About Kadayawan sa Dabaw
Kadayawan sa Dabaw is Davao City's thanksgiving festival, held through August and peaking on the third weekend. The name comes from the Dabawenyo greeting madayaw — good, valuable, beautiful — and the festival gives thanks for a good harvest and for the eleven ethnolinguistic tribes who share the city. The countdown above tracks the days until the grand weekend.
Two events define it. Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan sends thousands of dancers in tribal-inspired costume down the main roads in a street-dance competition that takes hours to pass a single corner. Pamulak sa Kadayawan follows with floats buried under orchids, waling-waling and fruit — Davao is the country's orchid and durian capital, and both show up in force. Around them run the Hiyas sa Kadayawan pageant, tribal village exhibits, a fluvial parade and a food fair where durian is unavoidable.
The full programme usually opens in the first week of August and runs to the end of the month, with the city announcing exact dates each year. This page counts down to the grand weekend, when the street dance and float parade take over Davao.
Upcoming dates
| 2027 | Sunday, August 15, 2027next |
| 2028 | Sunday, August 20, 2028 |
| 2029 | Sunday, August 19, 2029 |
| 2030 | Sunday, August 18, 2030 |
| 2031 | Sunday, August 17, 2031 |
FAQ
When is the Kadayawan Festival?
Through August each year in Davao City, with the main Indak-Indak street dance and Pamulak float parade on the third weekend. The city confirms exact dates a few months ahead.
What does Kadayawan mean?
It comes from madayaw, a Dabawenyo word meaning good, valuable or beautiful — used as a friendly greeting and as thanks for a bountiful year.
What happens at Kadayawan?
Street dancing in tribal-inspired costume, floral floats, the Hiyas sa Kadayawan pageant, tribal village exhibits, a fluvial parade and a fruit festival built around durian and orchids.
Which tribes does the festival honour?
The eleven ethnolinguistic groups of Davao — the Ata, Bagobo Klata, Bagobo Tagabawa, Iranun, Kagan, Maguindanaon, Maranao, Matigsalug, Obu Manuvu, Sama and Tausug.