Christmas Lights in Metro Manila 2026: Where to See the Displays

Makati: Ayala Avenue and Ayala Triangle Gardens

Makati in Color was the name of last year's display along Ayala Avenue, a tradition that Ayala Land's chief executive said has brought people together "for decades". The lights went on at a ceremony under the canopy of Tower One and Exchange Plaza on Thursday 13 November 2025, with parol and Christmas tree installations inspired by the sarimanok and the anahaw leaf. For the first time the décor ran beyond Ayala Avenue and the gardens onto Paseo de Roxas and Makati Avenue.

Last season, Ayala Triangle Gardens had sun-shaped parols in the trees and projections of Filipino weaves on the Green Wall. BusinessWorld reported in December that the gardens had scaled back their usual light show in favour of a steady display of patterns. Whether the show returns this year has not been announced.

• Last year: lit on 13 November 2025 and on until 11 January 2026.
• This year: no date yet. Last year's lighting was in mid-November, so watch Make It Makati on Instagram from early November.
• Where: Ayala Avenue, Paseo de Roxas and Makati Avenue, Makati Central Business District.
• Getting there: Ayala station on MRT-3 (Metro Rail Transit Line 3) is a walk through Glorietta and up Ayala Avenue. If you drive, park at Greenbelt or Glorietta and walk over.
• Also nearby: Greenbelt lit its tree on the same night last year, at Greenbelt 5 Fashion Walk and the Greenbelt 3 Sunken Garden, and Glorietta lit a 66-foot tree on 15 November 2025, which the mall billed as the tallest indoor Christmas tree in the metro.

Rockwell: Power Plant Mall and the Plaza Garden

Rockwell Center was one of the first to switch on last year, with its tree lighting on Monday 3 November 2025, with Santa and Rocky the Panda leading the countdown and fireworks to close the night. After that, the buildings stayed wrapped in warm gold duralights all season, and a 15-metre tree stood in the Plaza Garden. Inside Power Plant Mall there were three trees, the tallest 50 feet.

• Last year: tree lighting on 3 November 2025.
• This year: not announced. Follow Power Plant Mall on Instagram for the date.
• Getting there: Power Plant Mall has its own car park. Rockwell sits off Estrella Street and JP Rizal Avenue, so a ride-hail from Salcedo or Legazpi is short outside rush hour.
• Good to know: the Plaza Garden tree is outdoors, so it is worth going after dark rather than straight from lunch.

BGC: Bonifacio High Street

Bonifacio Global City (BGC) lit a candy-themed tree on 5th Avenue, across from Bonifacio High Street Central, in mid-November last year. It sat behind a "Dream Gate" that opened at the ceremony to reveal the tree with a gingerbread village around it. The year before, a 45-foot tree stood in the middle of High Street.

• Last year: lit in mid-November 2025. We could not find the exact date on an official page.
• This year: not announced. Watch @bonifacioglobalcity on Instagram.
• Getting there: BGC is easiest by car or ride-hail. Park at one of the High Street car parks and walk the length of the strip.

SM Mall of Asia: confirmed for 21 October

SM Mall of Asia has the earliest confirmed date of the displays in this guide. SM opened its nationwide Christmas campaign at MOA in mid-September, and the mall's October calendar lists the Christmas Launch: The MOA Christmas Express on Wednesday 21 October in the Central Atrium of the Main Mall. The same calendar shows the atrium already dressed for Christmas.

The bigger draw comes later. Last season's MOA Night of Lights ran on four Sundays, 23 and 30 November and 7 and 14 December 2025, with a 15-minute show in the Central Atrium at 6PM followed by a drone show over MOA Sky at 7PM. SM said admission was free. For 2026, SM has named a Magical Night of Lights and a Magical Drone Show among the highlights of its Christmas campaign across its malls, but MOA has not published dates.

• When: Christmas launch Wednesday 21 October 2026, Central Atrium. Night of Lights dates to follow.
• Where: SM Mall of Asia, Pasay.
• Good to know: last year the drone show was watched from the North Plaza at MOA Sky, and personal drones were not allowed.

Okada Manila: Disney in November

Okada Manila in Parañaque has announced Party with the Magic for its holiday season, inspired by Disney and Pixar stories, with themed pop-ups and activities from November 2026. The resort has not yet published dates or a programme.

Year round, The Fountain runs water, light and music shows every 30 minutes from 7PM to 10PM Monday to Thursday, and from 7PM to midnight Friday to Sunday. Last year Okada lit its Christmas tree in the Fountain Foyer on Friday 14 November 2025.

• When: holiday programme from November 2026. Fountain shows nightly.
• Where: Okada Manila, Entertainment City, Parañaque.
• Getting there: allow at least an hour from Makati or BGC on a Friday evening.

Further out: Cubao and Bridgetowne

Araneta City in Cubao lit its giant tree, between the Smart Araneta Coliseum and Fiesta Carnival, on Thursday 6 November 2025, in what the Daily Tribune called the 44th year of the tradition. The Giant Belen by Farmers Plaza followed later in November and stayed lit through December.

Opus, the Robinsons mall in Bridgetowne on the Pasig and Quezon City border, lit a 60-foot tree in its Grand Atrium on 10 November 2025.

Neither has announced its 2026 lighting yet.

Before you go: timing, crowds and the ride home

Go on a weekday. Lighting nights and December weekends are the busiest. A Tuesday or Wednesday evening after 8PM is calmer, especially in Makati and Rockwell.

Check the date before you set off. Each venue posts its lighting date on its own Instagram account, so look on the day. Before the lighting, the trees are sometimes up but dark.

Plan the ride home. Ride-hail gets harder to book in December, and EDSA traffic is heavy in the run-up to Christmas. Agree on a pick-up point away from the main crowd.

We listed dates only where the organiser has confirmed them as of 9 October 2026. Everything marked "last year" refers to the 2025 season. Nobody paid to be included.