# Things to Do on Christmas Day in Manila 2026: What's Open on 25 December

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Published: 2026-11-04

*Christmas Day 2026 is a Friday and a regular holiday. The film festival opens in cinemas, Disney On Ice plays three shows at MOA Arena and Okada's fountain runs until midnight, plus what is still unannounced for Masses and malls.*

Christmas Day 2026 falls on a Friday, and it is a regular holiday. This year the Metro Manila Film Festival opens in cinemas that day, Disney On Ice plays three shows at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, and Okada Manila's Disney-themed Christmas runs into the night by the bay. Here is what is confirmed, and what was not announced when we checked on 4 November 2026.

## The essentials

- **Date:** Friday 25 December 2026, a regular holiday under Proclamation No. 1006. Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December, is a special non-working day.
- **Cinemas:** the 52nd Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) opens on 25 December with eight Filipino films. The maximum ticket price is ₱299.
- **Disney On Ice:** shows at 11AM, 3PM and 7PM at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
- **Okada Manila:** Party with the Magic runs from 13 November 2026 to 7 January 2027. The fountain shows run from 7PM to midnight on Fridays.
- **Christmas Masses:** parish schedules were not announced when we checked on 4 November 2026.
- **Mall hours:** Christmas Day hours were not announced when we checked on 4 November 2026.

## Watch an MMFF film on opening day

Christmas Day is opening day for the [Metro Manila Film Festival](https://whatsonmnl.com/event/metro-manila-film-festival-2026). The MMDA, which runs the festival, says the eight entries play in cinemas nationwide from 25 December 2026 to 7 January 2027, as reported by the Philippine Information Agency.

This year's eight films:

- **The Greatest Showdown**, a comedy with Vic Sotto and Vice Ganda
- **2nd Miracle in Cell No. 7**, with Aga Muhlach and Xia Vigor
- **Haunted Carnival**, a horror film with Julia Barretto, James Reid and Maricel Soriano
- **Amir**, a fantasy drama with Dennis Trillo
- **A Perfect Marriage**, a family drama with Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino
- **Little Hope**, with Yassi Pressman and Pepe Herrera
- **Los Salvajes Bravos**, a historical drama with Romnick Sarmenta and Ruru Madrid
- **Seeds of Peace: The Life of Fr. Rhoel Gallardo, CMF**, with Zaijian Jaranilla

On price, MMDA chairman Romando Artes told reporters in July: "The P299 is only the maximum price." Cinemas can charge less. The awards night, the Gabi ng Parangal, is on 27 December. If there is one film your group agrees on, book it once cinemas open online sales.

## Disney On Ice at MOA Arena

[Disney On Ice presents Let's Dance!](https://whatsonmnl.com/event/disney-on-ice-lets-dance-manila-2026) runs at the SM Mall of Asia Arena from 18 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. On Christmas Day there are three shows, at 11AM, 3PM and 7PM, on Disney On Ice's own schedule. There is no show on Christmas Eve.

Tickets are sold on Ticketmaster Philippines. Disney On Ice's schedule page did not show prices when we read it, so check the price there before you plan the outing. For gates, bags and getting home, see our [MOA Arena guide](https://whatsonmnl.com/blog/moa-arena-concert-guide).

## Okada Manila: Party with the Magic

Okada Manila in Parañaque is running Party with the Magic, a Disney-themed Christmas, from 13 November 2026 to 7 January 2027. On its page, Okada lists a Winnie the Pooh display at The Garden, a maze from 15 November, a Winnie the Pooh-themed installation from 15 December, Disney-themed pastries and sweets, and Disney-themed gifts at The Promenade. Okada's page does not give an entry price, so check before you go.

The fountain is the easy evening plan. Okada says it is open 365 days a year, with shows every 30 minutes from 7PM to 12 midnight on Fridays to Sundays. Christmas Day is a Friday, so the shows run until midnight. Okada suspends the show in bad weather.

## Christmas Mass

The big churches post Christmas schedules close to the day, and none had when we checked on 4 November 2026. For a sense of timing, last year the Manila Cathedral held Christmas Eve Masses at 6:30PM and 8PM, and Baclaran Church at 8PM, as reported by GMA News in December 2025.

Baclaran Church's own site says schedules may change on special feast days, so check the parish page in the week before Christmas. If you want a Mass in Intramuros, go to the Manila Cathedral. Our [Simbang Gabi guide](https://whatsonmnl.com/blog/simbang-gabi-manila-2026) has last year's times at 19 churches and chapels.

Quiapo Church gets busy again a week later. Its novena for the Jesus Nazareno starts on 31 December, ahead of the feast on 9 January.

## Lights you can still see

Few places publish an end date for their displays. These are confirmed:

- **Okada Manila:** Party with the Magic until 7 January 2027.
- **Parolan, Araneta City:** Araneta City says the lantern bazaar at the Expo Centro Parking of Farmers Garden is open daily from 6AM to 10PM until 31 December 2026.

Makati had not announced its 2026 display when we checked. Last year the lights on Ayala Avenue stayed on until 11 January 2026. Our [Christmas lights guide](https://whatsonmnl.com/blog/christmas-lights-manila-2026) has every lighting date.

## Malls and getting around

Christmas Day mall hours were not announced when we checked on 4 November 2026. We will add them when the malls post them.

Plan your ride home before you head out, as it is a holiday and many families are on the move. Our guide to [getting around Manila](https://whatsonmnl.com/blog/getting-around-manila) covers the trains and Grab.

## If you are on your own, or visiting

Christmas Day is mostly spent with family here. A few things work well alone:

- **A Christmas Mass.** Visitors are welcome at any parish Mass. Sit with everyone else and stay in your place during Communion if you are not receiving.
- **A single seat at an MMFF film.** Single seats are easier to find than a row for five.
- **The Okada fountain after dark.** It runs every 30 minutes from 7PM.
- **A counter seat for dinner.** Our [guide to eating alone](https://whatsonmnl.com/blog/solo-dining-manila) lists places where a table for one feels normal.

If this is your first visit, our [first-time guide](https://whatsonmnl.com/blog/first-time-in-manila) and [December calendar](https://whatsonmnl.com/events/december-2026) will help you plan the days around it.

## Questions people ask

**Is Christmas Day 2026 a holiday in the Philippines?**
Yes. Friday 25 December 2026 is a regular holiday under Proclamation No. 1006, and Thursday 24 December is a special non-working day.

**What's open on Christmas Day in Manila?**
Cinemas open with the Metro Manila Film Festival, Disney On Ice has shows at 11AM, 3PM and 7PM at the MOA Arena, and the Okada Manila fountain runs from 7PM to midnight. Mall hours were not announced when we checked on 4 November 2026.

**When does MMFF 2026 start and how much are tickets?**
It opens on 25 December 2026 and runs to 7 January 2027, as reported by the Philippine Information Agency. The MMDA set ₱299 as the maximum ticket price.

**Is there Disney On Ice on Christmas Day?**
Yes. Disney On Ice's schedule lists three shows on 25 December, at 11AM, 3PM and 7PM, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

**Where can I go on Christmas Day in Metro Manila?**
A Christmas Mass in the morning, an MMFF film or Disney On Ice in the afternoon, and Okada Manila's Party with the Magic and fountain shows at night.

**What time are Christmas Day Masses in Manila?**
Not announced when we checked on 4 November 2026. Last year GMA News published the big churches' schedules in mid-December, so check the parish page in the week before.

_Checked against the organisers' own pages, the MMDA as reported by the Philippine Information Agency and Philstar, and GMA News, on 4 November 2026. Nobody paid to be included._