2026 Music Awards Dates Confirmed; Kim Jae-won and IVE's Liz Named KGMA MCs
June 12, 2026
The host cities and dates for major 2026 music awards shows have been confirmed, with global live broadcasts and MC lineups announced. Notably, the 3rd Korea Grand Music Awards (KGMA) will be held over two days, November 7 and 8, at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. Actor Kim Jae-won and IVE member Liz have been confirmed as the MCs for the second day. The KGMA Organizing Committee stated that both are top trending stars in their respective fields and artists who love K-pop, calling it an honor.
Liz has shown strong presence since her debut with her striking visuals and solid vocal skills, and is currently meeting fans worldwide on her second world tour, 'Show What I Am.' Kim Jae-won, a former model turned actor, has built his own filmography by navigating various genres and characters. Recently, he has been active as the 40s bank manager (MC) on KBS2's music program 'Music Bank,' expanding his reach to K-pop fandoms with his stable hosting skills and unique charm. He also has many upcoming projects, including the MBC drama 'My Love Against My Will' and the movie 'Six Lying College Students.'
With this, the '2026 KGMA' will feature a fresh MC lineup unlike anywhere else, following Day 1 hosts Nam Ji-hyun and Lissenne, with Kim Jae-won and Liz joining for Day 2. KGMA is the 3rd edition of the award ceremony newly established in 2024 by Ilgan Sports, Korea's representative entertainment and sports media celebrating its 57th anniversary, aiming to present a new paradigm to the Korean popular music scene. Following the successful 1st and 2nd editions praised as 'stage foodie' spots, the 3rd edition confirms its domestic hosting to invite global fans to the heart of 'K.'
The '2026 KGMA' will be a festival where artists and fans come together, featuring singers who achieved meaningful results in various popular music categories such as K-pop, bands, and Trot, loved by fans domestically and internationally throughout the year. Expectations are high for a record-breaking stage this year, given the high praise for the performances in previous editions. The '2025 KGMA' held on November 14 and 15 last year was organized into 'Artist Day' and 'Music Day' for two days, filled with a rich feast of stages by artists totaling 32 teams. Groups like The Boyz, BOYNEXTDOOR, Stray Kids, IVE, ATEEZ, and All Day Project (alphabetical order) won the Grand Trophy, KGMA's highest honor, proving their hot popularity.
The '2026 KGMA' is hosted by Ilgan Sports (Edaily M) and co-organized by Creatoring, Quick Win Studio, and the KGMA Organizing Committee. Official fan voting will take place through the Fancast app. The artist lineup, award categories, and judging criteria will be released sequentially via the homepage and the Fancast voting app.