paint Philippines and Art Bar, along with specially sculpted trophies.
“By investing in capacity building and creative entrepreneurship, we aren’t just putting on an art fair—we are helping artists step through the threshold into sustainable careers,” said Diane Romero, JAAF Executive Director. “We are elevating creative entrepreneurs, opening market access, and growing the Philippine creative industry, hand-in-hand with our community.”
Since its inaugural edition in 2022, the Gateway Art Fair has provided a platform for Filipino artists while supporting JAAF’s broader mission of creating opportunities through art and culture.
“Our core mission has always been simple. Every doorway we unlock for an artist opens a dozen more for our culture and economy,” Romero said.
Beyond the exhibition of artworks, the fair will also encourage visitors to learn and engage with the creative process through three days of talks and workshops. Gateway Art Fair exhibitors and experts from the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts will lead the sessions from October 2 to 4 at Gateway Mall 1.
Visitors can also discover art installations by local artists placed throughout Gateway Mall 2, offering additional opportunities to experience Filipino creativity beyond the exhibition spaces.
The Gateway Art Fair also contributes to the continued development of JAAF’s art and culture programs, including the initiatives of Gateway Gallery, the museum of Araneta City. Through these efforts, JAAF seeks to make art and culture more accessible to the Filipino community while providing artists with platforms to develop and connect with wider audiences.
“When we open doors together, we don’t just showcase art; we empower lives,” Romero said. “Let’s walk through these new gateways together and make the fifth edition of Gateway Art Fair our most vibrant one yet.”
