What happened to Manila's reputation as a concert hotspot?

When it comes to concerts, whether international acts or K-pop, Manila has long been known for having one of the best crowds. The energy, passion, and unwavering support of Filipino fans are always felt by the artists. Because of this, many performers have expressed their love for the country and consistently included Manila in their tour stops.

But why is the promise of “Babalik kami” no longer fulfilled? Why is the location “Manila” missing from so many tour announcements? And why does seeing fans’ favorite artists now seem almost impossible in the Philippines?

At first, fans thought it was pretty normal.

One group not having a Manila stop? It’s okay.

Another one? I guess, it’s not a big deal.

But, another… and another… no Manila… again? Something’s not right!

In 2026, several artists notably left the Philippines off the list of stops for their world tours. These include South Korean boy groups BigBang, NCT 127, Stray Kids, and ENHYPEN, as well as girl groups NMIXX, ILLIT, and soloist Irene. Additionally, Canadian singer-songwriter The Weeknd has also skipped Manila in his tour.

Among the biggest surprises for fans was Sandara Park’s Fancon Asia Tour, which did not include Manila. Park, affectionately known as the “Pambansang Krung Krung,” spent years building her career in the Philippines as both a singer and actress, making many Filipinos love her.

The situation sparked online discussions from fans about what went wrong that led to the omission.

‘Oh, tax…’

One of the major reasons pointed out by Filipino fans is the supposed 30 percent amusement tax on gross ticket sales. They argue that after this deduction, only 70 percent of ticket revenues remain to be shared among the concert promoter, artist, venue, and other stakeholders.

With that, fans often compare the Philippines with Bangkok, where concerts are generally subject to Thailand’s seven percent VAT.

However, the 30 percent amusement tax is still based on the old Section 140 of Republic Act No. 7160, or ‘The Local Government Code of 1991.’ In 2009, the provision was amended to read:

“SEC. 140. Amusement Tax. (a) The province may levy an amusement tax to be collected from the proprietors, lessees, or operators of theaters, cinemas, concert halls, circuses, boxing stadia, and other places of amusement at a rate of not more than ten percent (10%) of the gross receipts from admission fees.”

The country’s amusement tax has been capped off to 10% from the previous 30%.

Some fans on X (formerly Twitter) argued that Manila’s omission from several tour announcements cannot be attributed solely to the amusement tax. Instead, they pointed to other possible factors, such as the 25% final withholding tax imposed on the gross income of foreign artists performing in the country, or the possibility that demand for global artists in the Philippines has declined.

Gone familiarity

The reason behind the growing number of artists skipping the Philippines has not been officially confirmed. However, whether fans’ speculations prove to be true or not, it does not change the disappointment and sadness many feel over seeing their favorite artists leave Manila off their tour schedules.

The once-favored and beloved country by artists has long been forgotten for reasons fans do not know. Until then, they continue to hope to see them again and feel the familiarity they once felt before.

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