Welcome to Seattle Center
SEATTLE, WA – Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival returns to Seattle Center on Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., celebrating its 40th anniversary with a vibrant showcase of Filipino culture, history, and community. Presented as part of the Seattle Center Festál series, this free, family-friendly event highlights the enduring spirit and rich traditions of the Filipino people.
This year’s theme, “Baliktanaw,” meaning “a look back,” invites visitors to reflect on the evolution of Filipino arts and culture through generations. Audiences will enjoy music inspired by the development of kundiman, a traditional form of Filipino romantic song, alongside rondalla ensembles and contemporary vocal performances.
“Pagdiriwang is special because it brings together the community in voluntary commitment and with a sense of bayanihan,” said JP Paredes, President of the Filipino Cultural Heritage Society of Washington. “The festival gathers Filipinos together, sharing their traditions and culture in the spontaneous way that is both open and welcoming. I participate in Pagdiriwang because it provides the public an opportunity to understand Filipinos as a people with substantial contributions to the social, economic and cultural diversity of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.”
Festival programming includes a Saturday grand opening ceremony followed by performances from regional dance groups including FCS Kalahi Cultural Dance Ensemble, SAYAW Filipino Folk Dance Troupe, and Filipiniana Dance Company. Throughout the weekend, visitors can also explore culinary and historical exhibits, traditional tattoo workshops, artifact and photography displays, and hands-on youth activities across the Armory.
A special highlight this year is a partnership with Seattle Opera, presenting Singing the Archipelago: Art Song & Opera from the Philippines, featuring soprano Tess Altiveros, baritone José Rubio, and pianist Elisabeth Ellis. The performance takes place at 7:30 p.m. on June 6 at The Opera Center and is free with RSVP.
Guests can also enjoy DIWA Filipino Film Festival screenings and participate in workshops on Filipino martial arts and the legacy of Dr. José Rizal.
A wide selection of delicious Filipino cuisine from local vendors will be available, including Egg Roll Hut, LBee’s Filipino Deli Food Booth, 2 Guys Grill on Wheels, Nana’s Food Bites, and more.
About Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival & Filipino Cultural Heritage Society of Washington
The Filipino Cultural Heritage Society of Washington is a non-profit organization staffed entirely by volunteers. It is committed to nurturing and proudly expressing the finest and all that is beautiful and enduring in the Filipino culture. Its primary objective is to perpetuate, educate. and share Filipino culture and heritage with the people of Washington through music, dance, arts, history, literature, and crafts.
Information on the festival is available at www.seattlecenter.com, as well as on Facebook, and www.festalpagdiriwang.com.
About Seattle Center Festál
Seattle Center Festál is a unique public program series of 25 free cultural festivals, each offering its own celebration of heritage and identity.
These community-produced events provide a range of engaging programs and activities to cultivate a deeper understanding of our region’s diversity through immersive performances, food, arts, and educational programming. Collectively, the festivals welcome approximately 400,000 visits annually, generate an estimated $30 million in economic activity, support more than 250 jobs, and engage thousands of volunteers, artists, and small business vendors.
Seattle Center Festál is presented in partnership between Seattle Center and 25 community-based organizations, with support from the City of Seattle, Seattle Center Foundation, and 4Culture's Sustained Support and Free/Reduced Access programs. Additional support for Festál 2026 is provided by 2025 charitable donations from the Snoqualmie Tribe, and ArtsFund's Community Accelerator Grant funded by Allen Family Philanthropies.
About Seattle Center — The Cultural Heart of the Pacific Northwest
Seattle Center is a 74-acre civic, arts, and cultural gathering place in the heart of Seattle and home to more than 30 partner organizations, including Climate Pledge Arena, KEXP, MOPOP, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Opera, Pacific Science Center, SIFF, and many others. Anchored by world-class attractions, historic venues, public art, and a dynamic calendar of free and affordable events centered around the iconic International Fountain, Seattle Center serves residents and visitors of all ages year-round.
As a department of the City of Seattle and anchor of the Uptown Arts and Cultural District, Seattle Center is an inclusive destination where community comes together through arts, culture, and public life, serving residents from across Seattle and the Puget Sound region alongside visitors from around the world. In partnership with Friends of Waterfront Seattle, Seattle Center also manages the City’s new Waterfront Park, providing cultural programming, operations, and civic care along Seattle’s downtown waterfront.
Over the past three years, Seattle Center has welcomed 11 to 12 million visits annually, with the majority of visits coming from the Seattle and Puget Sound region and is projected to reach 12.5 to 13.5 million visits in 2026. This activity generates more than $1 billion in visitor spending, contributes more than $2 billion in regional economic impact, and supports more than 18,600 jobs.
With the support of our Official Partners — Alaska Airlines, The Climate Pledge, Coors Light, Pepsi, Symetra, T-Mobile, and WaFd Bank — Seattle Center is the #1 most-visited arts and cultural destination in the Pacific Northwest. www.seattlecenter.com
Contact
Jordan Van Beek | jordan@whyforgood.com 425.638.2293
