Preparations for the Jesus Nazareno 2026 have gone underway for churches based in the regions as the country soon observes the massively anticipated Feast this Friday.

A church in Laoag, per a Tuesday morning report on Unang Balita, has begun prepping the Nazareno replica that will be used for the community ‘pahalik’ and traslacion. The chapel that will host visiting devotees has also been cleaned up in anticipation of a sizable crowd.

The Cathedral Shine and Parish of St. Joseph in Bataan (known as the St. Joseph or Balanga Cathedral) has opened its doors to devotees for the Pahalik, the traditional gesture of kissing the Jesus Nazareno image in honor and for blessing.

The Nuestra Señora de la Annunciata Parish Church in Antipolo, Rizal already unveiled the image of Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno del Senor Agnus Dei on its first day of Misa Nobenaryo (novena mass) last December 31, and will conclude with a procession on January 9. 

The original life-sized dark statue of Jesus Nazareno is housed in the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno (popularly known as the Quiapo Church). 

It hosts the largest annual traslación– the procession of the image of Jesus Nazareno along the streets of Manila to commemorate its passage from Intramuros to Quiapo– which attracts millions of Catholic devotees.

Over 8 million Catholic devotees attended what turned out to be one of the longest traslacións in recent memory last year.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) through a GMA Integrated News report, a "cumulative estimate of 8,093,650 people" took part during the 2025 procession from the Quirino Grandstand all the way to Quiapo Church.

In 2024, approximately 6.5 million Catholics flocked to Manila to join the religious celebration, according to Quiapo Church’s estimate. 

(with information from a report by Joviland Rita/GMA News Online)