The 2023 edition of the world-renowned Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City will be the “biggest and grandest ever,” according to Mayor Jerry Treñas.

The city government will return face-to-face activities for the celebration of the festival in January next year.

“It will surpass all celebrations,” Treñas said in a statement.

“The Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI), city government, participating tribes, and all our private sponsors will make sure that Dinagyang 2023 will institutionalize our title as ‘the best festival in the Philippines’,” the mayor assured.

Last week, the 52nd Dinagyang Festival was hailed as the “Best Tourism Event (Contemporary/Non-Traditional Expression category)” in the country by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines Inc. (ATOP).

“I think the impact would be a further promotion for Iloilo City and will spark the interest, especially of those who haven’t experienced the Dinagyang Festival, to visit and experience the festival. We are hoping that it will be promoted more in the Philippines and outside the country,” Joyce Clavecillas, IFFI executive director, said in a report by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

The Dinagyang Festival 2023 will officially kick off on Jan. 13, with highlights set on January 20-22.IMT