From major-label launches to independent beginnings, these five girl groups are helping shape P-pop’s 2026 rookie class.
The Philippine pop scene welcomed several new groups in 2026, each arriving with a different sound, image, and starting point.
Some entered with the support of an established entertainment company. Others introduced themselves through independently released music and smaller local stages. Together, they show that P-pop’s next generation is not emerging from only one corner of the industry.
For this list, PPopBeats counted groups whose official debut or first commercial release happened between January and September 2026. Reconfigured acts are discussed separately to keep the rookie count clear.
Here are the new P-pop groups that officially began their journey in 2026.
FINA
FINA opened the year’s rookie wave with its official launch on February 19, followed by the release of “Paramdam” on February 20.
Managed by Viva Artists Agency, FINA entered the scene with the advantage of an established entertainment company behind its promotions.
“Paramdam” introduced the group through a bright and youthful pop sound. More importantly, it gave FINA a clear starting point from which its music and identity can develop.
As more groups compete for the same listeners, FINA will need something audiences can immediately associate with the group. Its next releases will show whether it intends to build on the youthful energy of “Paramdam” or explore a different side.
Start with: “Paramdam”
What fans can anticipate: A more defined signature sound, stronger individual member recognition, and more opportunities to see how FINA performs beyond its debut promotions.
FINA
FINA is a five-member Filipina P-pop girl group composed of Nala, Cia, Anika, Chill, and Heaven. The group debuted in 2026 with “Paramdam” and carries the greeting “Fine as you are,” connecting its name to both Filipina identity and self-acceptance.
View FINA ProfileBaby Dolls
Baby Dolls officially debuted on March 27 with the five-track EP ZoomBaby Dolls.
The release gave the group more material to introduce itself than a typical one-song debut. Instead of presenting only one concept, the EP allowed listeners to hear different sides of Baby Dolls from the beginning.
“Oohh Lala Baby” provides an accessible introduction to the group’s bright and playful appeal. Behind that image is an opportunity to contribute to a broader conversation about beauty, confidence, and representation in P-pop.
The challenge now is turning the attention surrounding its debut into sustained interest in its music and members.
Start with: “Oohh Lala Baby”
What fans can anticipate: More performances from ZoomBaby Dolls, member-focused content, and future concepts that develop the group’s message of confidence and representation.
BABY DOLLS
Filipino all-female dance-pop group, performers, recording artists
Baby Dolls is a seven-member Filipino girl group from It’s Showtime composed of Arianne Dela Cruz, Chole Florendo, Johaira Moris, Juby Sabino, Jelai Ahamil, Eriel Reyes, and Ina Ortega. Known for their energetic dance performances and feel-good pop sound, the group released their debut EP ZoomBaby Dolls under StarPop in 2026.
View BABY DOLLS ProfileXONARA
XONARA made its official debut on May 15 with “TABI.”
The song introduced the seven-member group with confidence and attitude. Its title immediately commands attention, while the performance gives XONARA a bolder presence among this year’s rookies.
The group’s lineup includes four Bisaya members—Lei, Namie, Tin, and Megumi—giving fans from the Visayas another meaningful connection to the growing P-pop scene.
A seven-member lineup also gives XONARA several personalities, vocal colors, and performance strengths to develop. The next step is ensuring that audiences become familiar not only with the group name but also with the members behind it.
XONARA has already suggested ambitions beyond local stages. Future performances will show how quickly the group can turn that ambition into a recognizable place within P-pop.
Start with: “TABI”
What fans can anticipate: More chances to get to know the seven members, possible appearances beyond the Philippines, and bigger stages that can test the group’s performance chemistry.
XONARA
Filipino girl group, performers, vocalists, dancers, P-Pop artists
XONARA is a seven-member Filipino P-pop girl group under 1Z Entertainment composed of Eurekah, Ella, Dominique, Tin, Namie, Megumi, and Lei. They officially debuted with their first single “TABI” in May 2026, introducing a fierce, performance-driven sound to the P-pop scene.
View XONARA ProfileOONA
OONA entered the scene through “DARAMA,” released as the group’s debut single in May.
The group later marked its formal introduction with Unang Tingin: The Debut Launch on July 31. The two dates represent different stages of the same beginning: “DARAMA” was OONA’s first official music release, while the July event served as its formal debut presentation.
“DARAMA” gave OONA a polished and performance-oriented opening. Rather than relying entirely on the novelty of being new, the group arrived with a song and visual identity capable of standing on their own.
One debut song can introduce a group, but the releases that follow often reveal more about its long-term direction.
Start with: “DARAMA”
What fans can anticipate: A follow-up release that expands OONA’s polished debut image, more live stages, and a deeper introduction to the members behind the performance.
OONA
OONA is a five-member Filipino P-pop girl group composed of Isaki, Coleen, Bella, Jaylou, and Kari. The group debuted in 2026 with DARAMA, a self-written and self-composed single that introduced their identity as five different voices moving together as one.
View OONA ProfileUNYRA
UNYRA joined the 2026 rookie class with the release of “Shout” on August 8.
Unlike groups launched mainly through Manila’s established entertainment network, UNYRA’s story is connected to Samar. Its arrival is a reminder that P-pop talent and ambition are also developing outside the industry’s usual center.
“Shout” serves as the group’s first official statement. The title fits a rookie act seeking to be heard, but UNYRA’s longer-term significance may lie in what its emergence represents: a P-pop scene becoming more geographically diverse.
The path may be more difficult for a group building outside Metro Manila. Access to major media appearances, performance venues, and promotional networks remains uneven. At the same time, UNYRA has an opportunity to create an identity grounded in its own community instead of following the exact route taken by Manila-based acts.
Start with: “Shout”
What fans can anticipate: More regional performances, wider recognition beyond Samar, and a growing connection between the group’s local roots and its P-pop ambitions.
A New Chapter: X/ACT
X/ACT deserves attention in any discussion of the acts emerging in 2026, but its situation is different from that of a completely new rookie group.
Some of its members were previously associated with Exact PH. Because of that history, X/ACT is better understood as a reconfigured act beginning a new chapter rather than an entirely new collection of first-time performers.
X/ACT’s introduction in September gives the members an opportunity to establish an identity separate from their previous work. What matters next is whether the group can communicate what makes this lineup—and this new beginning—distinct.
What fans can anticipate: An official release that defines X/ACT’s sound, clearer group branding, and the opportunity for its members to reintroduce themselves through a new lineup.
X/ACT
Filipino boy group, singers, rappers, dancers, P-pop performers
X/ACT is a five-member Filipino P-pop boy group composed of Sxin, Lai, James, Jin, and Reyve. The group combines vocals, rap, and dance as it begins its journey in the P-pop scene with the debut single “Ermitanyo.”
View X/ACT ProfileWhy Some Familiar Names Are Not Included
Not every group that released music, performed on a major stage, or attracted new attention in 2026 qualifies as a 2026 debut.
Groups such as DNA and AZTER released debut albums this year, but the groups themselves were already active before 2026. VVINK, WRIVE, and GAT also began their official journeys earlier.
Meanwhile, acts including NXT, HARA, AYO, FINIX, YUDi, and AVANT were still being introduced, promoted, or described as pre-debut at the time of this article. They may become part of the next rookie list once their official debuts are confirmed.
KITTRIX has appeared in P-pop events and online coverage, but PPopBeats could not independently confirm a definitive official debut date or first commercial release. The group is therefore not included in the confirmed count for now.
This distinction matters because a group’s first public introduction, first song, debut showcase, and first album do not always happen on the same date.
Girl Groups Are Leading the 2026 Rookie Wave
One pattern stands out in this year’s rookie class: all five confirmed group debuts identified by PPopBeats are girl groups.
FINA, Baby Dolls, XONARA, OONA, and UNYRA do not share a single formula. They differ in company backing, location, lineup size, image, and musical presentation. That variety makes the trend more interesting than the number alone.
Their arrival does not guarantee that every group will receive the same opportunities or achieve the same level of visibility. A strong debut is only the beginning. The more difficult test comes afterward: releasing consistently, building a fandom, and securing stages where new audiences can discover them.
For fans, that uncertainty is part of the excitement. The rookie with the smallest audience today could eventually produce the year’s breakout song. A group still finding its place could grow into one of the scene’s most distinctive acts.
The story of P-pop’s 2026 rookie class is still being written—and these groups have only made their opening statements.
Which 2026 rookie made the strongest first impression on you? If we missed a group, send PPopBeats its official debut announcement or first commercial release so we can verify and update the list.
