A total of 369 climbers from all over the country will compete for gold, glory, and a chance to be part of the Philippine team as the 2026 Philippine National Championships unfold over the next two weekends in the capital region.

The climbing nationals, set to be held in Quezon City and Mandaluyong City, is the country’s largest and most prestigious competition climbing event sanctioned by the Pilipinas Climbing Inc. (PCI) – the official national governing body for competitive climbing in the Philippines.

This year’s tournament will feature two of the three climbing disciplines: Boulder, scheduled on June 20 and 21 at Boulder Space (Quezon City); and Lead, happening on June 27 and 28 at Climb Central Manila (Mandaluyong City). 

Each discipline comprises four distinct divisions – three according to level of expertise (novice, challenger, and elite), and an age-based ‘masters’ category – with each division divided into men’s and women’s categories.

BOULDER EVENT

The boulder discipline, according to PCI’s event briefer, is a much larger competition compared to lead, as it is set to host a total of 300 competitors who will take turns in trying to finish – or send, in technical climbing terms – boulder problems.

The venue that will be used for the boulder event (Boulder Space) is also by far considered the biggest climbing gym in the country in terms of floor area, featuring a 1,250-sq.m. facility.

There are 83 female, and 217 male competitors registered in the boulder discipline.

Reigning bouldering champion John Joseph Veloria is set to defend his title in a highly competitive elite men’s division, which will also feature fellow 2025 podium finishers Iman Mora of Cagayan de Oro, and Paul Suson of Cebu.

In a cut-throat elite women’s division, Manila-born and US-based young phenom Praj dela Cruz has travelled back to the Philippines as she vies for her second consecutive championship. Last year’s medalists Lissa Vidal (Cebu) and Yca Dizon are also competing in the event. 

LEAD EVENT

The national games for lead, meanwhile, will take place on June 27 and 28, a week after the boulder event. It will be held at an all-around climbing facility in Mandaluyong.

A total of 144 climbers will contend for medals in the said discipline, of which 46 are female and 66 are male.

This year’s lead competition will not be having a back-to-back elite male titleholder as last year’s champion and CDO native Mora won’t be competing in his signature event, though fellow 2025 medalists Veloria and Ylo Dizon are set to see action. 

Cebuana reigning women’s national champion Vidal, silver medalist Joanne Ala of Iloilo, and bronze finisher Yca Dizon are all part of this year’s lead event.