2026 MAMA Awards nominees: BIGBANG, BTS, BLACKPINK and aespa lead nominations

In the lead-up to the MAMA Awards 2026, CJ ENM, the organizer of the prestigious event, has released the nominations. The occasion, widely acknowledged as one of the biggest Asian music award ceremonies, features a blend of chart-topping groups and legacy acts. This year, the nominations showcase both new talents and established stars, with BIGBANG and BTS leading the pack with eight and seven nominations each, respectively.

Notably, Taeyang of BIGBANG and BTS are both nominated in the Best Male Group category, while Taeyang is also up for Best Male Artist. BLACKPINK and aespa are among the nominees for Best Female Group. Fans can participate in the voting process, which consists of two rounds, with the first round concluding on October 22 and the second starting on October 28.

The event will be held on November 20 and 21 at the Kyocera Dome Osaka in Japan and will be streamed globally on CJ ENM's Mnet Plus platform.