Millions of Filipino Catholic devotees are expected to join the January 9, 2026 Black Nazarene procession, with organizers at Quiapo Church already anticipating a turnout bigger than previous records.
The Filipinos’ immense show of faith for the spiritual icon will surpass any religious or political event and highlight the nation’s enduring unity and devotion to the Black Nazarene, they said.
Ahead of the January 9 Traslacion, several million more devotees from across the Philippines are likely to attend the first-ever National Balangay Conference on November 26, organized by the Quiapo Church.
Fr. Ramon Jade Licuanan, rector of the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno, said the conference aims to strengthen the faith of participants and deepen their devotion.
“It seeks to bring together devotees from various communities to further deepen their faith in God through devotion to Jesus Nazareno,” Licuanan said. The one-day gathering will be held at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The anticipated turnout, historically reaching more than two million, continues to affirm the unity of Filipinos through their shared devotion to God and love of country.
Balangays are small faith communities formed by Nazarene devotees. Each group carries a distinctive maroon or yellow Roman-style banner, or ‘istandarte,’ marked with the image of the Black Nazarene and the group’s place of origin.
The basilica currently has around 600 registered balangays nationwide, with nearly 13,000 active members.
Mark Joseph Verdadero, head of the basilica’s Hijos del Nazareno Affairs Office, said the conference builds on ongoing diocesan pilgrimages in preparation for the Traslacion. He noted that the gathering will help devotees better understand their mission, roles, and responsibilities during the feast.
“The goal of the conference is for every balangay and devotee to understand their responsibilities during the feast and to deepen their knowledge of the Church’s catechism on the devotion to Jesus Nazareno,” Verdadero said.
This year’s conference theme, “Maria, maging huwaran ng bawat deboto, inspirasyon tungo sa pagiging misyonerong disipulo (Mary, be an example to every devotee, an inspiration toward becoming missionary disciples),” aligns with the broader theme for Nazareno 2026.
The event highlights the Blessed Virgin Mary as a model of humility and discipleship for all devotees.
For decades, the annual ‘Black Nazarene’ procession held a place in the Filipino cultural zeitgeist, drawing millions to the Quiapo Church in Manila. In 2025, over 8.1 million devotees participated, surpassing the previous year’s records, making one of the largest turnouts in its history.
