SM Prime Plans Over 20 Events for Newly Opened SM Seaside Cebu Arena in 2026
Key Takeaways
- •SM Prime Holdings has scheduled more than 20 events for 2026 at the newly opened SM Seaside Cebu Arena, covering concerts, live productions, sporting events, and family entertainment.
- •The SM Seaside Cebu Arena has a seating capacity of up to 25,000 and spans over seven hectares of gross floor area, designed by architecture firm Arquitectonica.
- •SM Prime partnered with Ticketmaster in May to create SM Ticketmaster, integrating enhanced ticketing and fraud prevention tools to replace the previous SM Tickets platform.
- •The venue features 30 Premier Suites accommodating 13 to 31 guests each, with dedicated VIP lounges and exclusive entrances.
- •SMPH shares closed at P18.36 on Thursday, gaining 0.99 percent or 18 centavos at the local bourse.
SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPH) has scheduled more than 20 events for 2026 at the newly opened SM Seaside Cebu Arena, significantly expanding the offering of large-scale live entertainment in the Visayas region. The venue gives Cebu—the Philippines' second-largest metropolitan economy—a dedicated indoor arena capable of hosting international-scale productions that have historically been concentrated in Metro Manila.
"Our goal is to help Cebu capture a larger share of the live entertainment economy. When major events come to the city, the impact extends beyond the venue. They support tourism, hospitality, transport, retail and the local services that benefit from stronger visitor inflow," SM Prime President Jeffrey C. Lim said in a statement on Thursday.
According to the company, the event lineup spans concerts by both local and international artists, live productions, sporting events, and family entertainment. Several performers are expected to stage their first large-scale shows in the Visayas at the new venue.
Mr. Lim noted that the arena was developed in response to rising consumer spending on live entertainment since the pandemic, particularly among younger audiences. He also pointed to improvements in ticketing platforms and venue technology as key factors driving demand for live events. The project aligns with broader Southeast Asian trends where major developers are investing in purpose-built entertainment venues to capture post-pandemic growth in live experiences.
In May, SM Prime partnered with Ticketmaster to launch SM Ticketmaster, which will replace SM Tickets. The joint venture integrates Ticketmaster's ticketing platform and fraud prevention tools with SM Prime's local operating network.
Designed by global architecture firm Arquitectonica, the SM Seaside Cebu Arena spans more than seven hectares of gross floor area and offers a seating capacity of up to 25,000. The venue is equipped with a center-hung display system suitable for sports, concerts, and other live events.
The arena includes 30 Premier Suites situated above the VIP sections. Each suite accommodates between 13 and 31 guests and comes with dedicated VIP lounges, a café, and an exclusive entrance.
The venue has direct access to SM Seaside City Cebu, the upcoming SMX Convention Center Seaside Cebu, Park Inn by Radisson, and Radisson Blu Cebu.
At the local bourse on Thursday, SMPH shares gained 0.99%, or 18 centavos, to close at P18.36 apiece. — Alexandria Grace C. Magno
