In its bid to strengthen the MICE industry in Cebu, Megaworld Corporation brings Mactan Expo to the forefront, built to international standards with a full suite of features suited for high-level local and international events. After its inauguration on March 16, 2026, the convention center hosted the 48th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in May, at the request of no less than President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. Today, Mactan Expo is fast becoming Cebu’s premier destination for conventions, corporate events, trade fairs, and exhibitions in Lapu-Lapu City.

Mactan Expo is situated within the 30-hectare master-planned Megaworld Newtown township, just eight kilometers away from Cebu International Airport, with access to the main highway and secondary roads. The convention center stands across from Mercure Mactan Cebu and Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown, and within walking distance of two Gordon Ramsay dining destinations, Fish and Chips and Street Burger, a first in Southeast Asia.

For delegates and guests, the township provides necessities through retail stores like Bench, Planet Sports, Robinsons Easymart, and Watsons, and dining options such as Ama Mee Ya, Samurai and Geisha, and Brique Modern Kitchen. At the Mactan Alfresco, Cebu restaurants such as Choobi Choobi and Ayers serve local dishes hawker-style.

Mactan Expo is also the only standalone venue in Cebu that has access to a nearby beach resort, which is only seven minutes away. Managed by Megaworld Hotels and Resorts, the Mactan Newtown Beach is a 20,000 sqm world-class beachfront where organizers can stage side events or after-parties at the Grand Beach, Ceremony Garden, or the Glass Pavilion.

Mactan Expo’s total capacity is 3,000 pax, which can be accommodated in its pillar-free halls, divisible function spaces, meeting rooms, and premium VIP support facilities designed for seamless event execution.

Unique to the two-level facility is the expo’s showcase of Cebu’s history and culture through the use of a series of artworks crafted by local artists, made with locally sourced materials to achieve a distinct look. “We are celebrating Cebu. All these installations give the expo a sense of place. Other venues have a blank canvas for the organizer to add the personality of the place, but we choose to promote Mactan Expo as a MICE destination. So, when you come here, you feel you are in Cebu, with or without an ongoing event,” said Louella Caridad, vice president and general manager of Mactan Expo.

“We have an interior design team that collaborated with the artists, and we commissioned the artworks, keeping in mind the concept. It’s not just about being made by Cebu artists, but the symbolism: the seashells, sand, and the images of the sea, guitar, and mangoes. And these elements were considered a representation of the local culture of Cebu,” added Megaworld First Vice President Harold Geronimo.

At the main entrance, the Cebuano Arts Club, headed by Mamerto ‘Jojo’ Gubalane, created “Echos of Mactan,” an abstract expressionism representing the shell crafting, guitar making, and fishing industries of Mactan Island.

“Duyog” (Harmonious Blend), by Pont Studio, headed by Arch. Jonas Bartin Pacifico, is a semi-abstract, three-dimensional installation depicting Cebu’s musical heritage through the shapes of the guitar and ukulele, mixed with the curves of the beaches and rich seafood crafted with seashells and beach sand, and silhouettes of mango and corn woven through rattan and coconut.

Sculptor and designer Christopher ‘Manoy’ Murillo created “Intima,” with two intertwined forms locked in a perpetual embrace, depicting the 1521 encounter in Mactan that brought Catholicism into the country.

The wall sculptures of designer Vito Selma utilized laminated rattan to depict the technical skills of Cebu’s craftspeople in its weaving and textile traditions.

The venue also practices inclusivity and sensitivity by having PWD and all-gender restrooms and separate male and female prayer rooms with an ablution facility. The full-service kitchen, designed for high-volume and fast-paced service, is Halal-certified as well.

In line with Megaworld’s commitment to sustainability, the expo has been equipped with a rainwater collection and storage system with a 6,000-liter capacity and a heat-deflecting glass facade that still allows natural light for energy conservation. For waste management, all refuse and recyclables are collected by a partner recycler. Solar panels will soon be added to further reduce energy consumption.