Department of Education Sec. Sonny Angara. (Photo grabbed from DepEd Philippines FB)
The country’s biggest scholastic sporting showcase is set to reach new heights as the 66th Palarong Pambansa kicks off on May 24 in Agusan del Sur, bringing expanded opportunities and a stronger push for inclusivity for thousands of young Filipino athletes.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said this year’s edition of the prestigious national games reflects the evolving aspirations of Filipino learners by creating a more dynamic, balanced, and accessible sporting environment.
“Palarong Pambansa continues to evolve alongside the aspirations of our learners. This year, we are opening more spaces for participation, recognizing more forms of athletic excellence, and creating a competition environment that is fairer and more inclusive,” Angara said Friday.
The 2026 edition introduces new sporting events aimed at broadening participation, including weightlifting, football for secondary girls, and futsal for elementary girls — giving more student-athletes a chance to compete on the national stage.
Adding excitement to the competition are demonstration events such as karate, kickboxing, and soft tennis, while Muay Thai and selected Paragames disciplines — sitting volleyball and table tennis — will be featured as exhibition sports to further strengthen inclusivity and accessibility in youth sports.
Participation is also set to grow significantly with the return of the Negros Island Region as an independent delegation. The Philippine Schools Overseas (PSO) and the National Academy of Sports (NAS) will likewise field their own teams, widening representation and allowing more young talents from diverse backgrounds to shine.
The Department of Education has also rolled out updated competition policies designed to promote fairness and balanced competition. These include adjustments to the winner-take-all system in team sports, continued qualifying standards for athletics, swimming, and archery, as well as a home region representation policy.
Athletes from the National Training Pool and National Developmental Pool will also be eligible to participate, further raising the level of competition while providing emerging athletes with valuable high-level exposure.
With final preparations now complete, organizers expressed confidence in Agusan del Sur’s readiness to host approximately 11,000 learner-athletes from across the country for the weeklong sporting spectacle.
“We believe that through a fairer and more inclusive Palarong Pambansa this year, every young athlete will be given greater opportunities to fully showcase their talent, potential, and excellence,” Angara added.
Hosted by the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur in partnership with DepEd-Caraga, the Schools Division Office of Agusan del Sur, the Philippine Sports Commission, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the games will run until May 31, serving as a national platform where future sporting stars can rise and dreams can take flight.