Metro Manila, Philippines – More than 13,000 delegates from across the country are set to compete in the 2026 Palarong Pambansa 2026 as the Department of Education and the provincial government of Agusan del Sur declared full readiness for the opening of the national games.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said preparations for the May 24 opening ceremony at the D.O. Plaza Memorial Sports Complex have been completed, including venues, billeting facilities, logistics, and learner support systems.
“All systems go na para sa Palarong Pambansa 2026. Handa ang ating mga atleta, handa ang ating mga delegasyon, at handa ang Agusan del Sur,” Angara said.
[Translation: All systems are go for Palarong Pambansa 2026. Our athletes are ready, our delegations are ready, and Agusan del Sur is ready.]
“Sa patuloy na suporta ni Pangulong Marcos sa pagpapaunlad ng kabataan, binubuksan natin ang mas maraming pagkakataon para matuklasan at maabot ng bawat batang Pilipino ang kanilang buong potensyal sa pamamagitan ng sports,” he added.
[Translation: Through President Marcos’ continued support for youth development, we are opening more opportunities for every Filipino child to discover and reach their full potential through sports.]
The 66th edition of the national student games carries the theme “Unlocking the Future Through Sports” and is being organized by DepEd in coordination with the Philippine Sports Commission and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
DepEd said this year’s competition will gather 13,247 delegates, including 10,718 student-athletes, 1,600 coaches, 440 assistant coaches, and 489 chaperons from 18 regions, the National Academy of Sports, and Philippine Schools Overseas.
Participation increased by more than 1,200 delegates compared to the previous edition, making it one of the largest Palaro events in recent years.
DepEd Undersecretary Malcolm Garma said organizers continue to improve the games each year based on lessons learned from previous editions.
“Each year, the expectation really is to surpass the previous Palaro because we have learned already,” Garma said.
This year’s games will also introduce new regular sports including weightlifting, football for secondary girls, and futsal for elementary girls.
Karate, kickboxing, and soft tennis will be featured as demonstration sports, while Muay Thai and selected para games events such as sitting volleyball and table tennis will be showcased as exhibition events.
This is a news release from the Department of Education
