Philippine International Convention Center’s refreshed plenary hall. Photo Credit: PICC
The Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) has reopened after a major refurbishment as it gears up to host the 2026 ASEAN Summit.
Located in Manila, the venue first opened in 1976 with the IMF-World Bank meeting and has since been designated a National Cultural Treasure. The recent restoration aimed to preserve the vision of its designer, National Artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin, while modernising facilities to meet today’s event standards. Its Brutalist exterior of concrete blocks remains intact, while interiors have been refreshed and upgraded.
Key enhancements include a refreshed lobby with new lighting, upgraded meeting rooms fitted with LED screens and walls, a refurbished plenary hall with new seating, and a redesigned outdoor courtyard featuring modern lighting and an advanced audio system.
Philippine president Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. formally reopened the centre at the end of September, describing the PICC as a reflection of the nation’s milestones and its aspirations.
“As we open the newly renovated Philippine International Convention Center, we are revisiting a chapter of our nation’s history. We are gathered in a place where history was written, lives were celebrated, where the future will once again be shaped,” he said.
The ASEAN Summit, last hosted by the Philippines in 2017, will return in 2026.