The search for Davao’s next singing and dance champions in Davao City intensified with the scheduled elimination rounds ahead of the March 27 Grand Finals.
The 89th Araw ng Dabaw presents this year’s Kanta Dabawenyo and Sayaw Dabawenyo, highlighting the unique talents and skills of Dabawenyos.
The Top 20 bets for the said contests were already announced on the Araw ng Dabaw Facebook page last February 25, signalling the start of the events.
Kanta and Sayaw Dabaw organizer Wadab Babao, in an interview with Madayaw Dabaw last Friday, said that the semi-finals for the events will be held jointly on February 28, 2026 (Saturday), 1:00 PM at the Annex Event Center, SM City Davao.
The semi-finals will determine the Top 10 finalists in each category who will move on to the Grand Finals set on March 27 at the Rizal Park Dome.
Babao emphasized that Kanta Dabawenyo is being staged for the first time as a standalone singing competition dedicated to Davao-based talents.
“Karon ra gyud ni siya sukad-sukad ang atong Kanta Dabawenyo (This is the very first time we are holding Kanta Dabawenyo),” Babao said, noting that the contest aims to provide a wider platform for local vocalists.
The Kanta Dabawenyo category is exclusive to Davao City residents. However, non-residents who have been studying or working in the city for at least one year may also join, provided they secure a barangay certification.
Meanwhile, Sayaw Dabawenyo, a modern dance competition first introduced in 2024, is open to participants aged 15 years old and above. Unlike the singing category, the dance competition welcomes participants from nearby cities and provinces within the Davao Region.
Winners in both categories stand to receive substantial cash prizes. For Kanta Dabawenyo, the grand winner will take home P50,000, the second place P30,000, and the third place P20,000, while the rest will receive consolation prizes.
For Sayaw Dabawenyo, the grand winner will take home P100,000, the second placer will receive P70,000, and the third placer will get P30,000. The finalists shall also receive consolation prizes.
Both the semi-finals and grand finals will be livestreamed on the official Araw ng Dabaw page, allowing local and international audiences to witness the performances.
Babao invited Dabawenyos and tourists alike to support the events and witness the raw talent of Dabawenyos on stage. CIO
