Now on its sixth iteration, Fifth Wall returns with its annual flagship event in the form of “Muscle Memory”, where movements are revisited, and time and space are reframed. From October 25 to 26, 2025, the much-anticipated creative gathering takes place in the heart of Makati, on the 28th floor, Tower II, of RCBC Plaza, reframing the city itself as a makeshift stage.

One purchased ticket allows you to “move through the fifth wall” and explore how memory lives within the body, and how instinctive gestures can become sites of rediscovery.

Launched in 2020 as an “at-home” festival for dance films, Fifth Wall has since evolved into a year-round cultural force that continues to blur the boundaries between dance and its surrounding disciplines. Six editions on, its ethos remains constant: to reimagine movement, and to invite its audience to do the same.

Entitled “Muscle Memory”, to understand the relationship between architecture and dance, is what the festival aims for this year. We investigate how repetition, rhythm, and recall shape our understanding of self and space. Everyday gestures such as walking, reaching, dressing, sitting, and more, are recontextualized into new patterns, revealing how the body archives memory and meaning through motion.

As Fifth Wall enters the central business district, it finds new ways for the inhabitants to move within the space. City dwellers become the active participants in a performance that unfolds into a living choreography. The audience this time around is invited to participate, wander, pause, notice, and interact with the installations. Each gesture, however small, becomes part of the evolving composition of people.

“I’ve had a deep yearning for the analog form over the past year, ever since I began conceptualising Edition VI. That’s why, for this iteration, blending the principles of architecture and dance with the concept of movement notation made the most sense. The objective is for audiences to have a more tactile experience when engaging with the artworks and the space. The whole event is choreographed to a tee, and the added layer of transforming the spectator into a performer is especially exciting. And in true Fifth Wall form, we always leave room for fun and spontaneity. This year’s format speaks to both kids and kids-at-heart—and perhaps even awakens the dormant, playful movement in everyone.” – Madge Reyes, founder of Fifth Wall

Featuring new works in collaborations with ES SE, Marco Ortiga, Lando Cusi, Novel, and WHYNoT, Fifth Wall VI continues to dissolve the line between artist and audience. Each collaborator is producing a large-scale installation that will invite festival goers to interact with. Installations will be a prompt for movement in and of itself, with hopes to push new perspectives onto everyday physical acts. Select works are available for purchase.

Also new to the festival this year are participatory guided tours. Fifth Wall taps friends of the platform to share their personal approaches to understanding and perceiving movement as they lead participants through the floor. Expected then is a unique experience for each tour group. The same installations but a different journey for each!

The Day 1 tours on October 25th, will be led by Anna Buqid (fashion). Tarzeer Pictures (film and visual arts), Jer Dee (visual arts), Studio Jan (architecture), Raco Ruiz (visual art), Ayni Nuyda (visual art), Apa Agbayani (film), Elijah Canlas (film and theater), Jodinand Aguillon (fashion and theater).

While Day 2 tours on October 26th, will be led by Jim Ferrer (theater and dance), Jerms (music), Jon Santos (film and theater), One/Zero (architecture), Andre Chan (visual arts), PJ Rebullida (dance and theater), Brian and Alison Black (lifestyle), Em Enriquez (fashion), and a special tour with Sai Versailles in collaboration with Rolling Stone.

At the end of each tour, participants will be invited to partake in a culminating activity in the form of a video installation done in collaboration with Timothy Axibal.

Visitors can also look forward to live art sessions with darlingkink and Giostrina, as well as evening DJ performances to close each day, with Aries and Papa Jawnz performing on Days 1 and 2, respectively. Lighting of the entire floor venue will be done in collaboration with cinematographer Ian Guevara.

Enhancing the experience, exclusive merchandise and a curated selection of food and beverage items from Now Now, Fiasfud, Ani Cafe, and Kurimu will be onsite, offering visitors a chance to pause, refuel, and reflect between activities.

Tickets are available via https://fifthwall.helixpay.ph.

Regular phase runs from October 19-24.

Walk-ins phase during festival dates of October 25-26.

General Admission grants access to the main floor, F&B and merch areas, and evening DJ performances. This ticket provides whole-day entry (on your selected date) to the exhibition floor, where guests can move freely throughout the installations. General Admission does not include participation in guided tours, and ticket holders may be asked to briefly step aside from specific areas as the tours pass through.

Tour Tickets include all General Admission privileges, plus a guided floor tour led by one of Fifth Wall’s featured guides, culminating in a unique group activity exclusive to tour guests.