ASEAN SUMMIT 2026 kicks off in Cebu, Philippines

CEBU CITY – The ASEAN SUMMIT 2026 is currently underway at NUSTAR Resort in Cebu, Philippines, with various events and meetings taking place from January 25 to 30, 2026 starting off with the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat (AMM) on January 25-29 with discussions focusing on the Philippines' priorities as ASEAN chair, under the theme "Navigating Our Future, Together" and the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) has begun, January 26-30, featuring policy meetings, activities, and discussions aimed at shaping the region's tourism industry.

The ASEAN SUMMIT 2026 brought together leaders from the 11 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) namely; Brunei - Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodia - Prime Minister Hun Manet, Indonesia - President Prabowo Subianto, Laos - Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Malaysia - Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Myanmar - Pro Tem President Min Aung Hlaing, Philippines - President Bongbong Marcos (host country), Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Thailand - Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Timor-Leste - Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão (joined ASEAN on October 26, 2025), and Vietnam - Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính.

Dialog partners and observers like Australia, Canada, China, European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States are also here to participate in the discussions, meetings and other events. The summit will focus on regional cooperation, economic growth, security, and cultural exchange.

“We are reminded that the future of tourism in our region will not be shaped by any one country alone. It will be shaped by how well we align our strategies, our standards, our innovations, and most importantly, our resolve to ensure that tourism remains a force for good,” Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary and Head of the Philippine National Tourism Organizations (NTO), Verna Buensuceso said in her opening message on behalf of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.

Speaking before heads of national tourism organizations during the 63rd ASEAN National Tourism Organizations (NTOs) Meeting in Cebu City Monday, January 26, Buensuceso emphasized that the regional meetings over the week must deliver tangible policies and benefits for tourism stakeholders and the need for ASEAN Member States to move forward not as competing destinations but as a unified region.

She added that 63rd NTOs meeting is officially part of the week-long series of high-level meetings, consultations, working group sessions, and discussions central to ASEAN tourism cooperation, guided by this year’s theme, “Navigating our Future, Together.”

“As we exchange best practices and strengthen cooperation, may our discussions lead to outcomes that are concrete and forward-looking. Outcomes that support sustainability without sacrificing growth, that accelerate digital transformation while protecting trust and safety, and that keep communities at the heart of the tourism economy so that the benefits of travel are felt not only in arrivals but in myriad opportunities,” Buensuceso said.

In the coming days, key officials across Southeast Asia and the world also convene for more decisive and high-level meetings, including the 48th ASEAN Plus Three NTOs Meeting; 16th Meeting of ASEAN Plus Three NTOs; ASEAN-Australia Inaugural Dialogue for Tourism; 34th ASEAN–India Tourism Working Group Meeting; ASEAN Tourism Forum; ASEAN Tourism Conference; 29th Meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers; 25th Meeting of ASEAN, China, Japan, and Republic of Korea Tourism Ministers (25th M-ATM+3); 13th Meeting of ASEAN – India Tourism Ministers (13th M-ATM Plus India); and the Fifth Meeting of ASEAN - Russian Federation Tourism Ministers, among others.

Buensuceso also welcomed Timor-Leste as the 11th Member State of ASEAN. “Your presence enriches our regional community and reminds us that ASEAN’s strength has always come from widening the circle, grounded in trust, friendship, and a shared commitment to progress.”

The ASEAN TOURISM FORUM 2026 is slated to formally start in a ceremony on Wednesday January 28 at the Nustar Convention Center, while the main ASEAN Leaders’ Summit will be held in Cebu on May 8 to 9, 2026, and in Pasay City on November 10 to 12, 2026.

Other activities included in the Summit are the ASEAN Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) to be hosted by the Mactan Expo, the Liberty Shrine in Lapulapu City and the IC3 Convention Center in Cebu City and also cultural events showcasing Cebuano heritage and Philippine tourism are also part of the program.

The Summit is expected to boost Cebu's economy, with increased hotel occupancy, transportation, and retail sales. Local businesses are expected to benefit from the influx of delegates and visitors.

Over 5,000 security personnel have been deployed to ensure the safety of delegates and visitors and a gun ban is in effect across Central Visayas from January 17 to February 1, 2026. (Photos: ASEAN Summit/PCO/PIA7)