Dates: October 27 to 29, 2026
Venue: Quezon City M.I.C.E (Meeting, Incentives, Convention, and Exhibition) Center and at the Quezon Memorial Circle, Metro Manila, Philippines
The ASEAN Civil Society Conference / ASEAN People’s Forum (ACSC/APF 2026) is the broadest and most inclusive gathering of civil society organizations, grassroots groups, and people’s movements in Southeast Asia. It serves as a platform where local, national, and regional concerns are brought together and explored at the regional level, fostering collaboration, coordination, and solidarity. With the breadth and diversity of communities involved.
ACSC/APF plays an important role in representing, strengthening, and amplifying the voices and aspirations of ASEAN peoples across the region and in advancing an alternative regionalism.
In response to the realities and challenges faced by peoples across Southeast Asia, this year’s ACSC/APF carries the theme “Resist Business-as-Usual: Disrupt, Reclaim, Rebuild.” The theme will be explored in-depth and through an intersectional lens across multiple convergence spaces and thematic focus areas. These spaces are designed for organizations, groups, and networks working on interconnected issues to come together, exchange experiences, identify shared concerns, and collectively develop initiatives and campaigns that can advance the rights and welfare of peoples across the region.
Collectively organizing this big gathering are the National Organizing Committees of Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines (host for 2026), Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam, together with the Regional Caucus.
As peoples across Southeast Asia continue to face growing challenges to their rights, livelihoods, welfare, their communities, and their voice, now is the time to come together, build solidarity, and strengthen our collective power.
Let us resist business-as-usual, reclaim our rights and our future, and rebuild a region where people—not profit and power—are at the center. Join us in the collective fight for a more just, democratic, inclusive, and people-centered Southeast Asia.
Register for the ACSC/APF 2026 and be part of the movement!
Here is the registration form for individuals and organizations to participate in the APF/ACSC 2026 news from the Phil NOC:
IMPORTANT NOTE: The PH NOC would like to humbly request each participant for a 20 USD registration fee. The registration fees will be allocated for setting up booths/tents, food preparations and other logistical requirements. For those organizations whose proposed Convergence Space activities have been approved by the Regional Steering Committee, a registration fee of 150 USD for holding each activity will be requested.
What is the ASEAN Civil Society Conference / ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (ACSC/APF)?
The ACSC/APF is Southeast Asia’s largest and most inclusive gathering of civil society organizations, grassroots groups, and peoples’ movements. Held annually alongside the ASEAN Summit, it brings together voices from all 11 ASEAN countries to share experiences, build solidarity, and advance people-centered solutions.
This 2026, the Philippines hosts the 21st ACSC/APF, bringing together civil society, people’s organizations, human rights defenders, workers, environmental advocates, academics, journalists, and communities from across the region.
Amid today’s crises—from climate change and economic insecurity to conflict, authoritarianism, digital repression, and shrinking civic spaces—ASEAN peoples are calling for more than business-as-usual.
The ACSC/APF seeks to amplify people’s voices, reclaim civic spaces, strengthen cross-movement solidarity, and advance a truly democratic and people-centered ASEAN.
Southeast Asia is facing shared challenges. Our response must be collective. Join the collective struggle for rights, dignity, justice, and welfare across Southeast Asia.
#ACSCAPF2026 #ResistBusinessAsUsual #DisruptReclaimRebuild
For updates follow: https://www.facebook.com/acscapfmalaysia/
Enclosed three photos from APF 2025 where ASEC hosted a side event in Malaysia on May 24, 2025 at Wisma MCA, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur
