▲ This poster provided by Kakao Entertainment promotes the 2026 Melon Music Awards (MMA2026), set to be held Nov. 14-15, 2026, at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, June 9 (Yonhap) -- Kakao Entertainment's music streaming platform Melon said Tuesday that the 2026 Melon Music Awards (MMA2026) will be held Nov. 14-15 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.

 

It will mark the first time the annual K-pop awards ceremony is being held over two days.

 

Organizers said the expanded format is intended to transform the event into a larger K-pop festival that can be enjoyed by more artists and fans.

 

The key theme of this year's ceremony is "Connect," with the main slogan announced as "K-POP CONNECT: The New Pulse."

 

According to organizers, the slogan reflects the idea that K-pop unites fans around the world beyond the boundaries of time and space, while positioning the Melon Music Awards as a starting point for new musical movements connecting artists and global fandoms.

 

First launched in 2005, the Melon Music Awards is an annual music awards ceremony and festival that recognizes achievements in K-pop based on Melon's streaming data, fan voting and evaluations by industry experts.

 

Organizers said MMA2026 will be expanded to better reflect the voices of K-pop fans worldwide through a wider range of performances and programs.

 

"We will create a festival where artists and fans can share their passion and enjoy the celebration together," organizers said.

 

The event will also incorporate the newly launched Global-K Chart into some award categories. Details on specific awards and evaluation criteria will be announced later.

 

The Global-K Chart, introduced this month, ranks songs based on streaming data and fandom activity across three major music platforms in South Korea, China and Japan: Melon, Tencent Music Entertainment and LINE MUSIC.

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]