Enroll in Creativity
In a nostalgic back-to-school market, Makers Festa Class of 2026 transforms UP Diliman into a living classroom where over 120 Filipino artists, illustrators, and makers celebrate creativity as a shared language of community.
Words Randolf Maala-Resueño
Art by Jade Dorado
August 6, 2026
Art by Jade Dorado
This August, Makers Festa Class of 2026 will teach us how to see, transforming Gimenez Gallery in UP Diliman into a campus where creativity becomes the curriculum and every artist offers a different lesson in making.
Returning for its annual edition on August 15 and 16, Makers Festa gathers more than 120 Filipino artists, illustrators, makers, and creative entrepreneurs for a weekend that celebrates independent artistry in all its forms.
Framed around the familiar excitement of back-to-school season, this year's edition revisits the nostalgia of fresh notebooks, classroom friendships, and first-day anticipation—only this time, through the language of contemporary craft and illustration.
Photos from Makers Festa
Rather than rows of desks, visitors will encounter booths filled with original artworks, prints, stationery, ceramics, handmade accessories, apparel, and thoughtfully crafted objects that blur the line between art and everyday life.
Together, they form a portrait of the country's thriving independent creative scene—one built on conversation and strife for the craft.
What has always distinguished Makers Festa is its insistence that an art market can also be a meeting place. Here, collectors discover emerging voices, longtime supporters finally meet the artists whose work they've followed online, and curious visitors find new creative practices waiting to be explored.
Photos from Makers Festa
Beyond the marketplace, the experience extends into participatory art. “Makers Moment”, a roaming Instax photobooth by Fujifilm instax, captures festival memories, while “Letters to Makers” invites guests to leave handwritten notes of appreciation for participating artists.
The “Festa Zine” becomes both guide and keepsake, encouraging visitors to navigate the event through maps, artist profiles, and collectible stamps. In collaboration with PHLPost, attendees can even turn a selfie into a personalized postage stamp, a playful reminder that even in the digital age, creativity still travels beautifully by hand.
Art by Jade Dorado
Staying true to its Class of 2026 theme, the festival embraces school-inspired installations, interactive activities, and campus aesthetics, encouraging both artists and visitors to arrive dressed for the first day of the most creative semester of the year.
In an era where artistic communities increasingly thrive through connection, Makers Festa reminds us that supporting local art begins with showing up. This August, the classroom doors open once again—and everyone is invited to enroll.
Mark your calendars as Makers Festa Class of 2026 takes place on August 15-16, at Gimenez Gallery, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Admission is only Php100 per day. For artistannouncements and event updates, follow them on Instagram. Secure your tickets here.
