The heartbeat of Mindanawon’s music is once again set to resonate through the streets of Davao as Tunog Kadayawan 2026 officially opens its call for participants, inviting musicians, and composers from across Mindanao to showcase their original music pieces.
The competition is open to all Mindanao-based musicians. Entries may be instrumental or accompanied by lyrics, provided they reflect the celebration of life, human interconnectedness, and unity with the universe, in line with the rich living heritage of Mindanao.
If the music is accompanied by lyrics, it should only use Filipino or a local dialect.
To join, interested participants must submit their entries on or before July 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. via Google form: https://forms.gle/1LnbqzUG9KpGabRR7.
Meanwhile, the use of keyboard synthesizers and laptops is highly discouraged, while electric and bass guitars must retain their natural sounds without distortion.
For the final competition, performances must be live and last between three to five minutes. Participants may perform solo or as a group of up to 10 members, and participants are allowed to submit only one entry.
All entries must be original, unpublished, and not previously submitted to any competition or commercial performance. They must also be uploaded online in MP3 format with good recording quality.
The music and lyrics must center on the Kadayawan Festival or its official theme, “We are ONE, KadayaONE!”
Full details on the competition’s guidelines and mechanics can be found on the Kadayawan sa Davao official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheKadayawanFestival. CIO
Written by: N. Malasado
Edited by: A. Nawal