The Filipino Music Awards 2026’s list of nominees and winners this year spanned many genres, styles, and identities across OPM. And included in this year’s artists are a handful of young names just starting and having their breakthrough moment, or musicians who are finally getting their recognition after years of being under the radar. The FMAs weren’t just to honor icons and legends, but also to spotlight those on the rise who have the potential to keep your attention. Get to know more of these Gen Z artists below.
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XONARA – On the Fast Track to Success
It’s a testament not just to where they come from, but to who XONARA is as a group and artist, how the P-pop girl group has risen in popularity in just five months since their debut. Scoring nominations in both People’s Choice Award Song and Artist shows that 1Z Entertainment’s first-ever girl group has already made an impact among fans and listeners this early into their careers, and there’s nowhere else to go but up from here. This seven-member girl group is bringing their unshakable confidence and style and sound to P-pop.
fitterkarma – Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Chances are most people did not know who OPM band fitterkarma was prior to the start of 2026. But that quickly changed when their track Pag-Ibig ay Kanibalismo II exploded in popularity across social media and topped streaming charts. That was then followed by Kalapastangan, which was just as, if not more, successful. With two No. 1 hits in less than a year that have a combined 500 million streams on Spotify alone, it’s no wonder they were named Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the FMAs.
Aside from their catchy tunes, what makes the group stand out is how they take inspiration from Philippine folklore, horror elements, and their personal experiences for unique storytelling that is dark and emotionally driven yet relatable at the same time.
ALAMAT – P-pop’s Multi-Cultural Boy Group
As one of the OGs of the new wave of P-pop, ALAMAT has been there since 2020, championing Filipino music through their unique identity. Each member comes from a different province in the Philippines, and they unapologetically use Philippine culture, language, fashion, and dance in their music, videos, and overall artistry. There’s no one doing it quite like ALAMAT, and the group winning R&B Song of the Year for their track Sinigang shows how their growing discography of bops and bangers deserves a listen.
Ashtine Olviga – The Nation’s Mutya
Ashtine Olviga is proof that not everyone can be an overnight pop star, and that’s more than ok. The actress and musician has been working in the industry in one form or another since the late 2010s, but it was only in 2025 that she finally got her mainstream breakout, which just goes to show how years of hard work and patience, combined with talent and skill, can take you far. She is the Nation’s Mutya, as evidenced by her nominations in Breakthrough Artist of the Year and People’s Choice Award Artist.
KAIA – Deserving of the Spotlight
With three nominations at the FMAs and being named Star of the Night by fans, KAIA had a great time that also proved how they are a P-pop girl group worth paying attention to. The five-member group has been active since 2022, but it’s only been in the past year, thanks to their hit song TANGA, viral cover of HUNTR/X’s Takedown, and latest single hulog, that listeners have finally been seeing what P-pop fans have been saying for years. KAIA means business, and they’re ready for the attention.
Baby Dolls – The Group Behind The Year’s Biggest Earworm
Viewers of It’s Showtime will be familiar with Baby Dolls as they’ve been the noontime variety program’s in-house dance group since 2023. But it was only in the past year that they rebranded as a girl group when their potential reached new heights. Leading the way was their single Oohh Lala Baby. To say that it became a social media sensation is an understatement, as it’s arguably one of the most recognizable OPM songs of 2026, with over 27 million views on YouTube alone.
As one of the newest rising P-pop girl groups on the scene, Baby Dolls has been taking over the internet with their viral hits, synchronized moves, and colorful looks. It’s an impressive feat that for their debut FMAs, the seven-member girl group scored three nominations in three of the four main categories.
VVINK – A Surprise Win for Pop Song of the Year
From releasing their debut studio album to becoming a four-member girl group after one of their members went on a temporary hiatus, VVINK (pronounced as wink) has been through a lot these past few months. Yet through it all is the spark of P-pop talent inherent in each member and their identity as a group. They only made their official debut in 2025, yet the group is already an FMA winner after winning Pop Song of the Year.
It was an unexpected victory, not because they didn’t deserve it, but because VVINK was up against a stacked list of fellow nominees that included BINI and Maki. But listen to their winning track, Baduy shows why it’s a sleeper banger. A collaboration between the founding father of budots, DJ Love, and Pio Balbuena, the novelty pop song combines P-pop sensibilities with the unmistakable sound of the sub-genre, making it an easy earworm.
Featured Image and Photos: Photos by BRYAN BACATAD, Courtesy of the Filipino Music Awards
Frequently Asked Questions
OPM band fitterkarma won Breakthrough Artist of the Year. MEGA credits two No. 1 hits, “Pag-Ibig ay Kanibalismo II” and “Kalapastangan,” and describes their storytelling as dark, folklore- and horror-inspired, yet relatable.
VVINK won Pop Song of the Year for “Baduy,” made with budots pioneer DJ Love and Pio Balbuena. It was an upset over a stacked field that included BINI and Maki, in the group’s first year since debuting in 2025.
ALAMAT won R&B Song of the Year for “Sinigang,” in a tie with Denise Julia’s “LOVE AGAIN.” Each member of the P-pop boy group, active since 2020, comes from a different province.
KAIA earned three nominations and was named Star of the Night by fans. The five-member P-pop group, active since 2022, is known for “TANGA,” a viral cover of HUNTR/X’s “Takedown,” and the single “hulog.”
XONARA, five months after debuting, was nominated for People’s Choice Artist and Song. Baby Dolls, with the hit “Oohh Lala Baby,” earned three nominations at their first FMAs, in three of the four main category groups.
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