MANILA, Philippines — Global music heavyweights BTS and Olivia Rodrigo are once again commanding attention from Filipino music fans after landing nominations in the People’s Choice – International Artist category of the Filipino Music Awards (FMA) 2026.
The two international superstars are part of a 10-artist lineup that puts some of the world’s biggest names head-to-head for a distinction determined directly by Filipino fans.
Joining BTS and Rodrigo in the category are 5 Seconds of Summer, Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Dominic Fike, Harry Styles, KATSEYE, Madonna, and Olivia Dean.
Unlike the FMA’s other award categories, the People’s Choice awards give fans the decisive vote, making the International Artist race particularly interesting for Filipino audiences with strong connections to global pop, K-pop and Western music.
BTS returns to the FMA spotlight
BTS enters the 2026 competition with an especially strong connection to the Filipino Music Awards.
At the inaugural Filipino Music Awards in 2025, j-hope was named the People’s Choice for International Artist, giving the BTS member the first-ever win in the category.
That previous victory could make the group’s 2026 nomination even more closely watched by Filipino ARMYs.
BTS has also remained highly visible in the international awards circuit this year. The group and its members have continued to figure prominently in major global music conversations, underscoring their enduring reach well beyond South Korea.
Olivia Rodrigo also gets Filipino fans’ attention
For Olivia Rodrigo, the nomination adds another notable chapter to her continuing connection with Filipino audiences.
The Filipino-American singer has maintained a strong presence on Philippine music charts. Philstar recently highlighted Rodrigo’s songs “The Cure” and “Drop Dead” among tracks appearing on the country’s Hot 100, demonstrating her continued resonance with local listeners.
Rodrigo is also competing on an increasingly crowded international stage. Recent Philippine coverage of the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards noted that she received two nominations there, for “Drop Dead” in Best Pop and “The Cure” in Best Alternative.
Who else is competing?
The FMA International Artist category brings together an unusually diverse field.
5 Seconds of Summer represents pop-rock, while Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Harry Styles and Madonna bring decades of combined international pop influence. KATSEYE, meanwhile, reflects the increasingly global nature of contemporary pop and K-pop-influenced music.
The complete People’s Choice – International Artist nominees are:
- 5 Seconds of Summer
- Ariana Grande
- Bruno Mars
- BTS
- Dominic Fike
- Harry Styles
- KATSEYE
- Madonna
- Olivia Dean
- Olivia Rodrigo
Filipino fans decide the winner
The 2026 People’s Choice Awards are being presented by Billboard Philippines, with three fan-voted categories: Artist, Song and International Artist. Each category has 10 nominees.
Voting opened on September 4 and will close on October 4, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. The winner will be announced during the Filipino Music Awards ceremony on October 6 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Importantly, Billboard Philippines says voting is conducted exclusively through its official website. Unlimited voting is permitted, while vote buying, bots, cheating and other attempts to manipulate the results are prohibited. An auditor will review votes for anomalies, and suspicious votes may be nullified.
That makes the coming weeks particularly crucial for the nominees’ Filipino fanbases.
The bigger picture for Philippine music
The international category also highlights how deeply Filipino listeners have become part of the global music ecosystem.
At the same time that international acts such as BTS, Rodrigo, Bruno Mars and Ariana Grande compete for Filipino fans’ votes, the 2026 Filipino Music Awards is putting the spotlight on the strength of homegrown OPM.
The awards’ main nominations include leading Filipino acts such as BINI, SB19, Cup of Joe, TJ Monterde, Maki and Earl Agustin, among others.
The FMA’s second edition therefore goes beyond a simple awards night: it places Filipino music alongside the global artists who have become deeply embedded in the country’s music culture.
And with BTS and Olivia Rodrigo now in the same fan-voted race, Filipino fans have a major decision to make.
Will ARMYs defend BTS’ International Artist crown—or will Olivia Rodrigo and the other global contenders pull off an upset?
The answer will ultimately come from the fans.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
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