BACOLOD CITY — Hundreds of temporary businesses are being lined up for MassKara Festival 2026, but approval of their locations does not automatically give vendors the green light to start selling.
The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod has approved a request from the Bacolod Gugma Foundation Inc. (BGFI) allowing hundreds of kiosks, booths, stalls and designated ambulant-vending spaces to operate during this year’s MassKara celebration.
The most clearly confirmed number is 272 fixed commercial spaces at two of the festival’s busiest locations.
Of these, 139 kiosks, booths or stalls will be positioned around the Bacolod Public Plaza, while another 133 will operate at the Bacolod City Government Center, according to Panay News and a separate report from Negros Now Daily.
But there is a crucial condition.
Council approval is not the final permit
Councilor Jason Villarosa, chair of the City Council’s tourism committee, said vendors authorized to participate must still obtain the required special permits before beginning operations.
The permits are intended to ensure businesses operate only in approved locations and comply with the city’s rules for temporary vending during the festival.
Negros Now Daily reported that the council’s action allows BGFI and participating vendors to coordinate with Bacolod’s Business Permits and Licensing Office to complete the necessary documentation.
BGFI legal representative Atty. Hannah Lea Tañoso said participating operators are expected to comply with applicable city ordinances as well as health, sanitation and safety requirements.
That means securing a spot and securing legal authority to operate are two separate steps.
Plaza and Government Center slots already allocated
For businesses hoping to join at the last minute, another obstacle has emerged.
Villarosa said the available spaces at both the Bacolod Public Plaza and BCGC have already been fully allocated, based on the figures provided by BGFI.
That reflects the commercial importance of MassKara, when tens of thousands of residents and visitors move through the city’s major activity areas and food, merchandise and temporary retail become a highly visible part of the celebration.
The kiosks at the Public Plaza and BCGC are expected to operate from October 1 through October 18, covering virtually the entire main festival period.
Where will ambulant vendors be allowed?
The city is also establishing controlled areas for smaller and mobile sellers rather than permitting unrestricted vending throughout festival streets.
According to Panay News, designated spaces include:
- 82 vendors along Araneta Street between Luzuriaga and Gonzaga streets;
- 30 vendors along Gatuslao Street between Gonzaga and Cuadra streets;
- 40 vendors along Rizal Street from Gatuslao to San Juan; and
- additional authorized vending at the Bacolod City Government Center.
There is, however, a discrepancy worth flagging.
Negros Now Daily reported a larger ambulant-vending allocation and specifically cited 76 spaces around the BCGC plus 15 peddler slots there, while Panay News reported only 15 additional ambulant vendors at the government-center site.
Because of that difference, the 272 fixed kiosk/booth/stall figure is currently more consistently supported than the overall ambulant-vendor total.
For vendors, the practical message is unchanged: only officially designated spaces backed by the required permits should be treated as authorized.
Why organizers are tightening control of vending
The rules are part of a larger effort to make this year’s festival more manageable.
Bacolod has already been tightening regulations surrounding public-space vending. Earlier this year, the city distributed government carts to 31 members of the Bacolod City Plaza Vendors Association while the Public Plaza underwent rehabilitation.
Mayor Greg Gasataya described the administration’s approach as “regulate, not relocate,” with the objective of protecting livelihoods while keeping public areas orderly.
During previous MassKara celebrations, the City Health Office also conducted regular inspections of festival food kiosks to check sanitation and food safety, illustrating why festival permits involve more than simply paying for a commercial space.
BGFI has likewise committed to maintaining cleanliness and order around this year’s temporary stalls.
MassKara 2026 runs October 1 to 18
The commercial preparations come as Bacolod moves closer to the 47th MassKara Festival, which officially runs from October 1 to 18, 2026.
The first portion of the calendar will feature preliminary and community-oriented activities, while most major festival highlights are scheduled from October 9 to 18. The city earlier announced that closing and awarding ceremonies would follow on October 25.
This year’s theme is:
“Share the Smile, Celebrate Gugma.”
At the September 11 festival launch, organizers also unveiled a new twin-logo concept featuring ‘To Max and ‘Day Kara, designed to represent different dimensions and generations of Bacolod’s festival identity.
Organizers are promoting the 2026 edition under the broader “MassKara For All” concept, seeking wider participation among communities, businesses and visitors.
The festival itself is changing this year
MassKara 2026 is not simply repeating last year’s program.
The traditional arena competition is moving away from the Paglaum Sports Complex after organizers raised concerns about the venue’s suitability and public safety.
Local broadcaster Bombo Radyo reported following the September 11 launch that the Arena Dance Competition will instead be staged at SM City Bacolod, while the street-dance route is expected to remain largely unchanged.
The shift is part of an effort to protect both spectators and infrastructure as Bacolod manages large crowds during its biggest annual cultural event.
Meanwhile, the Public Plaza remains a MassKara venue despite ongoing redevelopment considerations, although organizers have said structures that could interfere with improvements to the area will be limited.
More than a festival — it is a major business window
The rush for kiosk and vending space highlights MassKara’s second identity: it is not only a cultural celebration, but also an important seasonal marketplace.
Temporary food stalls, souvenir sellers, small merchants and mobile vendors can gain access to exceptionally heavy pedestrian traffic during the festival.
Bacolod officials have previously emphasized that commercial establishments, malls, hotels and travel businesses play an important role in expanding the economic benefits created by MassKara. During preparations for the 2025 edition, the city specifically worked with large shopping centers and retailers to encourage visitor spending beyond the principal festival sites.
This year, BGFI’s formal agreement with the city gives the foundation responsibility for areas including sponsorships, promotions, staffing, vendor rentals, ticket sales and festival operations, while the city government assists with permits, traffic management, security and road closures.
The agreement also calls for accounting of festival revenue and submission of liquidation and fund-utilization reports.
Born from crisis, now one of Bacolod’s biggest economic events
MassKara has a history very different from the huge tourism event it has become.
The festival emerged in the early 1980s amid severe hardship in Negros, particularly the collapse of the sugar industry and the tragedy involving the sinking of the M/V Don Juan. The smiling masks became an enduring symbol of resilience despite economic and social difficulties.
More than four decades later, those masks now draw visitors, performers, corporate sponsors and entrepreneurs to Bacolod every October.
And the approval of 272 temporary kiosks and commercial stalls shows just how deeply business has become intertwined with the celebration.
For vendors who already secured one of the highly sought-after locations, however, the council decision is only part of the process.
The space may be theirs — but until the special permit is secured, the cash register stays closed.
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