51 Beauties, One Crown: Miss Universe Philippines 2026 Kicks Off With Dazzling Reveal at City of Dreams
The hunt for the next Miss Universe Philippines is officially on — and this year, it's bigger than ever. The Miss Universe Philippines (MUPh) organization formally presented its 51 candidates for the 2026 edition during a star-studded press event on February 16 at the Grand Ballroom of City of Dreams Manila. The occasion, dubbed "The Reveal," was every pageant fan's dream come true, with the delegates making their grand collective debut before media, sponsors, and supporters dressed in coordinated pink and red ensembles — a nod to the Valentine's Day weekend and the Chinese New Year spirit.
Before stepping inside City of Dreams, the 51 ladies kicked off the festivities with an outdoor parade around the SM Mall of Asia complex, giving the masses — nagdagsa ang mga tao — an early look at this year's crop of crown hopefuls. The atmosphere was electric, with pageant followers lining the route to catch a glimpse and snap photos of the beauties. The energy set the tone for what organizers promise will be the most exciting edition of the pageant yet, as MUPh marks a significant milestone with the 2026 competition.
Several key updates were announced at the event. Misamis Occidental has been confirmed as the official host province and local government partner for the 2026 coronation, while Pangasinan was named as the venue for the national costume competition — a segment that always draws massive public interest. These regional venues signal MUPh's growing commitment to bringing the pageant experience outside of Metro Manila and closer to the Filipino masa.
Perhaps the most exciting announcement was the complete revamp of the selection process. MUPh Vice President Voltaire Tayag revealed that preliminary segments — including the evening gown, swimsuit, and closed-door interview rounds — will be filmed and recorded in March, then released weekly as part of a multi-round public voting format. "We are bringing the journey closer to Filipinos by allowing them to have a significant say in every stage of the pageant up to the semifinals," Tayag said. The first preliminary round drops on April 5.
The new fan-driven format is expected to dramatically increase public engagement, allowing supporters to vote for their bets throughout the process — not just at the coronation. Designers were also asked to complete their creations earlier than usual to accommodate the adjusted timeline. With 51 candidates representing provinces and cities from all over the archipelago, the competition promises to be fierce. Abangan — ang tagumpay ay naghihintay sa isa sa kanila. Source: Manila Bulletin, GMA Entertainment, Philstar.com, PhilNews.ph
