Iloilo City is shaking up its festival lineup as the Paraw Regatta Festival steps in as the city’s official representative to Aliwan Fiesta 2026, replacing the long-reigning Dinagyang Festival. The announcement was made by Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI) Chairman Judge Peña during the opening of this year’s Paraw Regatta Festival on February 23. With Dinagyang already enjoying international prestige and eight Aliwan championships, IFFI believes the time is right to spotlight another Ilonggo tradition rooted deeply in the sea.
Sinamba sa Regatta: Iloilo’s Coastal Story
At the heart of Iloilo’s Aliwan entry is Sinamba sa Regatta, a street dance performance inspired by the rhythm of sailing life. Designed with a Mardi Gras feel, it highlights Iloilo’s maritime heritage, colorful sails, fishing communities, and the city’s long relationship with the sea. Peña expressed confidence that the performance can match Dinagyang’s legacy, while IFFI Executive Director Joyce Ann Clavecillas shared that cultural heritage plays a major role in Aliwan judging, making Iloilo’s sailing tradition a strong contender.
Asia’s Oldest Sailing Festival
Held every February in Villa de Arevalo, the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival is recognized as the oldest traditional craft event in Asia and the largest sailing event in the Philippines. Its main attraction is a sailboat race across the Iloilo Strait featuring paraws, traditional Visayan double-outrigger vessels. What started as a half-day race has grown into a multi-day celebration filled with cultural shows, art events, and community activities that reflect Ilonggo life and values.
The Race and the Sails
The Paraw race covers roughly 30 kilometers, tracing the coastline of Panay, skirting Guimaras, and finishing at Villa Beach. Boats are classified by waterline length and sail type, either unpainted or painted. The painted sails are especially striking, decorated with bold patterns and vivid colors that turn the sea into a moving gallery. Each race is not just a competition, but a display of craftsmanship, teamwork, and heritage passed down through generations.
A New Chapter for Iloilo Festivals
With Aliwan Fiesta 2026 on the horizon and preparations set to begin next year, Paraw Regatta is poised to bring Iloilo’s sea-bound heritage to a national stage. As Aliwan Fiesta takes a break this year due to election schedules and Holy Week, the pause gives Iloilo’s artistic team time to refine a performance that honors the past while sailing confidently into the future.
