Holiday and New Year events to catch: Concerts, countdowns, fireworks around Metro Manila

December 23, 2025 – 10:36 AM

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Metro Manila’s year-end calendar is packed with festive events that bring together music, family fun and grand countdowns.

From elegant New Year’s Eve galas to fireworks-filled city celebrations, these experiences offer plenty of ways to welcome 2026:

, the holidays culminate in “Symphony of the Stars,” a New Year’s Eve gala on December 31 featuring

Lea Salonga

Raymond Lauchengco

under the musical direction of

Gerard Salonga.

Brickman®

a LEGO® exhibition with interactive zones that makes the resort a family-friendly destination.

Holiday fun continues at

DreamPlay

, where yuletide activities run until January 1, 2026. Guests can enjoy Shrek Santa meet-and-greets, magic shows, and the annual DreamWorks all-star holiday parade, bringing characters from Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar, and Trolls to life.

City of Dreams Manila Grand Ballroom

with Korean male group

The Man Alive

Carpenters Reborn by Chloe Foston

on December 29, a nostalgic concert celebrating timeless hits.

For a high-energy New Year welcome,

Eastwood City

hosts the country’s longest-running New Year Countdown. Headlined by

Rico Blanco, Klarisse De Guzman

Maki,

with performances by

KAIA

Ena Mori,

the celebration builds up to the iconic Dazzling Star Drop and a grand fireworks display at midnight.

Fireworks also continue at Eastwood City and McKinley Hill until December 27, adding sparkle to the season-long festivities.

—Rosette Adel