Mark your calendars: The 2026 Digital Rights Asia-Pacific Assembly (DRAPAC) will hold its fourth edition from June 8 to 10, 2026 in Manila, Philippines!
The DRAPAC26 Assembly expounds on the previous year’s theme of collective digital futures and recenters its focus towards the movement’s co-creation of collective resources. Amidst shrinking civic spaces, diminishing resources, and digital governance that routinely sideline civil society and undermine fundamental rights, DRAPAC26 calls on all rights defenders, allies and stakeholders to work on building shared infrastructure for the future of our region’s digital rights movement.
Following Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship, DRAPAC26 also aims to take advantage of the Philippines’ role as the 2026 ASEAN chair to further the movement’s collaborative shaping of rights-based digital governance in Southeast Asia.
DRAPAC26 Manila is co-hosted by the Foundation for Media Alternatives, DAKILA Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism, and EngageMedia. DRAPAC26 Manila follows in the footsteps of the previous assemblies held in Kuala Lumpur (2025), which saw over 500 changemakers gather to discuss collaborative solutions to shared digital rights challenges, as well as Taipei (2024) and Chiang Mai (2023).
Centred on the theme, “Building the Commons: Scaling Collective Resources for Our Digital Futures”, DRAPAC26 Manila will feature:
- Two days (8-9 June) of plenaries, panel discussions, workshops, tech and report showcases, and more session formats.
- One day (10 June) dedicated to thematic workshops focused on co-creating shared infrastructure and collective resources, as well as side events led by partner organisations
Preparing for DRAPAC26 Manila
While awaiting the formal opening of session proposals and fellowship applications, here’s what you can do in preparation for June 2026:
Subscribe to the DRAPAC newsletter
If you haven’t yet done so, subscribe to the official DRAPAC newsletter maintained by EngageMedia to get reminders about DRAPAC26 and other information about the event and the DRAPAC initiative.
Start working on your session ideas early
Similar to last year’s Assembly, the DRAPAC26 Assembly organising team are looking for sessions that:
- Align closely with our overall theme towards co-creating collective resources, with an emphasis on themes that showcase experiences and ideas from more than one country in the Asia-Pacific
- Feature speakers from diverse backgrounds, prioritising underrepresented communities and gender-balanced sessions, as well as actively promoting inclusivity and meaningful participation from all stakeholders.
Support the event
We invite interested individuals and organisations to help ensure the success of the event:
- Volunteer: The DRAPAC26 organizing team is also looking for interested individuals to volunteer for the convening! Get behind-the-scenes experience on mounting a regional convening while learning more about digital rights directly from the regional community. Volunteers will receive a daily stipend, swag, and meals during the event. Applicants must arrange their own travels and lodging. Applications opening soon.
- Financial and in-kind support: We welcome support to cover travel expenses and accommodation for DRAPAC26 fellows to ensure the diversity of attendees and the presence of a broader range of allies. Reach out to drapac26@drapac.net for more information.
Meet the DRAPAC26 hosts
The Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA) is an organisation of rights advocates and communities who believe that Filipinos should have access to and be safe on the internet. FMA exists to assist civil society organisations and other development stakeholders, including the government, in promoting and defending the right to information and communication by advocating for openness in the governance of information societies, working for human rights in digital environments, and ensuring strategic access and responsible use of ICTs while optimising such technologies for sustainable development, and addressing gender concerns in the information society.
DAKILA Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism is an organisation building a movement of modern heroism by innovating platforms for human rights advocacy, social change campaigning, and creative activism. In 2016, DAKILA founded Active Vista, which supports DAKILA’s mission to build a movement of heroism towards social transformation. Active Vista facilitates the social formation of citizens to become active agents of social change. Active Vista convenes a yearly human rights film festival that celebrates rights, freedoms, and dignity.
EngageMedia is a nonprofit that promotes digital rights, open and secure technology, and social issue documentary. Combining video, technology, knowledge, and networks, they support Asia-Pacific and global changemakers advocating for human rights, democracy, and the environment. In collaboration with diverse networks and communities, it defends and advance digital rights.
