[Edaily Reporter KIM HYUNSIK ] "We will demonstrate the power of music that transcends time and space."

Shin Hyung-kwan, Head of the Music Content Business Division at CJ ENM, made this statement on the 29th while explaining the concept behind this year’s awards ceremony at the “2026 MAMA Awards” media day held at the Eliena Hotel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
◇The concept is “Music Interstellar”… Highlighting K-pop’s past, present, and future
The “MAMA Awards” is a K-pop music awards ceremony that CJ ENM has hosted since 1999. Originally launched as the “Mnet Video Music Awards,” the ceremony transformed into the “Mnet Asian Music Awards” in 2009 to position itself as an Asian music awards show, and was rebranded as the “MAMA Awards” in 2022 to reflect the expanding global influence of K-pop.
Shin, the head of the division, emphasized, “The ‘MAMA Awards’ have grown alongside K-pop,” adding, “Every year, we’ve gone beyond simply expanding the scale of the performances to create moments that will be remembered as defining moments in K-pop history.”
He continued, “Artists from different cultures and regions have come together on one stage and united through music,” expressing his determination to further elevate the value of the “MAMA Awards” this year through new initiatives and distinctive performances.
The “MAMA Awards” have been held in various regions, including South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, and the United States. This year’s ceremony will take place over two days, the 20th and 21st of next month, at the Kyocera Dome Osaka in Japan.

The theme of the awards ceremony is “Music Interstellar.” It embodies the concept of presenting moments where people are united through music, transcending the boundaries of time, space, imagination, and reality. The vision is to provide a new musical experience through stages that encompass the past, present, and future of K-pop, as well as collaborations across various cultural and artistic genres.
Yoon Shin-hye, Head of Mnet Business Division, said, “As we examined this year’s trends, we observed a growing desire for the human touch amid rapidly evolving digital technology, as well as a trend of re-examining cultural heritage from the past.”
She continued, “We’ve entered an era where people explore their own algorithms to discover and delve deeply into music that suits their tastes. Amid rapidly changing trends, music from the past is sometimes embraced by the current generation as something new and exciting.” She added, “Against this backdrop, we aimed to capture the journey of fans worldwide as they enjoy K-pop beyond the boundaries of time and space, sharing diverse experiences and tastes.”
Under the “Music Interstellar” concept, the event aims to present diverse collaborative performances that break down the boundaries between generations and genres. Actor Park Bo-gum, who has hosted the awards ceremony on multiple occasions, will serve as this year’s inaugural “MAMA Ambassador.”
Director Yoon added, “Park Bo-gum has faithfully fulfilled his role as host for many years,” and continued, “This year, we expect him to serve as a guide on this journey through the musical universe and help ensure the storytelling flows smoothly.”

◇From PANIC to a Big Bang x Dooly collaboration… Breaking Down Generational and Genre Barriers
This year’s awards ceremony will feature All Day Project, Alpha Drive One, Baby Monster, CL, ENHYPEN, Hearts to Hearts, Ailette, INI, Longshot, Modisei, NCT WISH, Lisenne, the cast of “Street World Fighter: Director’s War,” and TREASURE (Day 1), N-Team, Big Bang, Cortis, Hwasa, IVE, Izna, Kiki, Koikids, LE SSERAFIM, Nayeon, Woods, and Zero Base One (all on Day 2).
On that day, Director Yoon revealed that the duo Panic (Lee Juck and Kim Jin-pyo), who debuted in 1995, would be performing and teased a collaborative stage between them and younger artists. Panic is set to perform alongside Curtis Martin and Seong-hyun, Woods, Zero Base One’s Kim Tae-rae, All Day Project’s Woo-chan, and Hearts to Hearts’ Yu-ha.
It was also revealed that there will be collaborative performances featuring “Baby Dinosaur Dooly,” Korea’s iconic animated character created in 1983, and the upcoming film “Dune: Part 3.”
The artist set to collaborate with “Baby Dinosaur Dooly” is BIGBANG, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Director Yoon described it as “a meeting between a legendary character and a legendary artist,” adding, “BIGBANG is set to present a special stage where Dooly and the characters from the series come together. It will be a moment that resonates across generations.”
The stage linked to “Dune: Part 3” will be curated by ENHYPEN. Director Yoon stated, “ENHYPEN is a group with a distinct worldview,” adding, “We will weave together ENHYPEN’s worldview and that of the film to present a symbolic stage unlike anything seen before.”

A stage incorporating Korean contemporary art will also be featured. Through a collaboration with artist Lee Bae, known for his charcoal-based works, the organizers plan to convey the enduring significance of craftsmanship—even in an era of rapid technological advancement—on stage. Additionally, a stage utilizing Google’s generative AI, Gemini, is in the works.
Prior to the awards ceremony, a “MAMA Fan Festa” will be held in the Osaka area. An online event via the digital platform Mnet Plus will run concurrently. Park Chan-wook, Head of Mnet’s Convention Business Division, explained, “The ‘Fan Festa’ is focused on allowing fans to directly experience and engage with the event, rather than simply watching the awards ceremony,” adding, “We will make it a festival where fans can explore what they love in their own way and discover new interests.”
The “2026 MAMA Awards” will be broadcast live on Mnet and Mnet Plus. On the first day, awards in the artist categories—including the Fan’s Choice Top 10, determined by fan voting, as well as Best New Artist and awards for male and female solo artists and groups—will be presented. On the second day, genre-specific awards, such as the Best Song Top 10, Best Vocal, and Best Dance Performance, will be presented.