On October 6, the Filipino Music Awards (FMA) returned to the SM Mall of Asia Arena for its second edition, marking another chapter in AGC Power Holdings Corp.’s (AGC PHC) effort to create a major platform for Filipino music.
Produced by AGC PHC, with Billboard Philippines as the official media partner, the FMAs 2026 recognized the artists, songs, albums, performances, and industry achievements that shaped Filipino music during the year. More than a night of recognition, the awards offered a platform to celebrate Filipino talent and the people shaping the country’s music industry.
For AGC PHC Chairman and CEO Archie G. Carrasco, the FMAs also reflect a larger opportunity–helping Filipino talent reach audiences beyond the country: “At AGC Power Holdings Corp., our media platforms help support this purpose. Billboard Philippines and Rolling Stone Philippines tell stories behind music, while our fashion, culture, and lifestyle titles introduce Filipino artists to different audiences. Through our sustained coverage and relationships with global publishing partners, we can help the Filipino talent celebrated here reach further.”
He added: “This is how the Filipino Music Awards contribute to our ambition of bridging the Philippines to the world by recognizing the excellence here at home and helping more of the world discover it.”
The event opened with a message from Bret Jackson, Chief of Editorial Content at Billboard Philippines, who recognized the role of artists, fans, and the teams supporting the awards: “May tonight’s recognition open new doors to artists and give them the confidence to keep creating. To our partners and the production teams, thank you for making this celebration possible.”
The second edition also sought to give Filipino artists and the wider music industry a different kind of awards experience.
“The most exciting part of working on the FMAs is knowing that we will give a very good show to the artists and the music industry. We want to elevate how the industry recognizes its artists and offer them a different kind of experience. That’s what makes it exciting.” said Arriane C. Sanchez, AVP for Events Production at AGC PHC.
Recognizing the Year in Filipino Music
The FMAs 2026 honored achievements across four major areas: Genre Awards, People’s Choice Awards, Legacy Awards, and Grand Awards.
The Genre Awards recognized songs that stood out across different corners of the Filipino music landscape:
- Pop Song of the Year: “Baduy” by VVINK, DJ Love, Pio Balbuena
- Alternative Song of the Year: “Kabisado” by IV OF SPADES
- Hip-Hop Song of the Year: “Since Day One” by Skusta Clee ft. Flow G
- Rock Song of the Year: “What Would It Take (For You To Realize The True Evil In This World?)” by Typecast
- Folk Song of the Year: “Lifetime (Reimagined)” by Ben&Ben
- R&B Song of the Year: “LOVE AGAIN” by Denise Julia and “Sinigang” by Alamat (tie)
The People’s Choice Awards reflected the artists and music that resonated most strongly with audiences:
- People’s Choice – Artist: SB19
- People’s Choice – Song: “VISA” by SB19
- People’s Choice – International Artist: BTS
- Bingo Plus Star of the Night: KAIA
The Legacy Awards recognized contributions that have helped shape the wider music industry:
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Regine Velasquez-Alcasid
- Music Foundation Award: Organisasyon ng mga Pilipinong Mang-Aawit (OPM)
- Music Company of the Year: ABS-CBN Music
- Tribute Award: Francis Magalona
The Grand Awards highlighted some of the year’s most significant achievements:
- Breakthrough Artist of the Year: fitterkarma
- Tour of the Year: Signals World Tour 2026 by BINI
- Concert of the Year: Wakas At Simula: The Trilogy Concert Finale by SB19
- Song of the Year: “Since Day One” by Skusta Clee ft. Flow G
- Album of the Year: KOLORCOASTER by Maki
- Artist of the Year: BINI
Read the complete list of Filipino Music Awards 2026 nominees and winners here.
The Sound and Scale of the FMAs
The awards gave the country’s artists a large-scale live platform, with performances and collaborations that reflected the range of Filipino music.
For Brent Castro, AGC PHC Events Director, creating the right experience meant finding a balance between the formal character of an awards ceremony and the energy of a live music event.
“For this year’s FMAs, we balance elegance and energy,” Castro said. “Every detail, from the stage and visuals to the performances and overall experience, was designed to feel world-class while capturing the passion, pride, and spirit with which Filipinos celebrate OPM.”
The result was an evening shaped not only by the awards themselves, but by the performances, visual production, and atmosphere surrounding them.
Built Across the AGC PHC Ecosystem
This year’s FMAs was also a product of collaboration across the AGC PHC ecosystem, with teams from different subsidiaries, departments, and media brands contributing to one project.
For Sanchez, working across those teams was one of the most rewarding parts of the process: “The best part of working on the FMAs was seeing different subsidiaries come together and collaborate. We had different departments and brands working together to make this night happen.”
Reflecting on the team’s efforts, Castro praised the collective work behind the second edition: “Seeing all the ideas, hard work, and all of the people come together to celebrate Filipino music makes it really meaningful. For us, this is the best Filipino Music Awards yet.”
Continuing the Conversation Around Filipino Music
The FMAs continues to celebrate the artists and stories that define Filipino music, with AGC PHC drawing on its strengths in media, events, and production to help Filipino music reach more people, here and around the world. As the awards continue to grow, so does the opportunity to honor more Filipino artists and share their music with the world.
“We just hope that we can continue to do this for many years to come, celebrate Filipino music, and push it forward,” Jackson said.
As the lights went down on another edition, what remained was more than a list of awards. It was a celebration of the artists who continue to create, the people who continue to believe in Filipino music, and an industry that continues to find new ways to make its sound heard.
Photos courtesy of Ed Simon and Kim Santos of KLIQ Inc., and Ara Tanagon.