Agusan del Sur is set to take center stage as more than 13,000 delegates gather for the opening of the 2026 Palarong Pambansa, the country’s biggest national student sports competition, on Sunday, May 24.
The Department of Education (DepEd) and the provincial government said preparations have been completed for the 66th edition of the games, which will formally open at the D.O. Plaza Memorial Sports Complex.
This year’s Palaro carries the theme “Unlocking the Future Through Sports” and is being organized by DepEd in coordination with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“All systems go na para sa Palarong Pambansa 2026. Handa ang ating mga atleta, handa ang ating mga delegasyon, at handa ang Agusan del Sur,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.
“Sa patuloy na suporta ni Pangulong Marcos sa pagpapaunlad ng kabataan, binubuksan natin ang mas maraming pagkakataon para matuklasan at maabot ng bawat batang Pilipino ang kanilang buong potensyal sa pamamagitan ng sports,” he added.
DepEd said all competition venues, billeting areas, logistics, and learner support systems are now ready to accommodate delegations from the country’s 18 regions.
A total of 13,247 delegates are participating this year, including 10,718 student-athletes, 1,600 coaches, 440 assistant coaches, and 489 chaperons. Delegations from the National Academy of Sports and Philippine Schools Overseas are also joining the meet.
The number marks a 10.47 percent increase in overall participation from the previous edition, making this year’s Palaro one of the largest in recent years.
Gender participation is also nearly balanced, with 6,860 male delegates and 6,387 female delegates, reflecting continuing efforts to promote wider access and inclusion in school sports.
Education Undersecretary Malcolm Garma thanked the provincial government of Agusan del Sur for its extensive preparations and support for the participating learners.
He said lessons from previous editions of the Palarong Pambansa were used to improve this year’s staging and strengthen coordination among organizers.
The 2026 games will also feature an expanded lineup of events. Weightlifting, Football for Secondary Girls, and Futsal for Elementary Girls have been added as regular sports.
Karate, Kickboxing, and Soft Tennis will be held as demonstration sports, while Muay Thai and selected Para Games events such as Sitting Volleyball and Table Tennis will be staged as exhibition events.
DepEd said the continued growth of the Palarong Pambansa reflects the government’s push to integrate sports into youth development and provide more opportunities for young athletes to discover their potential.