SM Supermalls marked the first anniversary of SM Active Hub with a nationwide activation across its malls, transforming them into the largest playground in the country and the biggest shared space for movement in one synchronized day.

Play goes full throttle at SM City Clark as families dive into the energy of SM Active Hub with movement, fun, and connection in one space.

Launched a year ago, SM Active Hub set out to change how people experience malls. Not just as places to shop, but as spaces to move, connect, and live fully. This vision scaled across the entire network.

Kids take the lead at the Push Bike Competition at SM City Bicutan during the nationwide celebration of the SM Active Hub anniversary. 

On April 11, SM Active Hub brought “One Day, Every Mall, One Movement” to life. From sunrise to sunset, malls nationwide hosted runs, rallies, and free-play sessions, turning SM into the largest playground in the country for one synchronized day. Main celebrations took place at SM Mall of Asia and SM North EDSA, anchoring a coordinated, high-energy experience across the country.

Energy spikes at SM City La Union as players bring the heat to beach volleyball, powering the momentum of SM Active Hub.

SM maximizes every space to build the largest playground in the country, where movement is shared and accessible. Across its malls, Filipinos engage in running, pickleball, ice hockey, figure skating, basketball, volleyball, biking, and football, drawing both seasoned athletes and first-time participants.

Momentum builds at SM Mall of Asia as runners take over the bay during the SM Active Hub anniversary weekend, turning every stride into a celebration of movement.

Running remains a core pillar. In 2026, SM activates 24 malls with dedicated running paths, supported by 45 running clubs and 55 running events. What used to be solo is now social. Partnerships continue to scale the platform, with Runrio leading the Philippine Marathon Majors, including the Manila leg and the 42-kilometer EDSA Marathon on Independence Day.

Pickleball and fitness racing expanded the ecosystem. SM Active Hub featured 12 permanent and 13 semi-permanent pickleball courts, accelerating one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. SM North EDSA hosted the Toby’s Pickleball Superseries, while SM Mall of Asia staged fitness racing events for both competitive and casual participants, with both activations happening on April 11 as part of the anniversary.

Future football stars take the spotlight at SM City Laoag as kids bring energy and skill to the game. 

The platform now operates at national scale, connecting thousands of participants, partner brands, and sports communities. This drove repeat participation, longer dwell time, and deeper engagement across malls.

Intensity peaks at SM Mall of Asia as athletes push limits in fitness racing, driving the competitive spirit of SM Active Hub. The anniversary highlighted “Free Play, Full Fun,” opening activities to families, barkadas, and walk-in mallgoers with no barriers to entry. During Free Play Weekend on April 11 to 12, malls nationwide hosted pickleball, running, bowling, table tennis, Zumba, karatedo, chess, dance fitness, karate, biking, football, basketball, volleyball and taekwondo, turning everyday mall visits into active, shared experiences.

SM Active Hub sustains the momentum beyond the anniversary, with sports activations continuing throughout the summer across all SM Supermalls. A full calendar of runs, pickleball sessions, fitness classes, community tournaments, the Groove Dance Showdown, and Summer Sports Clinic keeps the platform active and accessible, driving repeat visits and sustained engagement while positioning SM as the go-to destination for movement and play during the season.

Game on at SM City Lipa as NU Lipa basketball players lead the action with speed, precision, and control on the court. 

SM Supermalls continues to evolve the modern third space, integrating retail, wellness, and social connection into one ecosystem. For Gen Z and Gen Alpha, participation is social, shareable, and community-driven.

A pickleball tournament brought the heat to the courts at SM North EDSA, rallying players and spectators for a full day of fast-paced action.

“This is movement at scale,” said Joaquin San Agustin, Executive Vice President for Marketing, SM Supermalls. “We design spaces where communities gather, stay active, and experience life to the max.”

Free Play Weekend ran alongside the anniversary activities.

Precision and discipline take center stage as young athletes showcase taekwondo at SM City Masinag. As part of its Here to Move campaign, SM Active Hub welcomed Canadian National Champion and PPA Tour athlete Mackonner Dy for a multi-mall tour from April 9 to 12, reinforcing its push to grow pickleball in the Philippines and expand access to international-level play.

All smiles as Canadian National Champion and PPA Tour athlete Mackonner Dy joins Pickleball for Kids at the pickleball court of SM City Sta. Mesa during the SM Active Hub Anniversary.

SM Active Hub extended beyond the mall through the SM Malls Online app, its official digital companion. Users accessed event schedules, registered for activities, unlocked rewards, and stayed updated on runs, pickleball sessions, and fitness events across all SM malls. It centralized the experience, turning every visit into a connected, on-demand journey. #HereToMove #SMActiveHub

Pickleball continues to find its home in SM Supermalls.

Through the SM Sports and Lifestyle Center (SLC), SM expands its permanent pickleball court locations to SM Center Shaw and SM Center Muntinlupa, giving the all-inclusive sport, its athletes, and enthusiasts even more venues for their next friendly or competitive matches. Because of this, SM closed 2025 with 61 court locations across the Philippines with 37 total permanent courts—the largest among mall operators. 

SM empowers the thriving local pickleball scene with maxed-out sports experiences for picklers and the active lifestyle community nationwide. Through its launch of SM Active Hub, the country's largest sports playground, partnered with SM SLC's mission of revolutionizing fitness and sports engagement in the country, it encourages tournament play, friendly competition, and fun bonding moments.

"SM launched SM Active Hub in March last year with the strong intention of giving athletes, sports enthusiasts, and even casual players alike high-quality and easily accessible spaces that can house their best sports experiences—whether that's lighthearted fun or high adrenaline competition," said Joaquin San Agustin, SM Supermalls Executive Vice President for Marketing. "Closing 2025 with our largest pickleball court locations while adding two new permanent courts in SM Center Shaw and SM Center Muntinlupa in Metro Manila is evidence that sports remains not just a strong interest, but a new way of life for our customers." 

Opened in partnership with Paloo, the pickleball court locations of SM Center Shaw and SM Center Muntinlupa boast three outdoor and four indoor permanent courts respectively, both intuitively designed to accommodate experienced and novice players, with accessible rates. v The Home of Elevated Sports Experiences

Through Active Hub, SM gave local picklers the ultimate spot to maximize movement and active lifestyles, meeting the athletic appetite of customers through its modular court approach. With the integration of the SM Malls Online app, players can easily sign up to be part of the community, discover upcoming events, and gain exclusive access to the best deals that maximize experiences they'll love.

"On top of the permanent courts, we also have 24 semi-permanent courts all over the country to accommodate the maximum amount of activity our customers seek,” said San Agustin. 

This holistic approach has made SM the favorite go-to pickleball hangout place for customers, almost doubling the 44 courts initially constructed through the rise of interest in the sport. Also following strong demand and fully booked courts until the end of 2025, SM's upcoming thrust focuses on building more permanent courts to increase its inventory to close to 80 in 2026.

"The high volume of bookings across all our courts hints that pickleball isn't an exclusive sport—anyone can play. And because it is inclusive and easy to learn, SM saw this as an opportunity to naturally drive active lifestyles for our customers," said San Agustin.

A Favorite for Maxed-out pickleball gatherings

Active Hub caters to a wide group of picklers—from competitive enthusiasts to casual first timers looking to play or find a new and fun bonding activity with their friends, every kind of player can find an event that encourages them to keep playing. 

Out-of-the-box creative concepts like the Glow Ball pickleball event giving the game a fun and exciting glow in the dark twist, while enrichment activities such as free coached Pickleball Clinics encouraged newbies and young players to try the sport out.

Active Hub is also home of the major competition SM Pickleball Super Series in partnership with Toby's Sports running alongside local tournaments and events. It initiated the Pickleball Power Tour with Filipino-American, world-ranked pro-athlete Lauren Mercado igniting passion for the sport among the next generation of players. The event was such a massive hit that SM will be hosting a second iteration within the first half of 2026. 

"This is a testament to SM's desire of hosting the most creative and commercially attuned sports events that our customers can always look forward to. As long as the Filipino desire for community and activity remains ablaze, SM is determined to continually give that passion for sports a home," said San Agustin.