Overview of the 2026 MAMA Awards
The 2026 MAMA Awards were officially announced on October 12, spotlighting some of the biggest names in K‑pop across multiple categories. Artists such as BTS, BLACKPINK, SEVENTEEN, aespa, IVE, Stray Kids and many others received nominations. The ceremony will take place at the Kyocera Dome Osaka in Japan on November 20 and 21, with a global live stream available via Mnet Plus.
Since its inception in 1999 as the Mnet Asian Music Awards, the event was rebranded to the MAMA Awards in 2009. Built around the slogan “Music Makes ONE”, the ceremony has expanded internationally, having been held in locations including Macao, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Japan and the United States.
Eligibility and Voting Mechanics
For the 2026 edition, only albums and singles released between October 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026 are eligible. Winners will be decided through a blend of professional jury scores, domestic and international streaming/download statistics, physical and digital album sales, and fan voting.
Specific weighting varies by award type:
- Artist of the Year (VISA): 40 % jury evaluation, 30 % song downloads/streams (15 % domestic, 15 % global), 30 % album sales.
- Song of the Year (VISA): 40 % jury evaluation, 60 % downloads/streams (30 % domestic, 30 % global).
- Album of the Year (VISA): 40 % jury evaluation, 60 % album sales.
- Fans’ Choice of the Year (VISA): 90 % Mnet Plus voting, 10 % social media voting, plus an additional 10 % Mnet Plus live vote.
Other categories follow similar formulas, with genre‑based awards splitting the score 50 % jury and 50 % streaming/downloads, while the Top 10 Best Songs relies entirely on streaming/download figures (split evenly between domestic and international). The Music Video with YouTube award and Best Choreography award are determined solely by jury review.
How Fans Can Vote
Fans wishing to influence the Fans’ Choice Male and Female categories can vote through two platforms:
- Mnet Plus: One vote per day per ID and device, with the option to select up to three acts in each gender category. Votes must be cast in both categories and cannot repeat the same artist.
- X (formerly Twitter): Users must post using the official hashtag #2026MAMAVOTE together with the artist’s specific voting tag found in the Mnet Plus app. Only public accounts qualify, and only the first post per day counts. Reposts are accepted, but posts containing multiple artist tags are invalid.
Nominee Highlights
The nominee list spans a wide range of talent:
- Best Male Artist: D.O, Yeonjun (TOMORROW X TOGETHER), Taeyang (BIGBANG), Taeyong (NCT 127), Young K (DAY6)
- Best Female Artist: Soyeon ((G)I‑DLE), Irene (Red Velvet), Hwasa, Taeyeon, Yena
- Best New Artist: EVAN, HIIPE Princess, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, HRTZ.WAV, LNGSHOT, MODYSSEY, OURBIRTHDAY, TUIDE, UNCHILD, AND2BLE
- Best Male Group: BTS, TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT), ATEEZ, BIGBANG, CORTIS, ENHYPEN, NCT WISH, Stray Kids
- Best Female Group: ILLIT, aespa, BABYMONSTER, BLACKPINK, Hearts2Hearts, IVE, LE SSERAFIM, NMIXX
Additional categories honor vocal performances, rap/hip‑hop, collaborations, OSTs, music videos, band performances and choreography, with notable entries such as “SWIM” by BTS, “SPAGHETTI (Feat. j‑hope)” by LE SSERAFIM, “2.0” by BTS for Best Music Video with YouTube, and “REDRED” by CORTIS for Best Choreography.
Album of the Year – VISA Nominees
The Album of the Year category highlights eighteen releases from well‑established K‑pop acts as well as newer groups. The nominated albums are:
- “Mark on Me” by &TEAM
- “ARIRANG” by BTS
- “7TH YEAR: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns” by TOMORROW X TOGETHER
- “LEMONADE” by aespa
- “EUPHORIA” by ALPHA DRIVE ONE
- “GOLDEN HOUR: Part.5” by ATEEZ
- “DEADLINE” by BLACKPINK
- “The Action” by BOYNEXTDOOR
- “GREENGREEN” by CORTIS
- “THE SIN: VANISH” by ENHYPEN
- “REVERXE” by EXO
- “REVIVE+” by IVE
- “Beat It Up” by NCT DREAM
- “Ode to Love” by NCT WISH
- “Caligo Pt.2” by PLAVE
- “II” by RIIZE
- “THIS & THAT” by Stray Kids
- “NO TRAGEDY” by TWS
2026 MAMA Fans’ Choice – Male Nominees
The male fan‑choice category features the following artists:
BTS, Stray Kids, SEVENTEEN, BIGBANG, ENHYPEN, TXT, EXO, ATEEZ, NCT DREAM, SHINee, Super Junior, NCT 127, DAY6, RIIZE, BOYNEXTDOOR, TREASURE, TWS, PLAVE, CNBLUE, Zico, Jay Park, WOODZ, NCT WISH, &TEAM, ZEROBASEONE, CRAVITY, B1A4, KickFlip, CORTIS, XLOV, EVNNE, NEXZ, 82MAJOR, CLOSE YOUR EYES, XODIAC, 8TURN, NouerA, NEXZ, LNGSHOT, Hui, Park Ji Hoon, JANNABI, AxMxP, EVAN, XLOV, NEXZ, IDID, AEN, AHOF, AND2BLE, FLARE U, hrtz.wav
2026 MAMA Fans’ Choice – Female Nominees
The female fan‑choice category includes these artists:
BLACKPINK, TWICE, aespa, IVE, (G)I‑DLE, BABYMONSTER, LE SSERAFIM, Taeyeon, Red Velvet, ITZY, NMIXX, ILLIT, KISS OF LIFE, MAMAMOO, AKMU, BIBI, Yoona, Yena, Chuu, I.O.I, FIFTY FIFTY, Kep1er, fromis_9, Lee Young Ji, Hearts2Hearts, ALLDAY PROJECT, MIMI, Younha, Yoon Mi Rae, Apink, MEOVV, KiiiKiii, izna, Billlie, ARTMS, Davichi, UNIS, Yuju, Dayoung, HANRORO, RESCENE, X:IN, VVUP, AtHeart, CSR, Baby DONT Cry, dodree, EJel, TUIDE, APOKI.
Event Experience in Osaka
Over two days, the Kyocera Dome Osaka will host a mixture of solo acts, groups, rappers and bands, celebrating achievements across the Korean pop spectrum. The venue’s large capacity ensures that fans from around the world can enjoy the performances either in person or through the Mnet Plus live stream.
Congratulations!
Congratulations to every artist nominated for the 2026 MAMA Awards. The upcoming ceremony promises to showcase the diversity and global reach of K‑pop while giving fans multiple ways to support their favorites.
