It will open up more opportunities for young Filipino athletes by adding new sports, expanding representation, and implementing new competition policies.
That is the promise of the 2026 Palarong Pambansa in Agusan del Sur, which will welcome an estimated number of 11,000 learner-athletes from all over the country for the opening of the games on Sunday, May 24.
The 66th edition of the Palarong Pambansa, themed “Unlocking the Future Through Sports,” will be held from May 24 to 31, 2026 in the Province of Agusan del Sur and will be led by the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur.
It is in partnership with the DepEd Caraga Region and Schools Division Office of Agusan del Sur and in coordination with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Education Secretary Sonny Angara has expressed confidence in the province’s readiness following the completion of preparations for the venues and the deployment of support systems for delegates.
“Patuloy na umuunlad ang Palarong Pambansa kasabay ng lumalawak na pangarap at kakayahan ng ating mga mag-aaral,” he said.
“Ngayong taon, mas marami tayong binubuksang espasyo para sa partisipasyon, mas kinikilala natin ang iba’t ibang anyo ng husay sa palakasan, at mas pinagtitibay natin ang isang kompetisyong patas at inklusibo para sa bawat batang atleta.”
This edition will bring several significant changes to expand participation and further enhance the experience of student-athletes.
Among the added regular sports and events are Weightlifting, Football for Secondary Girls, and Futsal for Elementary Girls, which will provide more opportunities for students to compete and showcase their skills at the national level.
The Games will also feature demonstration sports such as Karate, Kickboxing, and Soft Tennis, while Muay Thai and selected Paragames events such as Sitting Volleyball and Table Tennis will be held as exhibition events to further promote inclusivity in the field of school sports.
Representation will also be expanded this year with the return of the Negros Island Region (NIR) as a separate regional delegation..
Meanwhile, the Philippine Schools Overseas (PSO) and the National Academy of Sports (NAS) will also have their own delegations, giving students more opportunities to represent their respective communities and institutions.
To further ensure fair and quality competition, the DepEd will implement new policies for selected events.
These include the modified Winner-Take-All policy for team sports such as baseball, basketball, football, futsal, sepak takraw, softball, and volleyball; continuation of qualifying standards for athletics, swimming, and archery; and the Home Region Representation Policy.
As for the athletes from the National Training Pool and National Developmental Pool, they are now also allowed to participate.
According to Angara, these changes are part of the DepEd’s broader goal of ensuring that sports remain an important platform not only for competition but also for shaping character, expanding opportunities, and strengthening unity.
“Naniniwala tayo na sa mas patas at mas inklusibong Palarong Pambansa ngayong taon, mas mabibigyan ng pagkakataon ang bawat batang atleta na maipakita ang kanilang buong galing, potensyal, at husay,” he told.