[3] Eight member universities of the UAAP competed in the league's fifteen sports to vie for the general championship.

The opening ceremony was held on September 8, 2018 at the Mall of Asia Arena with the tagline "It All Begins Here".

NBA star Stephen Curry made a special appearance and led the oath of sportsmanship for the athletes.

Local artists Sponge Cola, James Reid and South Korean singer-songwriter and former 2NE1 member Minzy also performed inside the arena.

The primary playing venues were the Mall of Asia Arena and the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Filoil Flying V Centre and the Ynares Center Antipolo served as the alternate venues when the MOA Arena and Araneta Coliseum were unavailable.

the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) tapped the services of its own exclusive group of referees in Season 81.

The UAAP expanded its number of tournaments by holding 3×3 basketball games in the men's and women's divisions as a demonstration sport in Season 80.

3×3 basketball may be reclassified as a regular sport next season after the positive responses from member schools who all fielded a team.

The tournament main venue is the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City while selected games will be played at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay and Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

This is a change from last season's playing venue at FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

This is the second change in playing venue for the Juniors tournament The Adamson gym hosted the competition for three years since 2014.

Far Eastern University fielded boys' and girls' volleyball teams beginning season 77.

Since there are now four teams participating, baseball will no longer be a demonstration sport in the Boys' Juniors' tournament.

It will be a regular sport with the participating schools earning points for the Juniors General Championship.

The UAAP Season 81 softball tournament will begin on February 16, 2019 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate Manila.

The tournament venue is the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall in Vito Cruz St., Malate, Manila.

The UAAP Season 81 Judo Championships will be held from November 2018 at the De La Salle Zobel Sports Pavilion in Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa.

The UAAP Season 81 cheerdance competition was held on November 17, 2018 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.