Looking for a Fun “Side Quest” This Month? These 8 Exciting Events Have You Covered

Our love for pop culture, entertainment, the arts, and many other fruitful fields will continue to flourish this month, thanks to these upcoming events. Get ready for more productive days and jam-packed calendars, because these must-try activities can guarantee “booked and busy” weeks ahead.

New Events May 2026

Photo: Gaming Library, Wish Us Luck/Instagram

From international fan meetings to intimate gigs, fun runs, and gaming conventions, there’s a source of enjoyment and fun for everyone to indulge in for the rest of May. The new friends and lifelong connections you’ll make at each one will be the cherry on top of this rollercoaster of a month. Who knows, maybe your loved ones would like to tag along, too!

If you’ve been feeling extra sociable lately and seeking new communities to engage with, then these must-join events are right up your alley. Which ones will you show up to? Take your pick from our extensive list below!

Hiatus Kaiyote: Live in Manila

 

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Australian jazz-funk band Hiatus Kaiyote will be making waves in Manila on May 21, 2026, at The Filinvest Tent in Muntinlupa City. Get ready for a colorful, fun-filled show, together with its special guest, Australian-born Filipino DJ Silent Jay.

Build Your Business: The 18th Philippine SME Business Expo

Entrepreneurs with their own small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are in for a productive day of learning and expanding their passion projects at Build Your Business: The 18th Philippine SME Business Expo. On May 22 and 23, 2026, business owners can connect with their fellow start-up teams at the SMX Convention Center.

KidRauhl Universe: Bieberchella Night at Poblacion

 

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Relive the nostalgic and carefree energy of Justin Bieber’s Coachella performance at Poblacion, Makati City, this May 23, 2026. From 8:00 PM to 2:00 AM, you can enjoy live DJ sets, cocktails, and exclusive event freebies to document your unforgettable night. 

Candid Club’s Nowhere to Wear This Party

 

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The Candid Club women’s collective is turning Studio Simula into an all-out fashion show that’ll help you unleash your inner supermodel of the world. At the Nowhere to Wear This party, happening on May 23, 2026, you can get all dolled up for photoshoots, color analyses, cocktail and wine sessions, and a bunch of other stylish bonding activities for you and your gal pals. 

City of Luck: A Birthday Concert for BINI’s Maloi Ricalde

 

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BLOOMs are gearing up to celebrate BINI member Maloi’s birthday in style with a must-watch concert for every lover of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) and P-pop. Experience the City of Luck show live at the Matrix Creation Events Venue on May 23, 2026. Stick around for performances and sets by:

  • The Itchyworms,
  • Sugarcane,
  • Frank Ely,
  • JAO,
  • DWTA,
  • Noah Alejandre,
  • Planetana, 
  • Whirlpool Street,
  • Illea PH,
  • Twain PH, 
  • DJ Dan, and
  • Many more new Filipino acts.

Makara: The Musical

 

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A haunting and captivating tale of survival and humanity awaits you as Studio A Productions’ Makara: The Musical debuts this month. The show draws inspiration from the powerful legend of a woman crowned with living serpents whose gaze turns her surroundings to stone. Makara: The Musical runs on May 23 and 24, 2026, at the Proscenium Theater, Rockwell Center, Makati City.

The LenaMiu Fan Meeting in Manila

 

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Filipino girls’ love (GL) fans are in for a treat this month. Thai actresses Lena Lorena Schuett and Miu Natasha Taechamongkalapiwat, best known for their onscreen chemistry in the GL series My Safe Zone, are heading to Manila for their fan meeting. On May 23 and 24, 2026, Lena and Miu will bring smiles and kilig to the UP Theater at the University of the Philippines-Diliman (UPD). 

The 2026 All aBOARD EXPO

 

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The biggest board game convention in Southeast Asia is back! Get ready for four jam-packed days of community-oriented gaming, insightful panel discussions, and newly released board games that’ll fuel your competitive spirit. 

You, your friends, and board game lovers of all ages can join the All aBOARD EXPO by Gaming Library at the Quezon City Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (M.I.C.E.) Center from May 28 to 31, 2026. The expo is free for residents of Quezon City.

ALSO READ: LOOK: 3 Exclusive Filipino Board Game Adaptations Launching at All aBOARD EXPO 2026

Which events are you looking forward to the most this month? Share your picks with us in the comments below!


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