2026 MAMA Awards Nominees: BIGBANG, BTS Lead Nominations

The biggest names in K-popK-PopA genre of South Korean popular music known for polished production, intricate choreography, and elaborate visuals, built around trainee systems and global fandoms. K-pop has a huge following in theGo to K-Pop Glossary are gearing up for one of the year’s most anticipated award shows as the 2026 MAMA Awards officially unveil its nominees on October 12, 2026.

The Kings of K-popK-PopA genre of South Korean popular music known for polished production, intricate choreography, and elaborate visuals, built around trainee systems and global fandoms. K-pop has a huge following in theGo to K-Pop Glossary BIGBANG and global phenomenon BTS received the most nominations, considering both group and solo member recognition. TXT, MAMAMOO, aespa, ATEEZ, IVE, LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, and CORTIS are also among those who earned multiple nods across various categories.

The eligibility period runs from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026, with nominees in the artist categories automatically considered for Artist of the Year. For Album of the Year, the releases must sell at least one million copies to qualify.

Meanwhile, Song of the Year nominees will be announced at a later date. Stay tuned to this page for updates.

Alongside the artist, genre, song, and album categories, there is also the Fans’ Choice Awards which will featureFeatureA collaboration in which one artist appears on another's track, usually credited with the abbreviation feat. Features quickly introduce performers to each other's audiences, and a well-chosen guest can liftGo to Feature Glossary fan voting. The first round runs until October 22, 2026 at 11:59 PM KST, with 20 artists advancing to the second round scheduled from October 28 at 6 PM KST to November 18 at 11:59 PM KST.

The awards ceremony will take place on November 20 and 21, 2026, at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Osaka, Japan.

Best New Artist

ALPHA DRIVE ONE
AND2BLE
EVAN
H//PE Princess
hrtz.wav
LNGSHOT
MODYSSEY
OURBIRTHDAY
TUIDE
UNCHILD

Best Male Artist

D.O.
TAEYANG
TAEYONG
YEONJUN
Young K

Best Female Artist

HWASA
IRENE
SOYEON
TAEYEON
YENA

Best Male Group

ATEEZ
BIGBANG
BTS
CORTIS
ENHYPEN
NCT WISH
Stray Kids
TXT

Best Female Group

aespa
BABYMONSTER
BLACKPINK
Hearts2Hearts
ILLIT
IVE
LE SSERAFIM
NMIXX

Best Vocal Performance Solo

“Good Goodbye” – HWASA
“Unknown Planet” – IU
“Less than a Lover” – JENNIE
“No Words Can Say” – Roy Kim
“CINEMA” – WOODZ

Best Vocal Performance Group

“Paradise of Rumors” – AKMU
“SWIM” – BTS
“TIME CAPSULE” – DAVICHI
“Blue” – DxS (SEVENTEEN)
“4 Flowers” – MAMAMOO

Best Rap & Hip-Hop Performance

“Nostalgia” – BIG Naughty
“Yarrr” – HAON
“KOLOK COLOK” – NOWIMYOUNG
“IF I” – TREASURE
“DUET” – ZICO, Lilas

Best OST

“Love Language” from Can This Love Be Translated? – Kim Min Seok of MeloMance
“My Flavor” from The Legend of Kitchen Soldier – MigakBoys
“Anytime anyhow” from Surely Tomorrow – Sung Si Kyung
“A Day” from EXchange 4 – Suzy
“Season of Us” from My Royal Nemesis – Young K

Best Music Video

“BiiiG” – BIGBANG
“2.0” – BTS
“Good Goodbye” – HWASA
“Mono (Feat. skaiwater)” – i-dle
“DDI RO RI” – MEOVV

Best Collaboration

“WDA (Whole Different Animal) (Feat. G-Dragon)” – aespa
“FLIRTY” – DAYOUNG X Jay Park
“SPAGHETTI (Feat. j-hope)” – LE SSERAFIM
“ICONIC BY MISTAKE” – LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, KATSEYE
“Always” – Parc Jae Jung, Sullyoon of NMIXX

Best Band Performance

“BIG VOID” – Silica Gel
“Just Kids” – JANNABI
“All Ages” – LUCY
“CEREMONY” – QWER
“Voyager” – Xdinary Heroes

Best Choreography

“BAD” – ATEEZ
“REDRED” – CORTIS
“It’s Me” – ILLIT
“BANG BANG” – IVE
“Catch Catch” – YENA

Best Dance Performance Male Solo

“TOUGH LOVE” – ONEW
“FLOAT” – TAEMIN
“LIVE FAST DIE SLOW” – TAEYANG
“WYLD” – TAEYONG
“Ice Cream” – YEONJUN

Best Dance Performance Female Solo

“BUMPA” – BIBI
“What’s a girl to do” – DAYOUNG
“I’m gonna TOESA” – SOYEON
“Catch Catch” –YENA
“Ice Cream” – YUNA of ITZY

Best Dance Performance Male Group

“BAD” – ATEEZ
“BiiiG” – BIGBANG
“Hollywood Action” – BOYNEXTDOOR
“REDRED” – CORTIS
“Do your dance” – RIIZE
“This & That” – Stray Kids
“OVERDRIVE” – TWS
“TOP 5” – ZEROBASE ONE

Best Dance Performance Female Group

“LEMONADE” – aespa
“RUDE!” – Hearts2Hearts
“Suddenly” – I.O.I
“It’s Me” – ILLIT
“BANG BANG” – IVE
“404 (New Era)” – KiiiKiii
“SPAGHETTI (Feat. j-hope)” – LE SSERAFIM
“Blue Valentine” – NMIXX

Artist of the Year

aespa
ALPHA DRIVE ONE
AND2BLE
ATEEZ
BABYMONSTER
BIGBANG
BLACKPINK
BTS
CORTIS
D.O.
ENHYPEN
EVAN
H//PE Princess
Hearts2Hearts
hrtz.wav
HWASA
ILLIT
IRENE
IVE
LE SSERAFIM
LNGSHOT
MODYSSEY
NCT WISH
NMIXX
OURBIRTHDAY
SOYEON
Stray Kids
TAEYANG
TAEYEON
TAEYONG
TUIDE
TXT
UNCHILD
YENA
YEONJUN
Young K

Album of the Year

Mark on Me – &TEAM
LEMONADE – aespa
EUPHORIA – ALPHA DRIVE ONE
GOLDEN HOUR : Part.5 – ATEEZ
DEADLINE – BLACKPINK
The Action – BOYNEXTDOOR
ARIRANG – BTS
GREENGREEN – CORTIS
THE SIN : VANISH – ENHYPEN
REVERXE – EXO
REVIVE+ – IVE
Beat It Up – NCT DREAM
Ode to Love – NCT WISH
Caligo Pt.2 – PLAVE
II – RIIZE
THIS & THAT – Stray Kids
NO TRAGEDY – TWS
7TH YEAR: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns – TXT

Fans’ Choice Male

&TEAM
82MAJOR
8TURN
AEN
AHOF
ALPHA DRIVE ONE
AND2BLE
ATEEZ
AxMxP
B1A4
BIGBANG
BOYNEXTDOOR
BTS
CLOSE YOUR EYES
CNBLUE
CORTIS
CRAVITY
DAY6
ENHYPEN
EVAN
EVNNE
EXO
FLARE U
hrtz.wav
HUI
IDID
JANNABI
Jay Park
KickFlip
LNGSHOT
NCT 127
NCT DREAM
NCT WISH
NEXZ
NouerA
PARK JI HOON
PLAVE
RIIZE
SEVENTEEN
SHINee
Stray Kids
SUPER JUNIOR
TREASURE
TWS
TXT
WOODZ
XLOV
XODIAC
ZEROBASEONE
ZICO

Fans’ Choice Female

aespa
AKMU
ALLDAY PROJECT
Apink
APOKI
ARTMS
AtHeart
Baby DONT Cry
BABYMONSTER
BIBI
Billlie
BLACKPINK
CHUU
CSR
DAVICHI
DAYOUNG
dodree
EJel
FIFTY FIFTY
fromis_9
HANRORO
Hearts2Hearts
i-dle
I.O.I
ILLIT
ITZY
IVE
izna
Kep1er
KiiiKiii
KISS OF LIFE
LE SSERAFIM
Lee Young Ji
MAMAMOO
MEOVV
Mimi
NMIXX
Red Velvet
RESCENE
TAEYEON
TUIDE
TWICE
UNIS
VVUP
X:IN
YENA
YOON MIRAE
YOONA
Younha
YUJU

Andrea Manuel

Writer

Andrea Manuel is a Writer at Billboard Philippines, covering the latest developments in Filipino music and culture. She reports on daily news spanning OPM, P-pop, hip-hop, and mainstream international releases that resonate with Filipino audiences, helping readers stay informed on the artists, releases, and trends shaping today’s music landscape.

Her coverage includes music releases, artist debuts, concert announcements, festival appearances, industry developments, and notable milestones, with a particular interest in documenting the evolving stories of both emerging and established artists across genres.

Andrea has also written concert and album reviews, as well as feature stories drawn from artist interviews. Through timely and engaging reporting, she highlights artists, releases, and cultural moments driving conversations across the Philippine music industry and beyond.

See more stories by Andrea Manuel