LAS VEGAS, Nevada — In a spectacular evening that bridged a legendary throwback revival with the rapid rise of modern global pop, Pinoy musical talent commanded the global stage. Filipino-American hip-hop veteran Apl.de.ap and global girl group Katseye—featuring Filipina member Sophia Laforteza—emerged as standout victors at the 2026 American Music Awards (AMAs).
Held at the star-studded MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the ceremony put a bright spotlight on the massive impact of Filipino artists across different eras of the music industry.
The night celebrated both nostalgic longevity and immediate global breakthroughs, proving that classic hits and fresh formulas carry equal weight with international audiences:
[ 2026 American Music Awards - Las Vegas ]
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[ VETERAN REVIVAL ] [ THE NEW POP COHORT ]
The Black Eyed Peas secure **Best Throwback Global sensation Katseye sweeps **3 major
Song** for "Rock That Body." categories**, including **New Artist of the Year**.
For Apl.de.ap, the evening served as an unlikely chart-resurgence milestone. The Black Eyed Peas’ 2010 club anthem “Rock That Body” enjoyed a massive viral second life online over the past year, becoming the soundtrack to a massive viral dance trend that introduced the track to a younger generation. Its renewed streaming popularity ultimately translated into official AMA recognition, with the group taking home the award for Best Throwback Song.
Reuniting on stage to accept the honor, the proud Kapampangan rapper bypassed standard Hollywood protocols to dedicate the achievement directly to his roots, shouting out:
“Thank you to all the fans around the world who voted for this song, ‘Rock That Body.’ Maraming salamat, mahal ko kayo. Mabuhay ang Filipino!”
While the veterans celebrated legacy endurance, the HYBE x Geffen collaborative group Katseye verified their status as the future of global pop. Following a massive breakout year in the US market, the group tied for the most awards won during the evening, securing three major accolades.
[ KATSEYE'S 2026 AMA PERFORMANCE MATRIX ]
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[ THE RECOGNITION TRIFECTA ] [ THE PACING SHOUT-OUT ]
• **The Trophy Haul:** The group walked away with **New Artist of the** • **The BTS Blueprints:** In her acceptance speech, group leader
**Year**, **Breakthrough Pop Artist**, and **Best Music Video**. Sophia Laforteza specifically thanked K-pop icons BTS.
• **Live Execution:** They solidified their awards sweep by delivering a • **Cultural Driving:** "Thank you to BTS tonight for inspiring us to
high-octane, perfectly harmonized performance of **"Pinky Up."** represent our culture at a global scale," she declared.
Filipina idol Sophia closed her emotional speech with a heartfelt, “Maraming, maraming salamat!” while fellow member Lara Raj reflected on Katseye’s core creative mandate, stating, “We’ve always been on a mission to celebrate diversity and represent our people and our cultures.”
The 2026 AMAs proved highly fruitful for globally minded pop acts, highlighted by historic intersections backstage and on the performance floor:
| Featured Artist / Group | Award Recognitions Collected | Major Ceremony Highlights & Milestones |
| Katseye (Sophia, Daniela, Yoonchae, Lara, Megan) | New Artist of the Year Breakthrough Pop Artist Best Music Video (“Gnarly”) | Tied for the night’s highest trophy count; their newest hit “Pinky Up” sits at No. 76 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated May 23. |
| BTS (K-pop Supergroup) | Artist of the Year Best Male K-Pop Artist Song of the Summer (“Swim”) | Made their triumphant return to the AMAs in four years; interacted heavily with Katseye members backstage and at their “Arirang” concert. |
| The Pussycat Dolls | Special Performance Showcase | Fil-Am icon Nicole Scherzinger donned a striking red latex outfit for a reunion performance of their definitive classic “Don’t Cha.” |
The celebration extended well beyond the official stage. Katseye members Sophia and Yoonchae shared during a subsequent fan interaction that they met the entire seven-member lineup of BTS backstage, with Yoonchae humorously admitting she was so nervous she temporarily forgot how to speak Korean.
By marrying high-energy performance metrics with an unwavering dedication to their respective homelands, Laforteza and Apl.de.ap demonstrated that Filipino heritage is no longer a minor footprint in the music industry—it is actively shaping the main stage of global pop.