Christmas at Araneta City 2026: Giant Tree, Belen and the Parolan Lantern Bazaar

Araneta City Christmas 2026 dates, in order

From the Araneta Group's events calendar at One Araneta, which lists dates but no times:

• Friday 6 November: Giant Christmas Tree Lighting
• Saturday 7 November: Farmers Plaza Christmas tree lighting
• Sunday 8 November: Ali Mall Christmas tree lighting, Lower Ground Floor
• Thursday 12 November: Gateway Mall 1 Christmas tree lighting
• Friday 13 November: Belen Lighting
• Friday 20 November: Gateway Mall 2 Christmas tree lighting
• Thursday 26 November: Shopwise Christmas Celebration, Gateway Mall 2

Times were not posted when we checked on 4 November, and Araneta City's own news page had not yet announced the tree lighting. Check Araneta City's Instagram on the day.

The Giant Christmas Tree

The giant tree tradition began in 1981. Last year it lit on 6 November 2025, the tradition's 44th year, and stood between the Smart Araneta Coliseum and Fiesta Carnival, with over 3,000 pine garlands and 8,000 lights in red and gold, as the Daily Tribune reported. In 2024 Araneta City said the tree stood beside the Coliseum's Green Gate, where the tradition began, at 75 feet tall and 25 feet wide. Araneta City had not published the 2026 tree's spot, height or design when we checked on 4 November.

Best for: a weeknight look at a landmark tree, with dinner after in Gateway Mall 2.

• When: lighting on Friday 6 November. Time not posted.
• Where: Araneta City, Cubao, Quezon City. Last year it stood between the Smart Araneta Coliseum and Fiesta Carnival.

The Belen lighting

The Belen is Araneta City's life-sized nativity scene, with Mary, Joseph and the three kings. Araneta City says it has kept the tradition since 1991. In 2023 it stood on Gen. MacArthur Avenue, and a parish priest led the blessing before the ceremonial lighting.

Best for: families who want the religious side of the season, not only the lights.

• When: Friday 13 November. Time not posted.
• Where: Araneta City, Cubao. The 2026 spot has not been announced.

The mall tree lightings

Each of the malls lights its own tree. Farmers Plaza goes first on Saturday 7 November, then Ali Mall on Sunday 8 November, Gateway Mall 1 on Thursday 12 November, and Gateway Mall 2 on Friday 20 November. Ali Mall's tree is on the Lower Ground Floor, per the calendar.

Best for: an indoor tree with the kids after school, in air-conditioning.

Parolan lantern bazaar

Parolan is the season's parol (Christmas lantern) market, and it opened on 1 October. Araneta City says the stalls sell everything from grand Pampanga-style lanterns with light displays to traditional bamboo and capiz lanterns, plus ornaments, garlands, fairy lights and nativity sets. A food market next to it sells puto bumbong, bibingka, barbecue and coffee.

Best for: buying a parol without a trip to the wholesale markets.

• When: open daily, 6AM to 10PM, until Thursday 31 December 2026
• Where: Expo Centro Parking of Farmers Garden, Araneta City
• Entry: Araneta City does not mention an entrance fee

Getting there by MRT-3 and LRT-2

Araneta City sits at the crossing of EDSA and Aurora Boulevard, and both train lines stop there.

• MRT-3 (Metro Rail Transit Line 3): ride along EDSA to Cubao station, from Taft Avenue if you are coming from the south.
• LRT-2 (Light Rail Transit Line 2): ride to Cubao station, a few stops from Santolan in the east, or a little farther from Recto in the west.
• By car: Araneta City has a parking guide. Tree lighting nights will be busy, so take the train if you can.

Where to eat nearby

The Parolan food market is the quick option. For a sit-down meal, Gateway Mall 1 and Gateway Mall 2 are a short walk away, and Araneta City's weekday Lunch Festival sets were running when we checked, including at EATAEWON on Level 2 of Gateway Mall 1. For our pick of tables near the Coliseum, from Gateway Mall 2 to Cubao Expo, see Where to eat in Cubao before Araneta.

Questions people ask

When is the Araneta Christmas tree lighting in 2026? The Araneta Group's events calendar lists the Giant Christmas Tree Lighting for Friday 6 November 2026. No time had been posted when we checked on 4 November.

Where is the Araneta City Christmas tree? At Araneta City in Cubao. Last year it stood between the Smart Araneta Coliseum and Fiesta Carnival. Araneta City had not announced the 2026 spot when we checked on 4 November.

When is the Belen lighting at Araneta City? Friday 13 November 2026, per the Araneta Group's events calendar. The time has not been announced.

When is Parolan at Araneta City open? Daily from 6AM to 10PM until 31 December 2026, at the Expo Centro Parking of Farmers Garden. It opened on 1 October.

How do I get to Araneta City by train? Take the MRT-3 or the LRT-2 to Cubao station. Both stop at Araneta City.

How tall is the Araneta Christmas tree? Araneta City said the 2024 tree was 75 feet tall and 25 feet wide. It had not published the 2026 height when we checked.

We list 2026 dates only where Araneta City or the Araneta Group has published them, as of 4 November 2026. Everything marked "last year" refers to 2025. Nobody paid to be included.