ALT ART 2026 Marks Its Largest and Most Ambitious Edition Yet
The fourth edition expands to a bigger venue with new curatorial programs, spotlighting an exciting range of Philippine contemporary art.
Words Jewel Chuaunsu
Photos courtesy of ALT Collective
February 11, 2026
ALT ART makes its highly anticipated return with a larger venue, expanded exhibitions, and dynamic public programs at SMX Manila, Halls 1 & 2, from February 13 to 15, 2026, 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Organized by the ALT Collective, the fair brings together nine of the country’s leading galleries: Artinformal, Blanc, The Drawing Room, Galleria Duemila, Finale Art File, MO_Space, Underground, Vinyl on Vinyl, and West Gallery.
A representative from The Drawing Room shares: “ALT was established as a deliberate act of authorship—as a considered decision to shape a space on our own terms. From the outset, ALT resisted being defined solely as an art fair. While it adopts that structure when practical, its intent has always been broader: to allow nine galleries to present their programs with clarity and depth, to focus on their artists without compromise, and to engage a community that includes artists, patrons, students, and the wider public that animates the art ecosystem.”
Rather than being defined by scale or spectacle, ALT ART is shaped by coherence, concentration, and the strength of the collective at its core. It seeks to create focused and sustained encounters with contemporary Filipino art. As the organizers emphasize, “the value of this model is not found in claims of prominence, but in the quality of attention it affords to artists, to ideas, and to the experience of art itself.”
Scale and Space
Gallery owners: (standing L-R) Cesar Villalon Jr. of The Drawing Room, Gaby dela Merced of Vinyl on Vinyl, Mawen Ong of MO_Space, Isabel Santos of West Gallery, Pia Reyes of Vinyl on Vinyl, and Jay Amante of Blanc; (seated L-R) Tina Fernandez of Artinformal and Silvana Ancellotti-Diaz of Galleria Duemila
Now in its fourth edition, ALT ART 2026 is the collective’s most ambitious undertaking yet. The exhibition will feature works by over 300 artists across more than 5,000 square meters of exhibition space. This expansion furthers the collective’s pro-artist ethos, providing greater room to present contemporary art thoughtfully and to develop curated projects that encourage experimentation, discourse, and critical engagement.
The ALT Collective’s hands-on involvement from the ground up, in collaboration with All At Once, ensures cohesive branding, spatial design, and public programming that complement the gallery exhibitions anchoring the event. The exhibition design prioritizes the needs of both artwork and artist, creating an immersive experience where visitors can fully appreciate the scale and depth of the works—feeling part of the environment rather than merely observing it.
Baby Imperial of All At Once explains that the design was guided by the idea of structures and revealing what lies within and beneath them, allowing artists the opportunity to share their ideas more openly with the public. “We also created expansive sightlines upon entry, so that art immediately embraces visitors rather than creating bottlenecks that obstruct visibility.”
Imperial adds that a central convergence area was designed to encourage dialogue—providing space for conversations among artists, gallerists, collectors, curators, and art aficionados, while keeping the artworks within view.
Curated Highlights
Gallery owners: Cesar Villalon Jr. of The Drawing Room, Tina Fernandez of Artinformal, Gaby dela Merced of Vinyl on Vinyl, Mawen Ong of MO_Space, Isabel Santos of West Gallery, Silvana Ancellotti-Diaz of Galleria Duemila, Pia Reyes of Vinyl on Vinyl, and Jay Amante of Blanc
ALT ART’s signature PROJECT SPACES continue to push conceptual boundaries, featuring works by Christina Quisumbing Ramilo, Buen Calubayan, Julie Lluch, Kiri Dalena and Ben Brixx, Raffy Napay, MM Yu, Kolown and Christina Lopez, Mauro Malang Santos, Lesley-Ann Cao, and Iwan Effendi. Nagaraya will co-present a dedicated space for multimedia artist Miguel Lorenzo Uy.
New this year is the DISCOVERIES SECTION, a platform offering fresh perspectives through artists whose compelling and critically engaged practices merit greater visibility and recognition. The inaugural edition spotlights JC Mariategue, Jomari T'leon, Joar Songcuya, Allyza Tresvalles, Eric Bico, Gelo Cinco, Joanolasco, Rhaz Oriente, and Marco Ortiga.
A Conversations Program will take place on all public days at the BDO Conversations Lounge, with sessions scheduled daily at 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM.
ALT ART 2026 is presented in partnership with BDO Private Banking, co-presented by Nagaraya, and supported by The Friends of ALT, Boysen, Samsung, The Moment Group, Terry’s Bistro, Arc Gin, Savea Bay City Manila, Lifestyle Asia, Bluprint, and Lifestyle Inquirer.
Tickets are available online at www.ticket2me.net/event/22773 and are priced at P250 for students and P500 for regular visitors. For more information, visit www.altphilippines.com and follow @altphilippines on Instagram and Facebook.
