The Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu (BMSN) has revealed significant schedule modifications for the upcoming 461st Fiesta Señor celebration in January 2026, aiming to provide devotees with extended opportunities for veneration and participation.
Key Changes to Traditional Processions
In a major departure from tradition, the Walk with Mary procession will shift from its usual Friday schedule to Thursday, January 15, 2026. This change initiates a revised sequence of events for the beloved religious celebration.
Following the Walk with Mary, the Santo Niño image will undertake an overnight stay at St. Joseph National Shrine in Mandaue City. The holy image will then proceed to Nuestra Senora de Regla Shrine in Lapu-Lapu City on Friday, January 16, for another overnight vigil.
Extended Veneration Time for Devotees
According to BSMN media liaison Fr. Jules Van Villa Almerez, OSA, the adjustments directly address challenges observed during previous celebrations. The priest explained that under the traditional schedule, devotees in Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu cities faced limited opportunities to approach the sacred image.
"Daghan kayo ang dili makaduol sa imahen. Daghan kayo ang dili makahalok (Many are unable to approach the image. Many are unable to kiss it)," Almerez stated during a press conference on Thursday, November 13, 2025.
The previous tight schedule allowed only brief veneration periods, often ending around 11 p.m. or midnight in Mandaue City, with transfers to Lapu-Lapu occurring between 12:30 a.m. and 1:30 a.m.
Complete 2026 Fiesta Señor Schedule
The seaborne procession will now take place on the early morning of Saturday, January 17, followed by the solemn procession in the afternoon and the Visperas Mass in the evening.
The novena masses will span from January 8 to 16, culminating in the fiesta day celebration on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
These strategic changes result from careful coordination with partner agencies and are designed to maintain order while ensuring that devotees from Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and adjacent towns have adequate time for reflection and participation in the sacred activities.
