By I. Inojales | 07:25 AM July 26, 2026
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — One of the Sandugo Festival’s perennial favorites, Tagbilaran City, will not compete in the Sandugo Street Dancing and Ritual Showdown 2026, choosing instead to focus its efforts on defending its historic title at the Sinulog Festival 2027 in Cebu City.
The Tagbilaran City Tourism Office said the decision was made to dedicate the contingent’s time, manpower, and resources to preparations for next year’s Sinulog, following its landmark victory in January.
Tagbilaran City made history on January 18, 2026, after emerging as Grand Champion in the Sinulog-Based Category and winning the Best in Musicality award.
The achievement marked the first time a contingent from Bohol captured the festival’s highest honor on its debut appearance.
With months of intensive training ahead, the city opted to skip this year’s Sandugo competition to ensure its performers are fully prepared for the title defense.
The absence of Tagbilaran leaves this year’s Sandugo Street Dancing and Ritual Showdown with only nine competing contingents, a significant drop from previous years.
The participating contingents are Asinderos de Alburquerque, Banay’ng Mangbubukag of Antequera, Pundok Katigbawan of Catigbian, Banay sa Kulturang Dimiaonon, Banay Loaynon, Lumad Maribojocanon, Tribo Matahum nga Talibon, Pundok sa Nagkahiusang Ubayabon, and Tribung Hamiling Sang-at of Valencia.
Several other festival powerhouses, including Loboc, Loon, Tubigon, and Panglao, also chose not to participate this year. Of the nine entries, Catigbian is the only contingent with a previous Sandugo grand championship to its name.
Tagbilaran City dominated the Sandugo competition by winning back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024, before finishing as first runner-up to Loboc in 2025.
There were 12 contingents last year.
The smaller field of competitors has fueled conversations among festival enthusiasts about the declining participation in one of Bohol’s premier cultural events.
