Manila FAME 2026 Puts Filipino Craftsmanship in the Global Design Spotlight
MANILA — Filipino craftsmanship is preparing for another international showcase as Manila FAME 2026 returns to Metro Manila, bringing together designers, artisans, manufacturers and buyers in a celebration of the Philippines’ growing design identity.
The 74th edition of the trade show will take place from October 15 to 17, 2026, at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay City, with the event expected to feature more than 350 exhibitors and attract over 10,000 visitors.
Organised by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), Manila FAME has been running since 1983 and has evolved into one of the Philippines' major platforms for promoting locally made home, fashion and lifestyle products to international markets.
Where Filipino heritage meets contemporary design
Manila FAME's appeal lies in its ability to connect traditional Filipino craftsmanship with modern design.
The show highlights products inspired by the country's natural environment, including its flora, fauna, landscapes and abundant natural materials. The objective is not simply to preserve traditional techniques, but to reinterpret them for contemporary homes and international consumers.
That approach has become increasingly important as Filipino designers seek to compete in a global market where buyers are looking for products with a strong sense of place and a distinctive cultural story.
From furniture and lighting to fashion accessories and decorative pieces, Manila FAME gives local makers a platform to present Filipino design as both commercially viable and culturally distinctive.
A trade show built for global buyers
While the event is open to visitors, Manila FAME is fundamentally a business-to-business platform.
Organisers have developed specialised buyer programmes that include business matching, dedicated buyer services, hotel and transport assistance for qualified international buyers, and access to industry events.
This commercial focus is important for Filipino enterprises hoping to move beyond the domestic market.
Rather than simply displaying products, participating businesses can connect directly with retailers, distributors, designers and other potential buyers looking for export-ready Philippine products.
Manila FAME also provides educational talks and seminars focused on design, market access and international industry trends.
Filipino design is increasingly reaching international markets
The 2026 event comes as Philippine design continues to gain exposure outside the country.
CITEM's international programmes have brought Filipino designers and manufacturers to major global trade events, including Maison&Objet in Paris and Ambiente in Frankfurt. Manila FAME then provides a home-market platform where international buyers can discover additional Philippine products.
That creates an important pipeline for local businesses: Filipino products can be introduced internationally through overseas trade fairs while Manila FAME serves as a larger sourcing destination for buyers visiting the Philippines.
The strategy also reflects a broader effort to position Philippine design as an export industry rather than simply a niche craft sector.
More than furniture
Although furniture remains an important part of the Philippine design story, Manila FAME encompasses a much wider range of products.
The event covers home, fashion and lifestyle, bringing together products that demonstrate the versatility of Filipino makers and designers.
This breadth allows the Philippines to present multiple expressions of its creative economy at one event.
Traditional materials can appear in contemporary furniture. Indigenous techniques can be adapted into modern accessories. Natural fibres, wood, metal and other locally available materials can be transformed into products aimed at international consumers.
The common thread is the attempt to make Filipino craftsmanship relevant to modern global lifestyles without losing its cultural character.
A design platform with a wider economic role
The importance of Manila FAME extends beyond aesthetics.
For small and medium-sized Filipino enterprises, international exposure can translate into new buyers, export orders and long-term commercial partnerships.
The event therefore serves as part of a broader government-backed effort to help Philippine creative businesses access overseas markets.
Its role has become even more visible as the Philippines takes on the 2026 ASEAN Chairship, with initiatives such as the Likhang Filipino exhibition and retail destination in Pasay also designed to showcase Philippine craftsmanship to foreign visitors and delegations.
Likhang Filipino brings together more than 2,000 products from nearly 200 enterprises, further expanding opportunities for international visitors to encounter Philippine-made goods.
What visitors can expect in 2026
Manila FAME 2026 will run for three days at the World Trade Center Metro Manila, from 9am to 7pm daily.
Organisers say the event will feature more than 350 exhibitors and new product launches, alongside sourcing, business-matching and educational programmes.
Trade buyers, media and government employees can attend free of charge, while non-trade visitors without complimentary passes or invitations are subject to admission fees.
For professional buyers, the event is designed to go beyond browsing, with dedicated spaces for business meetings and support from the buyer-care team.
The bigger ambition for Philippine design
The challenge for Filipino designers is no longer simply demonstrating that local craftsmanship is distinctive.
The bigger question is whether Philippine-made products can establish a lasting presence in international homes, hotels, retail spaces and lifestyle markets.
Manila FAME is part of that answer.
By combining heritage techniques with contemporary design, connecting artisans with international buyers and providing businesses with export opportunities, the event is helping reshape how Filipino craftsmanship is presented to the world.
And as Manila FAME returns in October, the message is increasingly clear: Filipino design is not simply preserving the past — it is using that heritage to compete for a place in the future of global design.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D