The 2026 Melon Music Awards has named its TOP10 winners, setting up an Artist of the Year contest between ten acts spanning several generations of Korean pop. AKMU, BTS, CORTIS, Hearts2Hearts, I.O.I, ILLIT, IVE, KiiiKiii, NCT WISH and PLAVE have secured TOP10 honors and become nominees for the ceremony’s Artist of the Year grand prize. The announcement followed the first voting round, which ended October 29. Soompi
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The October 30 category announcements also put several of those artists in contention for additional major awards. Album of the Year nominees include BTS’s ARIRANG, IVE’s REVIVE+, I.O.I’s I.O.I : LOOP and aespa’s LEMONADE. Among the Song of the Year contenders are BTS’s “SWIM,” CORTIS’s “REDRED” and ILLIT’s “It’s Me.” These are selected nominees from the two categories, rather than their complete lineups. Soompi
The New Artist of the Year field consists of ALPHA DRIVE ONE, HADES, LNGSHOT, SYSTEM SEOUL and TUIDE. Meanwhile, Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Charlie Puth, KATSEYE and Tame Impala are competing for Best Pop Artist. The separate rookie category also means that a newer act’s appearance in the TOP10 should not be confused with a New Artist nomination. MK
Category voting runs from October 30 through November 13, according to Melon’s official schedule. For Artist, Album, Song and New Artist of the Year, the results combine 60% digital performance, 20% judging-panel assessment and 20% voting. A strong fan-vote showing therefore contributes to the outcome without determining it alone. TrackZero Choice uses a different balance—20% digital performance, 60% panel assessment and 20% voting—while Record of the Year is decided entirely by the panel. melon.com
The main release-eligibility window runs from November 20, 2025, through October 14, 2026, although some categories have separate assessment periods. The ceremony takes place November 14 and 15 at Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome, beginning at 6 p.m. KST each day. Melon’s official viewing guide lists overseas coverage through the Melon and 1theK YouTube channels, with some countries excluded. Fans should check regional access before the broadcast. melon.com