The New Hue Community Games 2026: Same energy, bigger playground

Parañaque, Philippines – It’s not just a game anymore.

The New Hue Community Games 2026 came back louder, bigger, and a little more chaotic in the best way. What used to be one court turned into a full day of movement–OPM artists, creatives, and industry friends showing up not to perform, but to play.

Still Only in Black and White™. Still the same friendly rivalry. Just with more ways to run it back.

Hosted by Aiyana Perlas with Ella Regudo on courtside, National Anthem led by Pappel, and with beats by Katsy Lee, We Don’t Care UK, and Asianlinks keeping the energy up throughout the day, the whole run felt easy. 

Pickleball kicked things off. Team White wasted no time getting into rhythm, taking the inaugural finals behind Tim and Chen Sison, alongside Jezdale, TedMark, Loenna, and Noah Alejandre. Team Black–Keanna Mag, Rapha Ridao, Gab Fernandez, Gian Bernardino, Allen Hao, and Kenanaiah–kept it competitive, but White secured the early lead.

Basketball brought it back to where everything started. Team White looked in control early, stretching the lead to double digits. But Team Black doesn’t really do quiet losses. Icoy Rapadas, Matthios, Bok, Sam Marquez, Axel Sol, Bam Panaligan, Migo Valid, H, Pio Ligot, Elijah, and Amiel Sol slowly chipped away until it turned into a one-possession game. Last stretch, last push–Black takes it, 74-73. Migo Valid of Xerenade gets Basketball MVP.

Then volleyball. And suddenly, everything’s on the line.

Team Black rolled out Rapha Ridao, Keanna Mag, Kim Allen, H and M of The New Hue, Mix Fenix, Myc Priestly, Jan Roberts, Marielle Belleza, and Yuan. Team White answered with Janine Teñoso, Vlod, Coey Ballesteros, Bino, Rhodessa, Dwta, Chaws, Angela Ken, Justin De Dios, and Maki.

Four sets. Back and forth, but not for long. White gets one, but Black holds steady and closes it out. Game, set, overall championship. Marielle Belleza takes Volleyball MVP.

But honestly, the scores aren’t the point.

The Community Games still feels like what it’s always been–artists stepping out of “work mode” and just being around each other. No agenda. No pressure to create. Just playing, reconnecting, meeting people you’ve only seen online, or finally having time to talk without a deadline hanging over it.

Somewhere in the middle of all that, The New Hue also dropped the nominees for the Video Music Awards 2026. Different stage, same community. Just a different kind of spotlight.

Shoutout to Ayala Malls Manila Bay Homecourt, Globaltronics, Migrafix Prints, Apostello, and Brands 365, plus Owala, Jansport, The North Face, Vpop Live!, Mettacity, Sajang Chicken, Frankie’s, ATLAS Café, and TakeFive Matcha for backing the space and making it happen.

At the end of the day, the games end–but the community continues.

Same people you see on stage, now just sitting around, talking music, ideas, and what’s next.

Then the question comes up, like it always does—

“When’s the next one?”

See you at the VMAs this July.