MACTAN EXPO READY TO HOST INTERNATIONAL CONFABS, ASEAN SUMMIT IN 2026

Mactan Expo, property giant Megaworld’s two-level standalone convention center inside the  30-hectare The Mactan Newtown, is ready to welcome local and international delegates as it gears up for its much-awaited opening. 

The convention facility, which has direct access to the idyllic Mactan Newtown Beach, is now nearly 90% complete and on track to open its doors later this year, just in time to host international exhibitions and conferences, including the upcoming ASEAN Summit and ASEAN  Tourism Forum (ATF) , both happening in 2026. 

In preparation for hosting these top-notch events, officials and delegates from the different MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) organizations in the ASEAN region,  led by Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, visited and toured Mactan Expo to see Cebu’s celebrated convention center up close for the first time. 

“Cebu is ready to be a contender for the next wave of MICE tourism in Southeast Asia. With world-class facilities combined with warm Filipino hospitality, we are humbled and poised to welcome the world. The Mactan Expo will be a game-changer, not only for Cebu, but for  Philippine tourism, more importantly,” says Cleofe Albiso, managing director, Megaworld  Hotels & Resorts, who also serves as the Chairperson of the Cebu Tourism Forum. 

The Mactan Expo is set to become a premier hub for MICE events as it offers nearly a full hectare of versatile event space. At the ground level is a state-of-the-art convention hall,  purpose-built to host up to 2,500 guests in a theater-style setup or 1,600 attendees in an elegant banquet arrangement. Designed with adaptability in mind, the hall can seamlessly transform into three individual spaces, each capable of hosting around 700-900 guests in a theater layout or 500-600 individuals in a banquet configuration—ideal for conferences,  galas, and exhibitions of every scale. 

The main convention hall features an expansive foyer and pre-function areas, designed to impress and welcome guests with elegance. The ground floor will also feature dual drop-off points for seamless access, a service kitchen to support large-scale banquets, cafés for informal gatherings, and a dedicated event showroom where clients can explore immersive sample set-ups and bespoke arrangements. 

On the mezzanine level, two meeting rooms offer the perfect setting for more intimate events. Each can host up to 150 guests in a theater-style layout or 100 in a banquet format,  and the rooms can be seamlessly combined to form a larger, unified venue. This level also  includes its own pre-function space, an open-air balcony for relaxed networking, and ample storage for event support and logistics. 

With its minimalist design that illuminates at night, the Mactan Expo’s façade will be complemented by locally sourced interiors inspired by Cebu’s local culture, festivals, arts,  flavors, nature scenes, and icons.  

Strategically located just across Mactan Expo are two premier hotel properties that are already fully operational under Megaworld Hotels & Resorts—the Philippines’ largest developer of 100% Filipino homegrown hotel brands. These are the Savoy Hotel Mactan  Newtown and Belmont Hotel Mactan, which provide nearly 1,100 rooms combined. 

Upon the Mactan Expo’s completion, Belmont Hotel Mactan’s transformation is also set to happen as it will be rebranded as Mercure Mactan Cebu under a landmark partnership with global hospitality giant Accor. This move will usher in the first internationally branded hotel inside The Mactan Newtown, elevating the township’s global profile and hospitality offerings. 

Adding to the township’s versatility are two stunning beachfront venues at the Mactan  Newtown Beach: the Glass Pavilion—an air-conditioned, all-glass event space with breathtaking sea views—and the Ceremonial Garden, a serene open-air setting ideal for weddings, wellness retreats, and milestone occasions. These venues further reinforce The  Mactan Newtown’s vibrant fusion of business and leisure.