The Philippines’ Biggest AI Gathering Is Coming to Iloilo This August
Three days. One city. Nearly every corner of the country’s AI world under one roof.
That’s the 2026 AI Fest, happening August 3 to 5 at the Iloilo Convention Center, and it’s shaping up to be the most ambitious edition yet. Built around the theme “Building an AI-Ready Future, Together,” this regional initiative brings together government, industry, academe, startups, and everyday communities to figure out how the Philippines actually uses AI well, not just talks about it.
If you work anywhere near technology, education, policy, or the creative industries, this one’s worth your calendar. NEN Digital is proud to be a partner of the 2026 AI Fest, and we're excited to see the region's AI community come together for it.
What exactly is AI Fest?
It’s not a single conference. Think of it more like a festival with several events running in parallel, each built for a different kind of attendee. Researchers, developers, business owners, students, policymakers, gamers, filmmakers, robotics enthusiasts. There’s a track for nearly everyone.
At the center of it all is the AI Technical Conference, a three-day program of plenary sessions, research presentations, and talks from people actually shaping the country’s AI direction. Speakers include leaders from the Department of Science and Technology, the University of the Philippines, Google, Amazon Web Services, Huawei Cloud, Globe Telecom, CapCut Philippines, and more. Registration for the full three-day conference is Php 6,000 per person, held at Iloilo Convention Center Hall A and B.
But that’s really just the anchor. Here’s what else is happening.
Where research turns into something usable
A good chunk of the conference is dedicated to homegrown solutions, not imported ones. Expect presentations on AI-powered fishery forecasting, disaster prediction, Filipino reading comprehension tools, student performance prediction systems, and government document intelligence, all built by Philippine universities and researchers. It’s a good reminder that meaningful AI work isn’t only happening somewhere else. A lot of it is happening right here.
For builders: the AI Hackathon
Held at Sam’s 21 Hotel over three intense days (August 3 to 5), the AI Hackathon challenges teams to build AI-powered solutions for the region’s priority sectors: blue economy, tourism, and clean and renewable energy. Teams get mentorship, exposure to investors, and a direct path into incubation programs and government grants. Winning the pitch is nice. Building something that outlives the event is the real win.
For gamers and developers: AI Game On! and PGDX
AI Game On! is a game jam with a twist. It challenges developers to use AI to breathe new life into cultural heritage, turning static archives into interactive experiences. The event runs August 4 at Iloilo Convention Center Hall D, with keynotes from the Game Developers Association of the Philippines, Google, and Kooapps Philippines, followed by a pitching session where the top teams present their indie games.
Running alongside it is PGDX, the Philippine GameDev Expo, giving local game developers a stage to show what Filipino talent can really do on a global scale.
For film lovers: SineAI
SineAI showcases short films made with AI tools, all built around this year’s theme, “Mga Eksena Sang Nagligad, Mga Sugilanon Nga Nagapadayon Subong,” or “Scenes from the Past, Stories for Today.” Expect screenings inspired by the historical landmarks of Western Visayas at Festive Walk Cinema on Day 1, with a lounge open through Days 2 and 3 at the Convention Center lobby.
For robotics fans: AI in Motion
Seeing a robot on a slide is one thing. Watching it actually move is another. AI in Motion combines a robotics workshop series, prototype pitching, and a live competition where college teams from Western Visayas present real solutions they’ve built. Registration is free, and the robotics exhibit runs all three days at Hall D.
For business owners: AI Speaks and AI Connect
Not everyone attending is a developer, and the festival plans for that. AI Speaks, held Day 1 at Function Rooms 3 to 4, is a roundtable for business executives and policymakers on responsible AI adoption and enterprise strategy. It’s by invitation.
AI Connect, on Day 2 at Function Rooms 5 to 7, is built specifically for micro, small, and medium enterprises. Instead of theory, expect hands-on workshops on prompt engineering, AI-powered marketing, and everyday productivity tools MSMEs can put to use immediately.
For communities: the AI Policy Lab
Here’s the part that sets this festival apart. The AI Policy Lab, held on Day 3 at Function Rooms 5 to 7, is a policy co-creation workshop built around the principle that lived experience matters as much as academic credentials. Representatives from PWD federations, senior citizens’ groups, indigenous communities, and informal workers sit at the same table to shape AI governance recommendations together. It’s by invitation, and it’s a rare example of policy conversations happening with communities instead of just about them.
Why this actually matters
Here’s the thing worth sitting with for a second. Countries everywhere are racing to build their own AI capacity, and the Philippines has a real shot at shaping its own path instead of just adopting what’s built elsewhere. Events like this are how that capacity actually gets built: not through one keynote speech, but through researchers meeting startups, students meeting mentors, and government sitting down with the people its policies will affect.
That’s the whole idea behind “Building an AI-Ready Future, Together.” Nobody builds this alone.
The details
- When: August 3 to 5, 2026
- Where: Iloilo Convention Center, with the Hackathon held at Sam’s 21 Hotel, Diversion Road, Mandurriao
- Conference fee: Php 6,000/pax for the 3-day AI Technical Conference
- Other tracks: Several events are free or by invitation, including AI in Motion, AI Speaks, and the AI Policy Lab
Registration details and links are all on aifest.ph, along with everything you need to know about which tracks are open registration versus invite-only. Don’t wait too long on this one. See you in Iloilo.
By: Nina Crisostomo Co-Founder, NEN Digital
Media Inquiries 📧 info@nendigital.com
