Ayala Malls Gatewalk to Open in Cebu December 2026, Anchored by IKEA’s First Visayas Store

Ayala Land Inc. will launch Ayala Malls Gatewalk on December 16, 2026, a 56,000-square-meter, four-level, fully air-conditioned retail and lifestyle destination in Mandaue City, Cebu. The mall will be anchored by IKEA’s first store in the Visayas, marking the Swedish retailer’s first full-format branch outside Metro Manila.

The 4,000-square-meter IKEA store is expected to create around 100 jobs, including 50 direct positions. Ricardo Pinheiro, IKEA Philippines Country Retail Manager, noted that Cebu’s expanding market and strong demand for functional home furnishings made it the ideal location for the company’s first provincial expansion. “Ayala Malls Gatewalk gives us the right setting to meet customers in a fresh, accessible, and highly engaging way. We are excited to bring IKEA closer to more Filipinos and to help serve the strong demand for well-designed, functional, and affordable home furnishings.”

Key Mall Features

Ayala Malls Gatewalk is part of a larger mixed-use estate that integrates an office tower and a public transport hub, positioning the mall as a central node for work, daily errands, dining, and leisure within Gatewalk Central.

The mall will feature a mix of international and local brands, new dining concepts, and everyday conveniences.

Core amenities include a bi-level food hall with new dining concepts and familiar favorites, Shopwise supermarket for daily grocery needs, two cinemas to expand entertainment options, a central outdoor courtyard with an oversized play feature inspired by one of Cebu’s beloved natural icons, and ARTrium, an interactive digital art hallway at the main entrance that transforms arrival into part of the experience.

Ayala Malls Chief Operating Officer Paul Birkett described Gatewalk as a “new frontier in retail,” emphasizing the company’s long-term belief in Cebu as a crucial growth center for the city, province, and wider Visayas region. The project aligns with Ayala Land’s strategy to expand its recurring-income ventures, malls, offices, hotels, and commercial properties beyond Metro Manila.