The 11th PPOP Music Awards celebrated established stars and rising talents, but some of the night’s most memorable moments came from discovering artists beyond the familiar names.
An awards ceremony brings people together to celebrate winners. But it can also introduce audiences to artists they might not have discovered otherwise.
That was one of our biggest takeaways from the 11th PPOP Music Awards, held on October 18, 2026, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
PPopBeats attended as accredited media, covering the red carpet and the main awards ceremony. It was an opportunity to see established performers and emerging groups in the same venue, watch their performances live and become more familiar with the people behind the music.
We arrived knowing some of the artists and their songs. By the end of the night, we had a longer list of groups we wanted to listen to.
A Different View of the Artists on the Red Carpet
Before the ceremony began, artists and sponsors took turns appearing before the cameras.
The performers arrived dressed for the occasion, bringing their own fashion choices and personalities to the red carpet. Some made an impression through their outfits, while others caught attention with their poses and smiles.
For our team, the experience was about more than taking photographs.
We were able to recognize individual members, learn group names and see artists we had previously encountered mostly through music videos and social media.
The scheduled photo opportunities also required cooperation from everyone involved. With numerous groups, soloists and sponsors participating, artists followed the organizers’ directions and made use of their allotted time.
It was an interesting side of P-pop to witness. The confidence audiences see during performances also has a place in media appearances, where artists are expected to present themselves while working within a coordinated event.
Once the awards ceremony began, that confidence carried over to the stage.
Rising Groups Shared the Stage With Familiar Names
The main ceremony featured performances from several emerging P-pop acts.
CLOUD 7 performed “7 Days” and “Louder,” while BILIB presented “Mahika” and “Matsaluv.” NOVA took the stage with “Saya Ah,” SYNC performed “Break” and “Knock Out,” and ONE SOUTH delivered “Sfire.”
Among the notable collaborations was 6ENSE sharing the stage with Chicser for “Piliin Mo Ako” and “Kita Kita.”
The pairing brought together performers from different periods of Filipino pop entertainment. Chicser developed its following years before many of today’s rising P-pop groups entered the scene, while 6ENSE belongs to a newer generation establishing its place in the industry.
The connection became more meaningful as the evening recognized Chicser with the PPOP Frontier Award and 6ENSE with Rising Boy Group of the Year.
For audiences, performances like these offer a chance to appreciate familiar artists while discovering newer acts.
And sometimes, a group that isn’t on someone’s usual playlist can leave one of the strongest impressions.
NEO Was One of Our Unexpected Discoveries
Of the performances we witnessed, NEO’s “Hala Bira” was among the most surprising.
We hadn’t expected to hear screaming vocals and such an aggressive, rock-influenced sound from a P-pop group that evening.
Yet there they were, singing, dancing and delivering the music with an intensity that immediately caught our attention.
What made the performance memorable wasn’t simply that it sounded different. The members appeared completely comfortable with the music, bringing an energy that suggested they genuinely enjoyed performing it.
There was something refreshing about that.
We were familiar with P-pop performances built around synchronized choreography, catchy melodies and polished stage presentations. NEO incorporated those elements while introducing a rawer sound that challenged our expectations.
It made us curious about what else the group had to offer.
That is one of the things a live performance can do. A few minutes onstage can turn an unfamiliar artist into someone an audience member wants to hear again.
For us, NEO was one of those discoveries.
The Artists Who Took Home Awards
The 11th PPOP Music Awards recognized achievements across music, performance, production and fan-voted categories.
BINI and SB19 led the results with five awards each, counting recognitions received by individual members and, for SB19, its fandom.
BINI was named Artist of the Year. Its members also earned individual Fans’ Choice awards, with Jhoanna receiving Leader of the Year, Colet winning Ace of the Year, Sheena taking Dancer of the Year and Aiah receiving Visual of the Year.
SB19 won Collaboration of the Year for “Toyfriend,” its collaboration with Japanese boy group BE:FIRST. The group also received Production Design in a Music Video for “LAWLESS.” Meanwhile, Stell was named Fans’ Choice Vocalist of the Year, Josh won Fans’ Choice Rapper of the Year, and A’TIN received Fandom of the Year.
ALAMAT earned Song of the Year for “LuzViMinda” and International Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
Other major winners included OONA., whose “Darama” received Music Video of the Year, and John Roa, who was named Solo Artist of the Year. BGYO won Choreography in a Video Performance for “Forever Tonight,” while AZTER received Vocal Arrangement in a Song Recording for “Kupido.”
Recognition also went to rising and newly established acts.
Alongside 6ENSE, VVINK was named Rising Girl Group of the Year, while XONARA received New Group Artist of the Year.
In the Fans’ Choice categories, KAIA won Group of the Year, AJAA received Emerging Group of the Year, and OONA. was named Rookie of the Year.
The ceremony also honored SexBomb Girls with the PPOP Icon Award, recognizing an earlier generation of Filipino pop performers whose work remains part of the country’s entertainment history.
These results brought together artists at different stages of their careers, from performers with established audiences to groups still introducing themselves to more listeners.
Recognition Beyond the Biggest Names
While the major awards celebrated widely recognized artists, other categories drew attention to performers whose work may be less familiar to broader audiences.
HEXUS, a group under LentéKula Productions, received the Cultural Excellence Award.
The group has expressed its commitment to representing Bicolano identity and bringing pride to Camarines Norte. Its music video for “Unang Bantayog” was also nominated for Music Video of the Year.
Meanwhile, LEEYAN received Regional Song of the Year for “Chase the Sky.”
These were distinct awards, but both brought attention to artists whose work is connected to cultural identity and communities outside the country’s most prominent entertainment centers.
The PPOP Spotlight Award also recognized VRAJA, BELAMOUR, Dylan Burton, ARZA and ECHO.
Other emerging artists, including AJ Calico, PIX!E, ONE SOUTH, Baby Dolls and MEI MEI, received the PPOP Potential Award.
Seeing these names recognized was encouraging, especially knowing that many P-pop groups are still working to introduce their music to wider audiences.
Events like the PPOP Music Awards give these artists a platform to meet fellow performers, connect with people in the industry and reach listeners who may have attended primarily to support other groups.
For audiences, the ceremony becomes more than an opportunity to celebrate their favorites. It can also be a starting point for discovering someone new.
That was certainly part of our experience.
We came across artists whose names we were only beginning to learn, watched groups with different performance styles and left interested in exploring more of their music.
Not every artist needs to have a massive following before their work deserves attention.
Sometimes, all it takes is the chance to be heard.
What We Took Home From the Night
Attending the 11th PPOP Music Awards gave us a different appreciation of the artists we cover.
On the red carpet, we saw their personalities and fashion choices beyond the images shared online. During the ceremony, we watched groups perform live and experienced the energy they brought to the stage.
The collaboration between 6ENSE and Chicser connected different generations of Filipino pop performers. NEO introduced us to a sound we hadn’t expected, while the recognition given to HEXUS, LEEYAN and other emerging acts encouraged us to explore more artists whose music deserves attention.
For PPopBeats, covering the ceremony was also a reminder of why we started this publication.
We want to help P-pop artists gain greater recognition, not only in the Philippines but around the world. That means sharing the achievements of established groups while also introducing audiences to emerging artists whose music and stories they may not have discovered yet.
Being present at events like the PPOP Music Awards allows us to experience performances firsthand, better understand the artists we write about and share what we discover with our readers.
PPopBeats thanks the PPOP Music Awards organizers for granting our team media access and the opportunity to cover the ceremony.
We came to report on an awards night and left with more artists we wanted to know.
For a publication dedicated to bringing P-pop closer to audiences here and abroad, that made the experience worthwhile.
