As the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Tourism Forum opened, SM Hotels announced on Thursday, 29 January 2026 that the SMX Convention Center in Cebu City will officially open in the third quarter of 2026.

“Cebu has always been one of the most in-demand destinations for events, and we are proud to finally bring SMX’s trusted brand of service to this dynamic market. It’s the culmination of more than two decades of experience in delivering professional and high-impact events,” said Walid Wafik, Senior Vice President for Operations of SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC).

Located along Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR), the Php3.3 billion landmark project will offer over 21,000 square meters of leasable event space, setting a new benchmark for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) facilities in the country.

With scalable halls, professional support services, and world-class amenities, the venue will provide organizers the capacity, flexibility, and convenience needed to host world-class events of up to 18,000 delegates.

Internationally recognized as a premier convention center in the Philippines, SMX has earned a reputation for professionally managed spaces tailored to large-scale exhibitions, conferences, corporate events, and celebrations.

The Cebu SMX Convention Center will rise beside SM Seaside City Cebu, offering direct connectivity to major lifestyle, retail, and hospitality hubs, as well as convenient access to the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) and Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA).

It will form part of a master-planned development that includes a 300-room Park Inn Hotel, a 200-room Radisson Hotel, and the 16,000-seat SM Seaside Arena, reinforcing Cebu as a complete, integrated MICE and entertainment destination.

“This is our response to the long-standing demand for a convention venue of this scale in Cebu. Soon, Cebuanos and visiting delegates alike will no longer need to fly to Manila for major exhibitions, summits, or concerts—the experience will be right here,” Wafik added.

SMX Convention Center (SMXCC) is the flagship convention center brand under SM Hotels and Conventions Corp., a subsidiary of SM Prime Holdings.