Heritage exhibitions, contemporary art, natural history, and so much more; here’s a list of institutions to visit all throughout February for your dose of creativity and culture.
Once again, it’s February, which means another month of celebrating all things arts and culture through National Arts Month. While these deserve support year-round, it’s always nice to have a dedicated timeframe that honors them. Think of it as the perfect theme as you fix up your Valentine’s Day itineraries, or, you know, brainstorm ways to spend time with the barkada. Aside from attending highly anticipated events like Art Fair Philippines and ALT Art 2026, you can also pay your local museum or gallery a visit. Some of these places even have interesting activities lined up for the month, on top of their usual roster of exhibits and shows. So, without further ado, here are a few spots in Manila to check out on your next outing.
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National Museum
The “National Museum” is an umbrella term for the host of museums it manages, including the National Museum of Fine Arts, National Museum of Natural History, and National Museum of Anthropology. Together, these institutions offer a sweeping look at the country’s artistic, historical, and scientific heritage, featuring iconic works by national artists, centuries-old artifacts, and immersive galleries exploring biodiversity, geology, and living cultures. Whether you’re drawn to painting and sculpture, curious about the natural world, or eager to revisit the many layers of Philippine history, the National Museum complex alone makes for a rewarding day of exploration.
Fun fact: the Old Legislative Building, a Neoclassical beauty that now houses the National Museum of Fine Arts, is celebrating its grand centennial. This February, the museum marks the milestone with its usual morning “Sunday Joiners” tour highlighting the architectural details and history of the building.
The Metropolitan Museum of Manila
The Metropolitan Museum of Manila, often simply called “The M,” has long been a hub for contemporary art lovers and creative minds alike. It features a wide array of exhibitions, showcasing works by both established and emerging Filipino artists alongside thought-provoking international displays. Here, visitors can dive into painting, sculpture, photography, and multimedia installations that capture the pulse of today’s art scene, and with its beautiful, easily accessible location on BGC’s 30th Street, planning a museum day out is a breeze.
This February to April, German artist Peter Zimmerman will be having his first institutional solo exhibition at The M. Titled Painting Rules, it explores his vibrant, luminescent body of abstract epoxy on canvas works. Filipino contemporary artist Jigger Cruz is also hosting his Hail Holy Eyes exhibition until March, with over a hundred of his textured, colorful artworks from 2007 to the present on display.
Ayala Museum
The Ayala Museum in Makati is a treasure trove for history buffs and art enthusiasts alike. Its permanent collections include the Diorama Experience, a series of 60 detailed scenes that chronicle Philippine history in three‑dimensional storytelling. You’ll also find pre‑colonial treasures and gold objects that shine a light on ancient craftsmanship; traditional textiles and ceramics that speak to indigenous knowledge and regional trade; and notable works by masters like Fernando Amorsolo, Juan Luna, and Fernando Zobel.
One exhibit you shouldn’t miss, which runs until February 22, is Mezcla: Interwoven Cultures and the Mantón de Manila, which brings more than thirty mantones (elaborately embroidered shawls that trace cultural exchanges across Asia and Europe) together in one gallery, offering rich stories in thread and textile craft. Those fascinated by the history of publishing will find Inherent Vice, an exhibition by artist Stephanie Syjuco, particularly compelling: the show examines the archives of the now-defunct Manila Chronicle newspaper, covering the years from the late 1960s to 1972.
The López Museum and Library
The López Museum and Library stands as the oldest privately-owned institution of its kind in the country. Specializing in Philippine material, it’s home to important works of art by masters like Juan Luna and Felix Resurrección Hidalgo, alongside notable pieces by Fernando Amorsolo, Juan Arellano, and other pillars of Filipino visual culture.
Beyond paintings and drawings, the museum’s archives hold rare books, maps, periodicals, and personal memorabilia that chart centuries of Filipino life and thought (restoration and preservation being part of its program). These include handwritten letters and other artifacts from national hero Jose Rizal, featured in the museum’s Rizaliana collection.
Ateneo Art Gallery
The Ateneo Art Gallery, once a smaller and older space, has come a long way. It now stands as a striking, multi-floor institution right next to Ateneo de Manila University’s fine arts building, Areté. Established in 1960 with Fernando Zóbel’s seminal donation, its collection has grown into a rich survey of local creativity, featuring works by post‑war modernists like Vicente Manansala, Jose Joya, and Arturo Luz, among others.
The Ateneo Art Gallery will be presenting some special exhibitions and programs to celebrate National Arts Month 2026. This includes World of Islands: On Palms, Storms & Coconuts, curated by Ligaya Salazar; featuring works by several artists and running until May across multiple galleries in Areté, the exhibition explores the Philippine archipelago, its climate, people, and maritime movements. On February 19 and 20, the gallery will also be hosting a screening and talkback of Walang Masulingan by Kiri Dalena and Ben Brix, a two-channel video installation with aerial and ground-level shots of daily life in Metro Manila.
Parola (UP Fine Arts Gallery)
The UP Fine Arts Gallery, also known as “Parola,” serves as the creative hub of the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, offering dynamic exhibition spaces, talks, and events that showcase evolving art practices and ideas. Parola supports artists across generations and disciplines, highlighting works by students, faculty, alumni, and invited creatives while also housing the UP College of Fine Arts Permanent Collection for public engagement.
The lineup for this National Arts Month highlights the exhibition Cheloy: Impressions from a Beautiful Soul until March, a homage to the later painter and art educator Araceli Limcaco Dan, who was best known for her stunning, intricately rendered still life paintings (including her depictions of ornate calado weaves).
Fundacion Sansó
Fundacion Sansó is dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of multi‑award‑winning painter and printmaker Juvenal Sansó, whose artistic career spanned more than seven decades. The foundation manages a substantial collection of Sansó’s paintings, prints, textile designs, opera set sketches, and personal archives, presenting them through curated exhibitions and public programs that highlight his remarkable contributions to Philippine art.
Beyond its galleries, the institution also actively supports the next generation of Filipino creatives through scholarships, exhibition and research grants, and community development initiatives that help emerging artists gain exposure and opportunities within the art world. Visitors can also enjoy the Scholarship Café and museum shop, where proceeds help fund artistic programs and scholar support, making every visit an impactful one. Not to mention, its gift shop features some pretty items that are great for gift giving.
Museo de Intramuros
What better place to immerse yourself in Manila’s storied history—and the Catholicism so closely tied to it—than the walled city of Intramuros? Museo de Intramuros showcases the Philippines’ colonial and religious heritage within the restored San Ignacio Church and Mission House. The museum’s collection features sacred paintings, sculptures, and artifacts that showcase centuries of Filipino craftsmanship and devotion, which in turn, reflect the marriage of spiritual and artistic traditions within the country.
Korean Cultural Center of the Philippines
Fans of all things Korean will find plenty to explore at the Korean Cultural Center of the Philippines (KCC). Its ground floor houses an intimate, permanent exhibition that highlights key aspects of Korean culture, including historical garments and traditional crockery. The center also features a library with print and digital resources for those who want to dive deeper through research and reading. Beyond its permanent collection, the KCC regularly hosts traveling exhibitions from Korean national institutions, with past showcases including those on the history of Hangul (the country’s writing system), Jinju’s silk lanterns, and acclaimed Korean filmmaking.
Chinatown Museum
China has had a longstanding relationship with the Philippines, so much so that our archipelago has developed its own Chinese-Filipino community with a unique history. Binondo is a part of this story, being the world’s oldest Chinatown. You can learn more about how it came to be through its Chinatown Museum, a heritage and community space that brings everything to life through visual narratives on the social, cultural, economic, and political threads that shaped the famous district.
The museum’s permanent galleries guide visitors through Binondo’s evolution as a bustling commercial and cultural hub, with displays featuring images, maps, and interactive exhibits that highlight landmark streets, early trade, and everyday life across the neighborhood’s different eras.
