At the 40th Golden Disc Awards held at Taipei Dome on January 10, Stray Kids , G-Dragon , and Jennie of BLACKPINK emerged as the night’s biggest winners, each taking home a Grand Prize (Daesang) .
Stray Kids were awarded the Album of the Year Daesang for their fourth studio album “5-STAR (KARMA)”. During their emotional acceptance speech, the group shared, “We never imagined we’d be giving a Daesang speech at Golden Disc. Our dream was just to win a Bonsang (Main Prize), so this is overwhelming.” They also expressed heartfelt gratitude to their fans, known as STAY , saying, “The past eight years have been filled with precious memories. We want to keep walking this journey together.”
G-Dragon earned the Digital Song of the Year Daesang for his track “Home Sweet Home.” Though absent from the ceremony, he shared a video message: “It’s an honor to receive my first award of the year as a Digital Daesang. Thank you to all VIPs and fans. I hope to return this year with BIGBANG.”
Jennie made history as the first recipient of the newly created Artist of the Year Daesang , recognizing outstanding global influence. She said, “Receiving such a big award in the same year I celebrate my 10th debut anniversary is deeply meaningful. I feel one step closer to my dreams.” Jennie also took home three additional awards , including a Digital Bonsang , a Global Impact Award , and a Bonsang with BLACKPINK , totaling four trophies for the night.
Rookies CORTIS and ALLDAY Project won the New Artist Award , marking a strong debut in the competitive K-pop scene. Cortiz gave thanks to HYBE’s Bang Si-hyuk and their team, while ALLDAY Project thanked Teddy and their fans.
Despite the glamour, the nearly seven-hour-long ceremony tested the stamina of both attendees and performers. Still, the scale and spectacle, featuring stages from IVE, ENHYPEN, BOYNEXTDOOR, and more, made it a night to remember.
Full List of Major Winners – 40th Golden Disc Awards:
- Album Daesang : Stray Kids ( KARMA )
- Digital Song Daesang : G-Dragon ( Home Sweet Home )
- Artist Daesang : Jennie (BLACKPINK)
- New Artist Award : CORTIS, ALLDAY Project
- Digital Bonsang : Jennie, BLACKPINK, G-Dragon, Rosé, aespa, Boynextdoor, LE SSERAFIM, ALLDAY Project, Jo Jazz
- Album Bonsang : Stray Kids, SEVENTEEN, TXT, RIIZE, ENHYPEN, NCT WISH, ATEEZ, IVE, ZEROBASEONE, G-Dragon
- Best Group : MONSTA X, IVE
- Best Performance : TOURUS, ISNA
- Next Generation Artist : KiKi
- Golden Choice Award : ARK, Close Your Eyes
- Cosmopolitan Artist Award : IVE
- Global Impact Award (w/ PRIZM) : Jennie
- Naver AI Choice : BOYNEXTDOOR
- Upbit Popularity Award : Jin (BTS)
As the Golden Disc Awards marked its 40th anniversary , the 2026 edition celebrated the enduring legacy and future of K-pop.
Sources: Daum