August Sees Record 192 Events in Kuhaku Media Database
On average, 86 events are listed in the database each month, improved by an expanding network of organizers and regional community submissions. The 2026 database reflects this scope change: starting with a focus on the Greater Manila Area in January and officially expanding to nationwide coverage in July.
This August, a record 192 events were recorded in the database, breaking down into:
60 art conventions and markets
58 cosplay events
43 gaming-focused gatherings
25 cupsleeve and pop-up exhibits
Five specialty categories
One concert
The sudden uptick can be linked to two distinct patterns this month: the rapid rise of independent art and thrift markets, and a major retailer's nationwide Tech and Play Month campaign.
Matcha and the Arts
Despite a stark difference from Kuhaku Media's primary market of pop-culture and anime-themed events, the calendar lists matcha and thrift markets under its Arts category due to the presence of independent merchants and exhibitors at these gatherings.
As social media and influencers continue to promote the matcha lifestyle to global audiences, local events have popped up to serve this specific demographic. Organizers like Silk Events have launched initiatives such as The Brew and Whisk Club, which focuses on hosting small businesses with their own matcha-themed pop-up stalls.
Thrift and journaling events have also surged around the country, offering a creative escape for hobbyists. Groups like The Crafter's Marketplace have begun hosting journaling events in malls, selling trinkets, washi tape and journaling accessories.
SM Supermall's Push for Local Cosplay Events
With the country's largest shopping retailer hosting its annual Tech and Play Month expo this August, multiple SM malls partnered with local convention organizers to host their own cosplay and gaming events. A staggering 51 events recorded in August took place at an SM mall.
Malls not traditionally known for hosting pop-culture gatherings were suddenly added to the database as various branches nationwide hosted their own competitions and cosplay parades.
Posters for SM Tech and Play Month events partnered with local cosplay organizers such as Fundom Productions, Hobby Con, and SuperConPH.
The correlation between cosplay and the mall's Tech and Play Month theme highlights the rising hobbyist culture of gaming, content creation and tech. This naturally extends to cosplay, as many popular games feature characters that fans portray at offline events.
SM North EDSA in Quezon City, however, pushed particularly hard to cultivate local pop-culture events in northern Metro Manila with its Animazing North exhibits.
The mall alone hosted three separate major events this August: the One Piece and Kaiju No. 8 exhibits, alongside the broader Tech and Play Month expo.
Event Cancellations and the Southwest Monsoon
This August, organizers postponed or canceled multiple events due to the impacts of the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) across Luzon.
Twenty-one of the 192 events recorded in the database were canceled or postponed entirely, while two events, Komiket Fully Book (Aug. 29) and Jumino Island (Aug. 30) only postponed or canceled their schedules partially.
Six of the 21 affected events, however, were canceled or postponed due to operational reasons. Notably, Anime Fair conflicted with a Pororo event (which was also ultimately canceled due to inclement weather), and Recollex suspended its Sunday schedule due to the passing of one of its core members.
Organizers that postponed their events in August due to inclement weather have announced rescheduled dates for September and October.
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