▲ K-pop boy group Stray Kids poses for a photo during a press conference for its upcoming EP "This & That" at a hotel in Seoul on Aug. 6, 2026. (Yonhap)

 

Top K-pop stars turned out in force for the "2026 TME Live International Music Awards" (2026 TIMA), a major awards ceremony in the Chinese-speaking region.

 

Held at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong on Aug. 22-23, 2026 TIMA featured leading K-pop acts including Super Junior, Stray Kids, aespa, IVE and TOMORROW X TOGETHER.

 

2026 TIMA is a music awards ceremony launched last year by Tencent Music Entertainment Group, China's largest music platform company. This year's event was attended not only by K-pop artists but also global pop star Charlie Puth.

 

Stray Kids won the Overseas Group of the Year award, while IVE received the Overseas Popular Group award. TOMORROW X TOGETHER took home the Best Overseas Boy Group of the Year award, while member Yeonjun won the Breakthrough Overseas Artist award as a solo artist. Evan, a former member of ENHYPEN, received the Global K Artist award.

 

As many as eight acts from SM Entertainment attended the ceremony. aespa took home six awards, the most of any artist, including Best Overseas Girl Group and Best Digital Mini Album, while four of their songs were named among the Top 10 Overseas Hits of the Year.

 

▲ This image provided by SM Entertainment shows its K-pop arists at the "2026 TME Live International Music Awards" (2026 TIMA), a major awards ceremony in the Chinese-speaking region. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)

 

Super Junior won the Most Influential Overseas Group of the Year award, Girls' Generation's Taeyeon received the Most Influential Overseas Artist of the Year award, and NCT's Taeyong was named Starlight Artist of the Year.

 

WayV won the Asian Icon Group award, while RIIZE was named Trending Overseas Group. NCT WISH received the Breakthrough Overseas Group award, and Hearts2Hearts was honored as a Rising Overseas Group.

 

Many other K-pop artists, including KiiiKiii, BABYMONSTER, ANDBL and ALPHA DRIVE ONE, also received awards. Popular virtual group PLAVE won the Overseas Popular Performance award.

 

▲ Virtual K-pop idol band Plave is seen in this photo provided by Vlast. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

An official from a major entertainment agency said the company attended because the ceremony offered an opportunity to meet fans in the Chinese-speaking region and expand its global influence. The official added that the event provided a chance to establish a foothold in the market at a time when activities in the region are challenging.

 

Another K-pop agency official described the event as "a symbolic occasion that demonstrates Tencent's influence," adding that there is strong demand among artists to attend even without receiving an award because Kai Tak Stadium, which can accommodate up to 50,000 people, offers an opportunity to make a strong impression on fans in the Chinese-speaking region.

 

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