ENTERTAINMENT | September 25, 2026
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| (Image Source: GMA News/Facebook/AWIT Awards) |
The 39th AWIT Awards gathered artists, songwriters, musicians, producers, record labels and members of the Philippine music industry at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on September 15, 2026 for a night recognizing achievements across Filipino music. The 39th edition was a joint collaboration and co-production between the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) and Go Live Asia led by PARI President Enzo Valdez, Go Live Asia Founder and Director Nico Faustino, Creative Director Paolo Valenciano, and Managing Director Ranice Faustino. This year’s awards carried the central idea “IISANG AWIT”, bringing together different generations, genres, regions and communities through Filipino music. The idea was expressed throughout the program in the line, “
Kahit iba-iba ang tunog, kapag musika ang pinag-uusapan, iisa ang puso natin.”
The evening began with a pre-show followed by a live red carpet, giving the celebration a broader platform beyond the main ceremony. The pre-show presented the Technical Awards and Special Recording Awards, recognizing the creative and technical work behind recordings as well as Filipino music across regional, international and specialized categories. The red carpet featured artist arrivals and interviews with members of the music industry with conversations centered on IISANG AWIT, the evolution of OPM, and Filipino music’s growing international reach. The main ceremony was hosted by veteran host and radio DJ Sam YG who led audiences through the evening’s awards and performances. The show opened with Moro Beats, bringing the music and rhythm of Mindanao to the AWIT stage. The program described the performance as representing Filipino hip-hop artists, producers and storytellers from the South and highlighting another part of the evolving sound of OPM. Performances throughout the night included Fitter Karma, Maki, Janine Berdin, Marina Summers, and Gloc-9 with Shockra, before IV of Spades closed the ceremony with Kabisado and Aura. Among the evening’s notable presenters were SB19, Jose Mari Chan, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Ogie Alcasid, Jim Paredes, James Reid, Catriona Gray, and other artists and personalities representing different generations of Philippine music and entertainment. The program also recognized organizations that form part of the broader Philippine music ecosystem including the Asosasyon ng Musikong Pilipino (AMP), Original Pilipino Music (OPM), Philippines Recorded Music Rights Inc. (PRM), and the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (FILSCAP). The evening also highlighted AWIT’s growing international connections through the TULAY Awards and its collaboration with Music Awards Japan with representatives from Japan participating in the ceremony.
A Night Of Multiple Wins Across OPMThis year's AWIT AWARDS reflected a wide range of Filipino music with multiple wins across several artists and genres. Dionela received the most awards of the evening with four wins for Ikigai featuring Loonie: Best Collaboration, Best R&B Recording, Best Rap/Hip-Hop Recording, and Best Vocal Arrangement. IV of Spades received three awards, including two Grand Awards: Album of the Year for Andalucia and Song of the Year for Aura, alongside Best Sound Engineered Recording for Monster. SB19 also received three awards with Dungka winning Best Pop Recording, Best Dance/Electronic Recording, and Best Music Video. SB19 member PABLO (John Paulo Nase) was separately named Songwriter of the Year for his work as part of RadKidz. Other Grand Award recipients included Fitter Karma for Record of the Year with Pag-ibig ay Kanibalismo II, Brian Lotho for Producer of the Year, and Nicole for Best New Artist. Janine Berdin, Ben&Ben, and Project Yazz were also among the artists receiving multiple awards during the evening. Here is the complete list of 39th AWIT AWARDS winners.
Grand Awards● Album of the Year — Andalucia by IV of Spades
● Song of the Year — Aura by IV of Spades
● Record of the Year — Pag-ibig ay Kanibalismo II by Fitter Karma
● Songwriter of the Year — John Paulo Nase aka PABLO (RadKidz)
● Producer of the Year — Brian Lotho
● Best New Artist — Nicole
Performance Awards● Best Performance by a Solo Artist — What If I Miss You for the Rest of My Life by Janine Berdin
● Best Performance by a Group — Saranggola by Ben&Ben
● Best Collaboration — Ikigai by Dionela ft. Loonie
Genre Awards● Best Pop Recording — Dungka by SB19
● Best Dance/Electronic Recording — Dungka by SB19
● Best R&B Recording — Ikigai by Dionela ft. Loonie
● Best Rap/Hip-Hop Recording — Ikigai by Dionela ft. Loonie
● Best Jazz Recording — Yamot-Ennui by Project Yazz
● Best Traditional/Contemporary/Folk Recording — Malalim ang Gabi by Project Yazz
● Best Ballad Recording — What If I Miss You for the Rest of My Life by Janine Berdin
● Best World Music Recording — Love on Loop by Lola Amour
● Best Alternative Recording — Telepono by One Click Straight
● Best Rock/Metal Recording — Rapture by Typecast
Special Recording Awards● Best Regional Recording — Ayaw Baya by Arthur Nery
● Best Novelty Recording — Baduy by VVINK, DJ Love ft. Sherwin Tuna
● Best Inspirational Recording — Nandiyan Ka by Ice Seguerra
● Best Instrumental Recording — The Awakening by Kiss the Bride
● Best Musical Theater Recording — Gregoria Lakambini
● Best Original Soundtrack Recording — Hanapin Ang Sarili by Morissette
● Best Recording by a Child or for Children — To Be Close to Jesus by Young Voices of the Philippines
● Best Global Collaboration Recording — The Moment by Lola Amour and KOKORO of PSYCHIC FEVER from EXILE TRIBE
● Best Christmas Recording — Love Joy Hope by Various Artists
Technical Awards● Best Vocal Arrangement — Ikigai by Dionela ft. Loonie
● Best Musical Arrangement — Saranggola by Ben&Ben
● Best Sound Engineered Recording — Monster by IV of Spades
● Best Remix Recording — Sabi Ko Na (Remix) by YARA & Nateman, remixed by Yung Bawal
● Best Cover Art — Not That Girl by Barbie Almalbis, cover art by Martin Honasan
● Best Music Video — Dungka by SB19, directed by Kerbs Balagtas
At its core, IISANG AWIT reflected the intention of the 39th edition to bring the music industry together while recognizing its diversity. As expressed in the program, Filipino music can encompass different sounds, languages and stories while remaining rooted in a shared identity, whether heard in the Philippines or beyond its shores. The 39th edition now leads into a milestone year for the AWIT brand with the 40th AWIT Awards scheduled for April 2027. The anniversary edition is planned as the grandest AWIT Awards to date, marking four decades of the awards while celebrating the legacy, present and future of Filipino music.
