August gets a little more interesting for tech enthusiasts, gamers, cosplayers and collectors as Tech & Play Month takes over participating SM Malls in the East Metro.
Running from August 1 to 31, 2026, the month-long program brings together gadgets, gaming, cosplay and collectibles across SM City Marikina, SM City Masinag, SM City San Mateo, SM Center Antipolo Downtown and other participating SM Supermalls.
Rather than focusing on technology alone, the celebration reflects how tech and pop culture increasingly overlap in everyday life. One visit can mean checking out a new smartphone, browsing collectibles, watching a cosplay showcase or simply discovering a new hobby.
What can you find during Tech & Play Month?
The activities are spread across different parts of the participating malls, giving visitors several ways to explore the theme.
Gadgets and tech upgrades at SM Cyberzone
For shoppers looking to upgrade their devices, SM Cyberzone remains the main destination for technology-related finds.
Participating stores feature smartphones, laptops, accessories, gaming equipment and other consumer electronics. The lineup mentioned for Tech & Play Month includes the HUAWEI Pura 90s Series, while Apple products such as MacBook are available at Power Mac Center.
For shoppers, the appeal is less about simply browsing individual gadgets and more about being able to compare different categories of technology in one mall visit.
That can be particularly useful for anyone putting together a new work-from-home setup, upgrading a phone or looking for gaming accessories.
When are the cosplay events?
Cosplay is another major part of the August program, giving fans an opportunity to turn their favorite characters into real-world experiences.
Two dates highlighted in the program are:
August 23: Cosplay event at SM City Masinag
August 29: Cosplay event at SM City Marikina
Cosplay, short for "costume play," involves dressing up as characters from anime, games, comics, movies and other forms of popular culture. For many participants, however, it goes beyond wearing a costume. It can involve crafting, photography, performance and connecting with other fans.
That community aspect is one reason cosplay has become a regular feature of mall events and pop-culture gatherings.
Where can collectors find toys and pop-culture merchandise?
Collectors have several destinations to explore during Tech & Play Month.
Toy Kingdom branches inside SM Store locations at SM City Marikina, SM City Masinag and SM City San Mateo will feature toys, character merchandise and other pop-culture finds.
For hobbyists looking for a more dedicated collecting experience, SM City Marikina's Collector's Hub offers another destination to browse collectibles and connect with fellow enthusiasts.
The setup also highlights how collecting has evolved from a niche pastime into a lifestyle interest spanning toys, figures, character merchandise and other memorabilia.
Where can you experience Tech & Play Month?
Tech & Play Month runs August 1 to 31, 2026, at participating SM Malls in the East Metro.
The highlighted locations include:
- SM City Marikina
- SM City Masinag
- SM City San Mateo
- SM Center Antipolo Downtown
Visitors planning specifically around the cosplay activities should check the respective mall's official social channels for the latest event schedules, registration requirements and activity details, as individual event information may change.
More than a shopping trip
Tech & Play Month reflects the way hobbies increasingly cross boundaries.
Technology can be part of gaming, gaming can lead into collecting, collecting can become a creative pursuit, and cosplay can become both a social activity and a form of content creation.
That makes the month-long celebration less about simply buying another gadget or collectible and more about discovering the communities and interests that surround them.
For August, SM Malls in the East Metro are giving tech enthusiasts, gamers, cosplayers and collectors another reason to make a mall visit part of their weekend plans.