Cebu is polishing its spotlight and clearing its calendar. A global superstar may soon be penciled in.
Property heavyweight SM Prime Holdings wants the formal launch of the SM Seaside Cebu Arena to come with serious wattage. The company is lining up an international headliner to christen the venue and, in the process, plant Cebu’s flag as the events capital of the Visayas.
SM Prime president Jeffrey Lim shared that the arena could open with a homegrown act first. Consider it a soft opening with local flair. The real fireworks, however, are being reserved for a bigger launch powered by a foreign artist whose name would travel well beyond Philippine shores.
Booking global talent is not like reserving a karaoke room. A-list schedules are plotted months, sometimes years ahead. Lim admitted the calendar chess game is real, but preparations for the arena itself are on track. The focus now is to have everything ready for its scheduled opening, while conversations with international performers continue behind the scenes.
The company has run this play before, and run it well.
When SM Mall of Asia Arena opened in 2012, it did so with a two-night spectacle by Lady Gaga. Since then, the venue has hosted arena royalty such as Taylor Swift, BTS, BLACKPINK and Madonna. Manila became a mandatory tour stop.
Cebu now wants in on that itinerary.
Momentum is already humming. Forum Stage has announced a July performance at the new arena, an early signal that promoters are circling.
Still, SM Prime is aiming higher for the formal unveiling. The headline act needs to be global, memorable and selfie worthy.
This is more than a concert for Cebu. It is a statement. A world-class arena means fewer flights to Manila for Visayas-based fans and more flights into Cebu for everyone else. Hotels fill up. Restaurants extend hours. Ride-hailing apps glow red with surge pricing. The economic ripple effect can be as loud as the encore.
SM Prime is betting that when the right international artist finally steps onto that stage, the message will be unmistakable. Cebu is not just a beach getaway or a business hub. It is ready to host the biggest names in entertainment and keep the applause echoing across the region.
The only question left is whose name will light up the marquee. In the arena business, that name can change a city’s tempo overnight.
