Capiztahan: Capiz Capiztahan: Ultimate Festival Guide & Schedule
Capiztahan is Capiz province’s flagship festival, held every April in Roxas City to mark the founding of its civil government on April 15, 1901. The name blends “Capiz” with kapistahan, the Filipino word for festivities, and locals call it the Mother of All Festivals in Capiz. In 2026 the province marked its 125th anniversary, or quasquicentennial, with a week of parades, folk dance and its signature seafood feast.
This guide covers what Capiztahan is, the history behind its founding-day date, how it is celebrated, and what changed in its most recent 2026 edition.
At a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name from | Capiz + kapistahan (festivities) |
| Where | Roxas City, Capiz province, Western Visayas |
| When | Mid-April, centered on April 15 |
| Marks | Founding of Capiz province, April 15, 1901 |
| Honors | President Manuel A. Roxas, who died April 15, 1948 |
| Famous for | Surambaw seafood feast |
| 2026 edition | April 13 to 19, the 125th anniversary |
| Recent recognition | Grand Winner, Best Cultural Festival (Provincial), 2025 Pearl Awards |
Key point
April 15 carries a double meaning for Capiz. It is both the date Act No. 115 created the province in 1901 and the date President Manuel A. Roxas, a native son, died in 1948, making Capiztahan part civic anniversary and part memorial.
What Capiztahan Is
Capiztahan is a cultural and food festival that commemorates the founding of Capiz’s civil government. Held annually in the provincial capital of Roxas City, it functions as a showcase of Capiznon identity, culture and cuisine. More than a party, it is a public expression of who the Capiznon people are: proud, hospitable and rooted in their island province in Western Visayas.
The festival earned formal national recognition in 2025, when it won Grand Winner for Best Cultural Festival in the Provincial Category at the Pearl Awards, jointly given by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines and the Department of Tourism.
The History Behind the Founding Date
Capiz became a separate province from Iloilo in 1716 and was home to the first printing press in the Visayas, established in 1734. Its modern civil government dates to April 15, 1901, when the U.S. Philippine Commission created it under Act No. 115. A provincial ordinance later formalized “Capiztahan” as the name for the annual charter anniversary celebration.
The date carries a second, more solemn meaning. President Manuel A. Roxas, born in the town of Capiz on January 1, 1892, served as the last president of the Philippine Commonwealth and the first of the Third Republic.
He died on April 15, 1948, the same calendar date as the province’s founding. In 1951, Republic Act No. 603 renamed the capital town Roxas City in his honor. Capiztahan therefore carries both a founding-day celebration and a memorial to Capiz’s most famous native son.
Note
Capiz and Aklan were governed as one province until April 25, 1956, when Republic Act 1414 split them into the two separate provinces that exist today.
The Seafood Capital of the Philippines
No account of Capiztahan is complete without its food. Capiz carries the title “Seafood Capital of the Philippines,” backed by rich fishing grounds and extensive aquaculture that produce fish, crabs, prawns, oysters and shellfish in abundance. Feasting takes center stage during the festival, and many visitors come as much for the seafood as for the parades.
Much of that abundance comes from brackish-water fish ponds along the province’s rivers and coastline, a form of aquaculture Capiznon families have practiced for generations. Local cooks turn the daily catch into dishes rarely found outside the province, which is part of why Surambaw draws crowds well beyond Roxas City residents.
How Capiztahan Is Celebrated
The festival runs for about a week in mid-April and fills Roxas City with parades, performances, feasts and trade fairs. Its program blends history, culture, sport and celebration.
- Maragtas sang Capisnon: a grand parade and cultural dance-drama depicting the province’s history from pre-colonial to post-colonial periods, drawing on the Maragtas legends of Panay’s early settlement.
- Saot Capiz: the Capisnon folk dance competition, showcasing dances developed within the province.
- Surambaw: the unlimited seafood feast that puts Capiz’s catch on full display.
- Maragtas Street Food Market and Cultural Show: local delicacies and traditional performances staged through the week.
- Trade fairs, fireworks and live music: nightly events that draw crowds across the province.
The whole province joins in, with Roxas City and Capiz’s 16 municipalities each contributing performances and events to the celebration.
| Event | What it is |
|---|---|
| Maragtas sang Capisnon | Historical parade and dance-drama on Panay’s origin legends |
| Saot Capiz | Capisnon folk dance competition |
| Surambaw | Unlimited seafood feast |
| Maragtas Street Food Market | Local delicacy stalls and food vendors |
| Sine Maragtas | Large-scale projection mapping show on Capiz history |
| sTREAT Party | Live band performances and celebrity guest sets |
Roxas City itself grew out of that same founding story. The old town of Capiz, birthplace of Manuel Roxas, was incorporated as a city and renamed in his honor through Republic Act No. 603, signed by President Elpidio Quirino on April 11, 1951. Before entering national politics, Roxas served on the Capiz municipal council starting in 1917 and later became provincial governor, a local career that makes his connection to Capiztahan more than symbolic.
What Changed for Capiztahan 2026
Capiztahan 2026 marked the 125th anniversary of Capiz’s civil government, with festivities opening in December 2025 and the main week running April 13 to 19, 2026. Governor Fredenil H. Castro’s administration trimmed the festival budget by about 10 million pesos from an initial 54 million because of a fuel price spike linked to conflict in the Middle East.
That cut had a direct effect on the program. The float parade competition, normally part of Maragtas sang Capisnon, was scrapped for 2026. In its place, the festival’s Saturday highlight shifted to Maragtas sang Capisnon Cultural Performances staged by the 16 municipalities and Roxas City. Core events, including Surambaw and Saot Capiz, still went ahead as a scaled-down but complete celebration.
Tip
Check the current year’s official Capiztahan announcements before booking travel. Recent editions show the province adjusts scale and specific event days based on budget conditions, even though the mid-April, founding-day timing stays consistent.
Getting to Roxas City
Roxas City has its own domestic airport, Roxas Airport, served by direct flights from Manila on Cebu Pacific, AirAsia Philippines and Philippine Airlines. The flight takes about one hour to one hour and fifteen minutes, and Manila is currently the only route serving the airport. During festival week, expect heavier traffic near the New Provincial Capitol Grounds in Pueblo de Panay, the main venue for opening ceremonies and cultural performances.
Discovering Capiz Beyond the Festival
Capiztahan is a good reason to explore the wider province, a corner of Western Visayas rich in nature, faith and history.
- Roxas City’s seafood markets, where the day’s catch is sold fresh and cooked to order.
- Centuries-old stone churches reflecting Capiz’s Catholic heritage.
- Quiet beaches and islands along the coast.
- Rivers and mangroves that support the province’s aquaculture industry.
- Local delicacies built around fresh oysters, crabs and other seafood.
Tips for Visiting Capiztahan
A little planning goes a long way toward enjoying the festival in full.
- Visit around April 15 to catch the founding-anniversary highlights and main cultural performances.
- Come hungry. The Surambaw seafood feast is the heart of the celebration.
- Book accommodation early, since Roxas City draws crowds during festival week.
- Watch the Maragtas sang Capisnon parade or cultural performance, the festival’s historical centerpiece.
- Set aside time to explore beyond the city, from seafood markets to historic churches.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Capiztahan mean?
Capiztahan blends Capiz with kapistahan, the Filipino word for festivities. It marks the province’s founding anniversary each April in Roxas City.
When and where is Capiztahan held?
Capiztahan runs for about a week in mid-April, centered on April 15, in Roxas City, the capital of Capiz province in Western Visayas. The 2026 edition ran April 13 to 19.
What does the festival commemorate?
It marks the founding of Capiz province under Act No. 115 on April 15, 1901, and honors President Manuel A. Roxas, a native son who died on the same date in 1948.
Why is Capiz famous for seafood?
Capiz holds the title Seafood Capital of the Philippines because of its rich fishing grounds and aquaculture. The Surambaw feast during Capiztahan showcases that bounty.
What happened at Capiztahan 2026?
Capiztahan 2026 marked the 125th anniversary, or quasquicentennial, of Capiz’s civil government. The provincial government scaled it down and cancelled the float parade competition because of a fuel price spike, though core events like Maragtas sang Capisnon and Surambaw still ran.
Conclusion
Capiztahan endures because it does two things at once: it honors a specific founding date and a specific president, and it hands the whole province a week to show off its food and culture.
Even a scaled-down year like 2026 kept the parades, the folk dance competition and the seafood feast intact. If Capiztahan has you looking at more of the region’s calendar, the Capiz Sinadya Festival is another provincial celebration worth planning around, and our festivals in the Philippines guide maps out what else is worth catching across Things to Do in the Festivals calendar.
