Over 9.6 million devotees join Traslacion 2026
The annual Traslacion of Jesus Nazarene drew an unprecedented turnout of devotees this year, with crowd estimates reaching approximately 9.6 million people who joined and participated in the historic event, officials and on‑site reports indicate.
The figure reflects the massive scale of devotion that accompanied the longest Traslacion in history, which lasted a remarkable 30 hours and 50 minutes before the Andas carrying the image finally returned to the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno in Quiapo at around 10:50 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026.
From December devotions to January procession
Preparations for Traslacion 2026 began as early as December, with a series of religious activities and crowd-drawing events leading up to the Jan. 9 feast day of Jesus Nazarene.
In the first days of December, Quiapo Church opened the traditional Misa Novenario, a nine-day series of Masses attended by thousands of devotees daily. The novena Masses continued throughout the month, drawing pilgrims from various parts of the country.
By late December, the church also began accepting devotees for the blessing of Jesus Nazarene images and replicas, while authorities ramped up coordination meetings, route inspections, and security planning in anticipation of the massive turnout.
On Jan. 2, Quiapo Church issued advisories on the schedule of activities, crowd control measures, and health reminders, urging devotees to prepare physically and spiritually for the upcoming feast.
The traditional Pahalik formally began on Jan. 7 at Quirino Grandstand, with thousands lining up overnight to venerate the image.
On Jan. 8, final preparations were put in place, including the deployment of security forces, emergency medical teams, and volunteers along the Traslacion route.
The Traslacion proper commenced in the early hours of Jan. 9, with the Andas departing from Quirino Grandstand and traversing major streets of Manila. The procession extended into Jan. 10, ultimately lasting 30 hours and 30 minutes, making it the longest Traslacion in history.
The Andas finally arrived at the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazarene at 10:25 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10, marking the culmination of weeks of devotion, preparation, and religious observance.
