The Great British Festival 2026, held from January 31 to February 1 at Bonifacio Global City, concluded successfully, bringing together culture, creativity, and community in celebration of 80 years of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and the Philippines.
Photo: British Chamber of Commerce Philippines
Organized by the British Embassy Manila, British Chamber of Commerce Philippines, and the British Council Philippines, and WheninManila.com as a media partner, the two-day event featured live performances, interactive exhibits, and lifestyle experiences showcasing British arts, food, education, and innovation.
The event is organised with the following participating companies: PruLife UK, VFS, HSBC, BPI, Shell, Union Jack Tavern, David’s Salon, MINI (Autohub Group), Lotus (Autohub Group), Triumph (Autohub Group), Jaguar / JLR, Cargo Fish, Robinsons Marketplace, Yummy Organics Food Products, Nutrigen, Don Revy Philippines, Mamas & Papas, Sainsbury’s, Exceed, CTC Group Philippines, Pina Beauty + Pamme, Chevening, AUG, AECC, StudyIn, and IDP.
Visitors moved through interactive spaces featuring British-inspired food, music, arts, and creative showcases, alongside exhibits highlighting education pathways, innovation, and collaboration between the UK and the Philippines. The festival’s open and engaging format encouraged exploration, participation, and shared experiences across age groups.
Photo: British Chamber of Commerce Philippines
Beyond its cultural appeal, the festival also underscored the depth of UK-Philippines relations, serving as a platform to strengthen people-to-people connections and highlight opportunities for cooperation in education, business, and the creative industries. It also provided the British business community with a closer look at the Philippines as a diverse and promising market.
BCCP Executive Vice Chairman Chris Nelson noted that, “We always look forward to hosting events like this together with the British Embassy and the British Council. This only shows how the UK-Philippine relations continue to grow – marking its 80th year, in all areas including trade, education, and culture and the arts. From the Chamber’s perspective, this only shows that the business community remains vibrant and we are optimistic that it will continue to increase in the coming years.”
Investment ties remain strong, with 75 British companies operating in PEZA ecozones, representing ₱229.3 billion in cumulative investments since 1995 and generating $1.4 billion in exports as of November 2025.
