Ayala Malls Gatewalk to open in Mandaue City this December, anchored by IKEA's first Visayas store

Cebu is getting a brand-new destination for shoppers, families, and travelers.

Ayala Malls Gatewalk will open in Mandaue City on December 16, 2026, bringing a new kind of mall experience to Cebu. Anchoring the development is IKEA‘s first store in the Visayas, marking the Swedish home furnishing retailer’s first store in Cebu and the wider Visayas region.

Gatewalk reflects our belief in Mandaue City, and its continued transformation into a dynamic, flourishing integrated urban center.

Mariana Zobel de Ayala

Senior Vice President for Leasing and Hospitality, Ayala Land

This is more than another shopping center. Ayala Land envisions Ayala Malls Gatewalk as a lifestyle destination built for wandering, gathering, and discovery—a place where errands and days out happily collide.

“Envisioned as the capital of fun and flavor, Ayala Malls Gatewalk will offer a fresh and distinctive experience for Cebuano families, local visitors, and international tourists alike,” said Meean Dy, Ayala Land President and CEO. “This is a new footprint for Ayala Malls. One that will help define the character of the estate around it and set a new benchmark for what a lifestyle destination can be.”

A mall designed to surprise

Ayala Malls Gatewalk leans into play, a formula less explored by traditional retail developments. Paul Birkett, Ayala Malls Chief Operating Officer, described the destination as having a “bigger sense of fun than the usual mall,” and one of the most playful mall experiences Ayala Malls has built, a space meant to make people look up, linger longer, and come back with friends.

Three standout features set the tone.

The ARTrium at the main entrance greets visitors with digital art that brings color, movement, and a real sense of arrival.

At the heart of the mall, the main Corte hosts a Giant Whale Shark (Butanding) Slide, a playful nod to Cebu’s beloved gentle giants and an instant draw for kids and the young at heart.

Hungry shoppers, meanwhile, can head to a bi-level Food Hall that gathers local favorites and global flavors under one roof.

Together, these spaces signal a clear intent: to create a destination where shopping, dining, and entertainment come together in ways that feel more open, unexpected, and centered on discovery.

IKEA arrives in the Visayas

The mall’s biggest headline is its flagship anchor. IKEA will open its first store in the Visayas at Ayala Malls Gatewalk, marking its first store in Cebu and the Visayas.

The store will span roughly 4,000 square meters and adopt IKEA’s new compact format—one of the first of its kind globally. Shoppers will have access to IKEA’s complete range of around 8,500 products, with approximately 2,500 available to take home right away.

Visitors can also explore 41 room displays showcasing practical and affordable ideas for kitchens, bedrooms, living rooms, and other spaces. And yes, the much-loved IKEA meatballs will be part of the experience.

For IKEA, the choice of Mandaue was an easy one. Cebu’s strong home and design culture, along with growing regional demand, made it a natural choice for expansion.

“When we look at our digital store, we know the biggest potential we have today outside Metro Manila is Cebu and Mandaue City,” said Ricardo Pinheiro, IKEA Philippines Country Retail Manager.

He added that customers across the region had been asking the brand to open locally through social media and other channels.

A boost for the region

Beyond the showrooms and slides, Ayala Malls Gatewalk carries real economic weight.

The IKEA store alone is expected to create around 100 jobs—50 within the company and another 50 through partner service providers—while supporting retail activity and consumer spending across Central Visayas.

For Ayala Land, the project reflects lasting confidence in Cebu as a regional hub and in Mandaue City’s continued transformation into a vibrant urban center.

Come December, families across the Visayas will gain a new destination to shop, dine, explore, and experience IKEA’s first store in the region.

See more moments through our full coverage on CDN Digital Facebook.