BTS, aespa take grand prizes on MMA2026 opening night
K-pop juggernauts BTS and aespa took home the two grand prizes on the opening night of the 2026 Melon Music Awards (MMA2026) on Saturday, with the former recognized for its blockbuster comeback album and the latter becoming the first winner of a new honor measuring K-pop's reach across Asia. Organized by Melon, Kakao Entertainment's music streaming platform and the largest in Korea, the MMA is…
On the inaugural night of the 2026 Melon Music Awards (MMA2026), K-pop behemoths BTS and aespa claimed the top honors. BTS was bestowed the prestigious KakaoBank Album of the Year for their fifth studio album, ARIRANG, as well as accolades for Stage of the Year and a Global Top 10 achievement. Additionally, Kim Hyun-jung, the vice president of their management company BigHit Music, was honored as Best Producer.
On the other hand, aespa etched their name in history as the inaugural recipient of a novel award, recognizing their widespread influence across Asia. The MMA2026, organized by Melon and Kakao Entertainment, the leading music streaming service in South Korea, marked a historic expansion for the event, running over two nights and introducing awards connected to the Global-K Chart, a new ranking system launched in June.
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- BTS, aespa take grand prizes on MMA2026 opening night koreatimes.co.kr
