Quezon City is preparing for the return of All aBOARD Expo 2026, a large-scale board game and family activity event expected to draw more visitors this year. The four-day gathering is being organized through a partnership between the Quezon City government and Gaming Library, a well-known board game retailer, publisher, and community hub in the country.
City officials are anticipating over 15,000 attendees for this year’s edition, surpassing last year’s 10,000 participants. According to Mayor Joy Belmonte, the initiative reflects the city government’s efforts to create programs that combine entertainment with educational value for families and young people.
Family-Focused Event Blends Learning and Play
Belmonte encouraged residents and visitors to join the event, describing it as a “dynamic, family-oriented event that blends learning with play.”
The expo will take place at the M.I.C.E. Center located within the City Hall Complex. Admission will be free for QCitizens, while children aged 12 and below may also enter at no cost. For non-residents, entry will only require a minimal fee of P150, making the event accessible to a broader audience, according to acting City Tourism Department head Giana Aira Barata.
To help attendees travel more conveniently, the city government will also provide free QCity Bus rides going to and from the QC MICE Center. Shuttle pickups will be available in Cubao, Litex, General Luis, Mindanao Avenue, Gilmore, C5 (Ortigas Exit), and Muñoz.
Belmonte also emphasized the importance of spending quality time indoors with loved ones, pointing to South Korea’s use of outdoor board games as activities that help improve critical thinking skills among players.
Expo Highlights Creativity and Community Engagement
City Administrator Michael Victor Alimurung explained that the gathering goes beyond simple recreation and aims to strengthen family interaction and creativity among children.
“There's really something new for everyone. One of our objectives is to provide an opportunity to children to something different,” Alimurung said.
He added that the local government plans to make the expo an annual activity. During the four-day event, publishers and 280 volunteers from the Quezon City Bayanihan portal will assist visitors, especially first-time participants who are unfamiliar with the games.
Gaming Library CEO and project manager Hans Kenner Fernandez shared that this year’s event carries the theme “Kalikasan,” inspired by five animals found in the Philippines.
“This year’s theme is ‘Kalikasan’ which features five animals in the Philippines. Our goal is to promote children play and the players in Kalikasan will teach them to build their own habitat,” Fernandez said.
To support guests traveling from outside Quezon City, the local government has partnered with hotels including Seda to offer discounted room rates.
“These partnerships aim to provide comfortable and convenient accommodations throughout the multi-day event,” Barata noted.
All aBOARD Expo 2026 provides more than entertainment, it will be an avenue for creating opportunities for learning, bonding, creativity, and community participation while promoting accessible activities that encourage children and adults to spend meaningful time together away from screens and daily stress.
RELATED: [QC Raises The Bar In Rabies Control, Targets Zero Human Deaths By 2030]
