New Attractions in Cebu to Visit in 2026

Cebu has a fresh set of things to do in 2026. Several of them are clustered on the South Road Properties, the reclaimed waterfront south of downtown, where a lighthouse, an indoor arena and a family play centre all opened within a few months of each other. Mactan got a large new convention centre, the city finally got its bus rapid transit line, and the provincial government opened a tourist rest stop in the Balamban highlands.

Here are the new attractions in Cebu that are already open, what each one is like, who it suits, and what is still on the way. If you're planning a trip for the holidays or early 2027, this is the list to check before you build your itinerary.

Some of these are big-ticket projects and some are small, but each gives visitors a reason to look past the usual Cebu checklist of Magellan's Cross, Kawasan and the Mactan resorts.

1. The Cebu Lighthouse at IL Corso

Opened: 18 April 2026 · Where: IL Corso, South Road Properties, Cebu City

The newest landmark on the SRP waterfront is a lighthouse built for visitors, not ships. Filinvest developed it with Anjo World, the Minglanilla theme park, and the inside tells the story of Cebu's old parola through a short animated film. A 700-square-metre mural by Urban Arts PH covers the gallery, a Starbooks digital science library sits on the second floor, and you can climb 151 steps or take the lift to a viewing deck over the Mactan Channel.

Entry has been P150, and it opens at 3 p.m., so it works best as a late-afternoon stop before sunset on the promenade. Our full Cebu Lighthouse guide has the hours and an SRP evening plan.

2. SM Seaside Cebu Arena

Opened: July 2026 · Where: SM Seaside City, South Road Properties

Cebu now has an indoor arena with more than 25,000 seats, the largest in the Visayas. BINI opened it with a concert on 11 July, and more than 20 concerts, games and live shows were lined up for the rest of the year. For travellers, this changes how you plan: big acts that used to play only in Manila now stop in Cebu, and hotels around the SRP fill up on show nights.

If you're coming for a concert, book a room early and plan your ride home before the show ends. Traffic around the malls is heavy once a crowd that size lets out.

3. Fantasy World at SM Seaside

Opened: 28 February 2026 · Where: Lower Ground Level, Cube Wing, SM Seaside City

Families with young children have a new rainy-day option. Fantasy World is an indoor amusement centre with bumper cars, a mini zipline, a ninja obstacle course, trampolines, a big ball pit, arcade games and role-play rooms where kids can play chef, doctor or firefighter. It's air-conditioned and in the same building as the arena and the mall's restaurants, so it's easy to fit around other SRP plans.

Prices weren't published when it opened, so check at the counter. Weekends and school holidays are the busiest times.

4. The Cebu BRT

Started: 13 March 2026 (partial operations) · Route: Il Corso to Cebu IT Park

A bus line isn't usually on a list of attractions, but the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit has made several of the places on this list easier to reach. The first line runs about 13 kilometres from Il Corso past SM Seaside, the south bus terminal, Fuente Osmeña, Capitol and Ayala to IT Park. The buses are air-conditioned, fares are distance-based, and free ride hours ran in the mornings and evenings when the line opened. Our Cebu BRT guide lists the stations most useful for visitors.

It's still in partial operation, with some stretches in ordinary traffic, so think of it as steady rather than fast.

5. Mactan Expo

Opened: 16 March 2026 · Where: The Mactan Newtown, Lapu-Lapu City

Megaworld's Mactan Expo is a two-level convention centre about ten minutes from the airport, with a pillar-free hall for more than 2,500 people. It was opened ahead of this year's ASEAN Summit. It isn't a place to visit for its own sake, but it brings trade fairs, expos and conferences to Mactan. If one of those is your reason to come, the Newtown beach and the island's seafood restaurants are close by.

6. Hapitanan sa Sugbo, Balamban

Opened: July 2026 · Where: Barangay Gaas, Balamban

The provincial government and the Department of Tourism opened a tourist rest area in Gaas, Balamban, as a stopover for people heading to the town and the mountain stops along the Transcentral Highway. It's a small, practical addition rather than a destination, and it gives travellers on the mountain road a planned place to pause. Use it as a break on a highland day trip.

7. Seasonal: SM Seaside's Christmas Wonder Express

Launched: 16 October 2026 · Where: Mountain Wing Atrium, SM Seaside City

For the holiday season, SM Seaside has put up a Victorian-style Christmas train display in its Mountain Wing atrium, with Santa meet-and-greets, storytelling sessions for kids and a holiday bazaar. It's a mall display rather than a ticketed attraction, and a reasonable add-on if you're already at the SRP for the lighthouse or the arena.

New places to eat in 2026

The second Michelin Guide, revealed on 29 October 2026, also counts as news for anyone visiting Cebu to eat. Tatang's Lechon in Lahug and Kalipay in Banawa are new Bib Gourmand picks, Ato-ah in IT Park moved up to a Bib, and Kokeek's Manokan, Kumedor and Playa joined the Selected list. Our Michelin Guide Cebu 2027 results page has the full list and how to group the restaurants by area.

Coming soon

• SMX Convention Center Seaside Cebu: set to open next to the arena in late 2026 as the biggest convention venue in the Visayas. Expect busier hotels during big expos.
• Provincial tour booking site: the Cebu Provincial Tourism Office is piloting an online system that links only to accredited tour operators, starting with southern towns such as Alegria, Samboan and Oslob. It's meant to cut booking scams.
• Mactan World Museum: Megaworld has announced a museum for The Mactan Newtown. There's no opening date yet.

Planning around the new spots

Four of the seven attractions above are on the South Road Properties, so you can see them in one long afternoon and evening: Fantasy World or the mall in the afternoon, the lighthouse before sunset, then dinner and, if the dates line up, a show at the arena. The BRT reaches the SRP from IT Park and uptown, and the Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway lands nearby if you're staying on Mactan.

New attractions usually change their hours, fees and rules in the first year, and some features announced at launch arrive later. Check the official pages a day or two before you go, especially over Christmas and Sinulog, when Cebu's calendar fills up fast.

Sources

Cebu Lighthouse at Il Corso: New Waterfront Attraction in SRP Cebu – Cebu Daily News
New Cebu arena books over 20 major shows – SunStar Cebu, 24 July 2026
A new fun experience at Fantasy World SM Seaside City Cebu – Cebu Daily News
Marcos leads inauguration of Mactan Expo in Cebu – SunStar Cebu, 16 March 2026
Cebu Opens Hapitanan sa Sugbo Tourist Rest Area in Balamban – Province of Cebu, 16 July 2026
SM Seaside Cebu launches Christmas Wonder Express 2026 – Cebu Daily News
Capitol's tourism office to launch online booking system – The Freeman, 7 June 2026