Cebu is not only the business hub of the south but the cultural and sports capital as well. With its history, Cebu has established itself as the cultural capital of the Visayas and Mindanao regions. Being a runner-up only to Manila for years in this reputation, Cebu's arts & culture and sports scene is nevertheless alive and definitely is on the move.

Cebu is home to the country's most popular cultural event happening every 2nd week of January - the Sinulog Festival. It is a weeklong celebration in honor to the city's patron - Señor Santo Niño, the most revered infant Jesus, considered to many as most miraculous image. It culminates in a Grand Parade on the third Sunday of pomp and pageantry along the main thoroughfares of the capital featuring rhythmic street dancing and elegantly decorated floats.

The capital city of Cebu and its adjoining cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu have combined energies to give the locals and visitors alike reason to enjoy their extra time out to discotheques, theatres, concert halls, casinos, girlie bars, pubs, cafes, sports clubs, and public parks. The metropolis has over 30 movie theatres.  Some of the bigger theatres are occasionally used to hold orchestral concert and other related events. Similarly, it has a countless number of pubs and bars, and cafes that mostly open up until the wee hours. The metropolitan Cebu has two gaming casinos one of which is Asia's largest.

The city has recently added a new world-class facility for big international cultural events, the cavernous Cebu International Convention Center, that is perfect for stage plays and operas, concerts, and pageants.

There are a lot of cultural happenings (events) all over Cebu especially during at night and on weekends. Pubs and bars usually feature concerts from local bands and cultural shows for their customers. KTV bars or Karaoke Television bars offer singing for their customers over karaoke television. Malls have their own way of attracting customers by holding free shows such as concerts and cultural shows from local and foreign talents. Big hotels jump into the bandwagon of holding cultural shows to attract guests. With so much business to do in the city, there is an equal proportion of fun and recreation for the community.

The city is home to a number of talented local bands some of whom are performing regularly at bars and malls.

Every major city in the world is either known for its landmark or its orchestra or both. Boston is known for its finest orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra whereas New York is known both for its famous Statue of Liberty and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Cebu will soon have to be known not only by its centuries-old landmark, the Magellan's Cross but also by its orchestra, the Cebu Philharmonic Orchestra, which will debut on the January 2001.

The city is the sporting capital in the Visayas and Mindanao regions. It holds many sporting events at most five times a year with City Olympics as the biggest sports meet followed by Provincial Meet. The Cebu Sports Center is the largest sports facility in Cebu. It was built in 1994 when the city hosted the country's premiere sporting event - the Palarong Pambansa '94. Unlike other sports facilities purposedly built for the annual sports event and became white elephant after the games. The Cebu Sport Center serves its purpose with its Olympic-standard swimming pool, its soccerfield, and rubberized track oval, it becomes the favorite sports venue for locals.  Aside from this sports stadium, there are more than enough sports facilities in Cebu such as bowling centers, billiard halls, PRT gyms, martial arts studios, tennis and basketball courts, golf courses & driving ranges, yacht club, dive centers, and a lot more.