Event Details
Catandungan Festival 2026 runs from October 20 to 24 across Catanduanes, with many of the main activities centered in Virac and around the Provincial Capitol Grounds. The celebration honors the province’s founding anniversary and pays tribute to the people who helped shape Catanduanes. It is a lively time to see the island’s traditions, community pride, and local talent come together, with colorful activities filling the provincial capital during the festival period.
Culture takes the spotlight through the Pantomina Street Dance, a traditional courtship dance performed in colorful attire, while grand civic and float parades bring plenty of movement to the streets. Local beauty pageants are also part of the festivities, adding another crowd favorite to the program. Over at Puraran Beach in Baras, the Surfing Competition brings an international sporting event to one of Catanduanes’ best known coastal destinations, giving visitors another reason to venture beyond Virac.
The Trade and Agri Fair runs from October 26 to 28 at the Capitol Grounds, extending the celebration beyond the main festival dates with displays of agricultural products and goods from homegrown enterprises. For visitors, this can be a good opportunity to discover products that are rarely seen outside the island and meet some of the local producers behind them. Catandungan Festival is also a convenient time to explore Catanduanes’ wider character, from its coastal communities and surfing culture to the slower pace of provincial life that gives the island its distinct appeal.
