A major sports and events venue is set to rise in the Queen City of the South with the upcoming opening of the SM Seaside Cebu Arena in June 2026.
Developed by SM Prime Holdings, the arena is expected to become a key investment in positioning Cebu City as a major sports tourism destination. The facility will have a seating capacity of 16,000 spectators, expandable to as many as 25,000—comparable to the capacity of the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Designed to deliver a world-class audience experience, the venue will feature smart technologies and professional-grade facilities capable of hosting large-scale international sporting events and entertainment shows.
Officials from the Philippine Sports Commission recently conducted an ocular inspection of the facility as part of preparations for the country’s bid to host the Asian Beach Games 2028.
Leading the inspection were PSC Chairman Richard ‘Pato’ Gregorio and Commissioner Edward Hayco, who assessed the arena’s readiness and potential role as a central venue should the Philippines secure hosting rights for the regional games.
Once completed, the SM Seaside Cebu Arena is expected to host competitions and events similar in scale to those staged at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, including international tournaments such as the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship 2025, and the upcoming Karate One Youth League.
Sports officials said the arena will also help showcase Cebu City’s coastline and scenic seascape to the global sporting community, strengthening the country’s push to host more international sporting events.
