Filipino Music Awards 2026: Where Generations of OPM Unite

Rarely is there a moment to sit down and celebrate musical talent across the Philippines, and even rarer across generations. This year’s Filipino Music Awards (FMA), which took place at the Mall of Asia Arena on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, pulled out all the stops, bringing together contemporaries, originators, and the barrier-breakers that shape what we know as Original Pilipino Music (OPM) today.

It may have been a night showcasing Pinoy sound, but celebrities still delivered stellar looks. SB19, who dominated last year’s ceremony, returned with fiery spirit and all-black ensemble outfits. International stars Erik Santos and APL.DE.AP dressed sharply while maintaining their unique showmanship branding.

OPM royalty Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez swooned the Mall of Asia Arena with sheer star power, yet brought us back to earth with their signature humor. When GQ Philippines asked about their go-to pre-show ritual, Alcasid answered, “Kumakain ng Go-to (Goto),” which got a laugh out of Velasquez beside him.

After much anticipation and hype from hosts Billy Crawford, KC Montero, Joey Mead King, and Shaira Diaz, the FilipinoFilipinoThe national language of the Philippines, widely used for communication, education, media, and culture.Go to Filipino Glossary Music Awards commenced. Maki opened the ceremony by performing a medley of hits like “Dilaw” that drew cheers from the audience. Later in the evening, he won Album of the Year for his studio album KOLORCOASTER.

Kamikazee showed up in good fun, dressed as grandpa versions of themselves before they brought the house down with an electrifying performance of every Battle of the Bands-winning song, “Huling Sayaw,” alongside Janine Berdin.

Meanwhile, IV of Spades brought in literal lolos to represent the band and parodied each grandson down to a T. “Para sa’tin toh,” Lolo Zild Benitez said on stage after the band won Alternative Song of the Year for “Kabisado.”

EmoEmoA genre of rock rooted in 1980s hardcore punk, known for confessional lyrics, dramatic melodies, and raw emotion, which grew into a wave of popular bands in the 2000s. EmoGo to Emo Glossary legends Typecast also won Rock Song of the Year for “What Would It Take (For You To Realize The True Evil In This World?),” proving once again that emo is never a phase. Waving the rock music flag with them was “Pag-Ibig ay Kanibalismo II” hitmaker Fitterkarma, who nabbed Breakthrough Artist of the Year.

Budots pioneer Sherwin Calumpang Tuna, also known as DJ Love, represented Davao, producing the 2026 Pop Song of the Year “Baduy” by VVINK ft. Pio Balbuena, while Flow G and Skusta Clee won both Hip-Hop Song of the Year and Song of the Year for their TikTok sensation “Since Day One.”

Wilbert Ross, together with folk icon Noel Cabangon, presented Folk Song of the Year, which was awarded to Ben & Ben for their tear-jerker “Lifetime (Reimagined).” And for the first time in FMA history, this year’s R&B Song of the Year was a tie between “LOVE AGAIN” by Denise Julia and “Sinigang” by Alamat.

Alamat’s victory was made sweeter during their back-to-back performance with P-pop contemporaries BGYO, KAIA, VIXON, and G22, displaying pure FilipinoFilipinoThe national language of the Philippines, widely used for communication, education, media, and culture.Go to Filipino Glossary talent that competes with, and even surpasses, other global groups.

Further reinforcing this idea were SB19’s consecutive wins: People’s Choice Awards Artist and Song for “VISA,” and Concert of the Year for “Wakas At Simula: The Trilogy Concert Finale.”

Iñigo Pascual, Kyle Ecchari, Zephanie, Erik Santos, and Kyla came together to deliver what we Pinoys do best: singing our hearts out. Intense ballad after intense ballad almost brought the audience and celebrities to tears.

Who else, then, deserves the Lifetime Achievement Award than Asia’s Songbird herself? None other than Regine Velasquez. While she joked about what the award meant for her career, the overwhelming support and applause cemented her status as a FilipinoFilipinoThe national language of the Philippines, widely used for communication, education, media, and culture.Go to Filipino Glossary showbiz legend.

Gary Valenciano also took the stage, where he brought his signature pure energy. He asked the audience to clap along and shout for joy. To this day, he makes all of us feel old by how makulit he still is.

The whole arena went dead silent, teeming with anticipation for the announcement of Artist of the Year. Ogie Alcasid stepped up to the mic, opened his envelope, and finally declared the long-overdue winner: BINI.

Amidst the roars of the crowd, BINI Maloi and Jhoanna danced along to the winning soundtrack, “Pantropiko.” “It fuels us to be greater and para pag-igihan pa namin sa lahat ng pagkakataon,” BINI Maloi said in her acceptance speech. “Mabuhay ang musikang Pilipino!”

Near the end of the evening, Parokya ni Edgar performed.”Halaga,” with Jay Contreras of Kamikazee singing along. For the grand finale, Chito Miranda led a show-stopping rendition of “Bagsakan,” where Elmo Magalona sang his father’s verse, and Skusta Clee delivered Gloc-9’s part. What better way to end the night of OPM than with the past and present playing together?

As the Mall of Asia Arena emptied after such an exciting night, everyone left with the same feeling: a sense of pride, legacy, and a positive outlook on what the future of OPM holds, one that’s sure to be championed at the next FilipinoFilipinoThe national language of the Philippines, widely used for communication, education, media, and culture.Go to Filipino Glossary Music Awards.