UAAP Season 88 was the 2025–26 season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). It was hosted by the University of Santo Tomas (UST) under the theme "Strength in Motion, Hope in Action". The opening ceremony was held on September 19, 2025.
To accommodate the availability of student-athletes participating in the 2025 SEA Games, multiple sports were rescheduled, either starting earlier or outright moving to the second semester calendar including judo and taekwondo. The league also expanded its set of events, reintroducing the boys' division for baseball and debuting the boys' tournament for tennis.
After debuting as demonstration sports in Season 87, rapid chess was dropped from the calendar while blitz chess was elevated to regular sport status, meaning it would contribute to the general championship tally, the first sport added since 3x3 basketball in Season 82.
The league also introduced girls' kyorugi and high school poomsae as demonstration sports to the taekwondo tournament while golf debuted as a demonstration sport in both collegiate divisions for the first time. Along with the introduction of multiple new events this season, the UAAP also reintroduced streetdance as a stand-alone event independent of the closing ceremony and attracted a crowd of 4,515.
This season officially expanded the league calendar from 31 medal events in the collegiate division to 33, and from 24 to 27 in the high school, while adding one new special event to the collegiate division and three demonstration events to the high school ranks.
Opening ceremony The opening ceremony of the UAAP Season 88 was held at the University of Santo Tomas main campus in España, Sampaloc, Manila on September 19, 2025 in an event attended by 36,629 spectators.
The ceremonies were intended to rival the university's own trademark Paskuhan event and was held stand-alone independent of the opening gameday for the basketball tournament which was held the following day at the Quadricentennial Pavilion. This set-up was implemented during the last time UST hosted back in Season 79 in 2016.
A symbolic cauldron lighting featuring the school's UAAP alumni including Olympian EJ Obiena of athletics, Sisi Rondina of volleyball, Jervy Cruz of basketball, and Sydney Sy of judo served as the event's opening, followed by a parade of all eight universities featuring their student athletes. Musician alumni from the university including Kean Cipriano and Sarah Geronimo also performed before the closing concert which was headlined by artists Rob Deniel, Earl Agustin, and Lola Amour.
These ceremonies succeeded the Eraserheads-bannered opening ceremony hosted by the University of the Philippines in Season 87.
Broadcasting This is the fifth consecutive season of the UAAP's broadcast partnership with Cignal TV and the last under a five-year deal. On June 30, 2025, the two parties agreed to a renewal, extending Cignal's broadcast rights by another five years up to Season 93 in 2030–31.
Selected qualifying round team ties in Badminton were streamed through Pilipinas Live for the first time this season. Moreover, the final team ties in Table Tennis were also streamed for the first time since 2023.
Sports calendar First semester Event(Division) Event Sub-Host Duration Venue/s Opening Ceremony University of Santo Tomas Sep 19, 2025 Basketball University of Santo Tomas Sep 20 – Dec 17, 2025 Football University of the Philippines Sep 20 – Nov 16, 2025 Volleyball Far Eastern University Sep 21 – Dec 14, 2025 Chess (Standard) Adamson University Sep 28 – Oct 19, 2025 Badminton National University Oct 11–22, 2025 Athletics Ateneo de Manila University Nov 6–9, 2025 Swimming Ateneo de Manila University Nov 6–9, 2025 Table Tennis University of the Philippines Nov 15–21, 2025 Beach Volleyball National University Nov 21–30, 2025 Sands at SM by the Bay Cheerdance Ateneo de Manila University Nov 29, 2025
Second semester Event(Division) Event Sub-Host Duration Venue/s Baseball Adamson University Jan 7 – Feb 23, 2026 Basketball Far Eastern University Jan 11 – Mar 30, 2026 Football University of the Philippines Jan 15 – Apr 10, 2026 Beach Volleyball National University Feb 13 – 22, 2026 Sands at SM by the Bay Volleyball University of Santo Tomas Feb 14 – May 9, 2026 Tennis Ateneo de Manila University Feb 14 – Mar 29, 2026 Colegio San Agustin - Bulacan Tennis Court Softball Adamson University Feb 24 – Apr 10, 2026 Baseball Adamson University Feb 25 – Apr 21, 2026 Fencing University of the East Mar 13–16, 2026 Makati Coliseum Chess (Blitz) Adamson University Apr 10–12, 2026 Adamson University Gym Judo University of the East Apr 11–12, 2026 Rizal Memorial Coliseum Taekwondo (Poomsae) De La Salle University Apr 21, 2026 Rizal Memorial Coliseum Taekwondo (Kyorugi) De La Salle University Apr 21–24, 2026 Rizal Memorial Coliseum 3x3 Basketball De La Salle University Apr 27 – May 3, 2026 Ayala Malls Manila Bay Streetdance Ateneo de Manila University May 3, 2026 Blue Eagle Gym Golf De La Salle University May 11–14, 2026 Tagaytay Midlands Golf Club Closing Ceremony University of Santo Tomas May 15, 2026 Quadricentennial Pavilion Esports Aug 16 – Sept 7, 2026 MVP Studios
Basketball The UAAP basketball championships began on September 20, 2025 for the men's and 16-and-under tournament, and on September 24 for the women's tournament.
The 19U boys' and 19U girls' tournaments began on January 11, 2026.
Men's tournament Elimination round
Playoffs
Awards
Women's tournament Elimination round
Playoffs
Awards
19U boys' tournament Elimination round
Playoffs
19U girls' tournament Elimination round
Finals
16U boys' tournament Elimination round
Playoffs
Awards
Football
The UAAP football championships for the collegiate women's division will begin on September 20, 2025, while the collegiate men's division will start on September 21, 2025. The opening week will kick off at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub with the rest of the schedule continuing at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
In a unique move for this season, the league will play the first round of eliminations until October, while the second round will continue until November, before resuming in January of the next year to give way for the national teams at the 2025 SEA Games and 2025 FIFA Women's Futsal World Cup.
Men's tournament Elimination round
Playoffs
Awards
Women's tournament Elimination round
Finals
Awards
Boys' tournament Elimination round
Playoffs
Awards Most Valuable Player: Rookie of the Year: Golden Boot: Best Striker: Best Midfielder: Best Defender: Best Goalkeeper: Fair Play Award:
Volleyball
Men's tournament Elimination round
Playoffs
Awards
Women's tournament Elimination round
Playoffs
Awards
Boys' tournament Elimination round
Playoffs
Awards
Girls' tournament Elimination round
Playoffs
Awards
Chess The UAAP chess championships held two separate events as regular sports for the first time with standard chess starting on September 28, 2025 and blitz chess on April 10, 2026. The tournament venue was the Adamson University Gym in Manila.
Standard Men's tournament Team standings
Awards Most Valuable Player: Rookie of the Year:
Women's tournament Team standings
Awards Most Valuable Player: Rookie of the Year:
Boys' tournament Team standings
Awards Most Valuable Player: Rookie of the Year:
Girls' tournament Team standings
Awards Most Valuable Player: Rookie of the Year:
Blitz Men's tournament Team standings
Bracket
Awards Most Valuable Player: Rookie of the Year:
Women's tournament Team standings
Bracket
Awards Most Valuable Player: Rookie of the Year:
Boys' tournament Team standings
Finals
Awards Most Valuable Player: Rookie of the Year:
Girls' tournament Team standings
Bracket
Awards Most Valuable Player: Rookie of the Year:
Badminton The UAAP badminton championships began on October 11, 2024. The tournament venue is the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall in Manila. This is also the first badminton season to have all game days be televised.
Men's tournament Elimination round Team standings
Match-up results
Scores
Fourth seed playoffs
Playoff stage 1
Playoff stage 2
Bracket
Semifinals Ateneo secured its fourth-straight finals berth, spoiling La Salle's first semifinal appearance in six years. NU was eliminated from finals contention for the first time in 15 years while UP advanced to the finals for the first time in seven years.
Third place playoff
Finals Ateneo won its sixth championship following their fifth-straight finals appearance while UP clinched its first silver medal in their first finals appearance since Season 81. This is the first time both teams have faced each other in the finals.
Awards Most Valuable Player: Rookie of the Year: and
Women's tournament Elimination round Team standings
Match-up results
Scores
Fourth seed playoffs
Playoff stage 1
Playoff stage 2
Bracket
Semifinals Ateneo advanced to its fifth-straight finals while NU clinched its first-ever finals berth, eliminating defending champion UP from contention.
Third place playoff
Finals Ateneo won their ninth championship and their fifth in six seasons while NU finished with their first-ever silver medal in their first finals appearance.
Awards Most Valuable Player: Rookie of the Year: and
Athletics Pos. Pts. 1st 15 2nd 12 3rd 10 4th 8 5th 6 6th 4 7th 2 8th 1
The UAAP athletics championships were held from November 6–9, 2025 at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.
Originally scheduled to run until November 10, due to the Super Typhoon Uwan, the third and fourth days were condensed while the fifth day of competition was moved forward to the fourth day, with all track events having their heats serve as direct final events.
Ranking is determined by a point system, similar to that of the overall championship. The points given are based on the athlete's/team's finish in the finals of an event, which include only the top eight finishers from the preliminaries. The gold medalist(s) receive 15 points, silver gets 12, bronze has 10. The following points: 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 are given to the rest of the participating athletes/teams according to their order of finish.
Men's tournament Team standings Rank Team Medals PointsTotal 3.5 4 9 16.5 298.5 5 6 1 12 272.25 3 2 8 13 213.254 5 3 2 10 2055 (H) 4 4 1 9 1506 1 2.5 1 4.5 90.257 1 1 0.5 2.5 708 1 1 1 3 52.25
Awards Most Valuable Player: and Rookie of the Year:
Women's tournament Team standings Rank Team Medals PointsTotal 8 5 8 21 373.5 5 3 3 11 242 5 4 3 12 217.754 1 6 2 9 1845 2 2 4.5 8.5 175.756 1 1.5 2 4.5 837 1.5 2 1 4.5 62.58 (H) 0 0 0 0 15
Awards Most Valuable Player: Rookie of the Year:
Boys' tournament Team standings Rank Team Medals Points Total 0 0 0 0 388.5 0 0 0 0 311 0 0 0 0 3054 0 0 0 0 2205 0 0 0 0 366 (H) 0 0 0 0 18
Awards Most Valuable Player:
Girls' tournament Team standings Rank Team Medals Points Total 0 0 0 0 457 0 0 0 0 446.5 0 0 0 0 3874 0 0 0 0 85 (H) 0 0 0 0 0
Awards Most Valuable Player: Rookie of the Year:
Medalists Men's