Full Winners List From The Fact Music Awards 2026 As K-Pop Excellence Takes Center Stage At Busan Asiad Main Stadium

The global music industry turned its gaze toward South Korea on September 19, 2026, as The Fact Music Awards (TMA) 2026 convened at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium to honor the year’s most influential artists. This year’s ceremony was marked by a significant shift in the award structure, featuring four distinct Daesang (Grand Prize) honors designed to recognize different facets of musical excellence: Icon of the Year, Sound of the Year, Muse of the Year, and Record of the Year. The evening saw a mix of veteran dominance and the rapid ascent of fifth-generation groups, illustrating the dynamic evolution of the K-pop landscape.

The Pinnacle of Achievement: The 2026 Daesang Winners

The four Daesang prizes represent the highest honors of the night, awarded based on a rigorous combination of digital streaming data, physical album sales, and professional jury evaluation.

ATEEZ secured the "Icon of the Year" Daesang, a testament to their unwavering global influence and their reputation as one of the industry’s premier performance acts. Following a year of sold-out stadium tours across North America and Europe, the group’s impact on the international stage was deemed unmatched by the judging panel.

NMIXX was awarded "Sound of the Year," recognizing the group’s technical vocal prowess and the successful refinement of their "MIXX POP" genre. The award highlights the industry’s appreciation for their sonic innovation and the high production quality of their 2026 releases.

RIIZE took home the "Muse of the Year" Daesang. This award, which focuses on the intersection of musicality and cultural trendsetting, acknowledges RIIZE’s significant brand power and their role in defining the aesthetic and musical direction of the current generation.

The "Record of the Year" Daesang was bestowed upon CORTIS. This honor is traditionally linked to the most impactful single or album release of the year, taking into account both commercial success and critical acclaim. For CORTIS, a group that has seen meteoric growth over the past twelve months, this win solidifies their position at the forefront of the new K-pop era.

Artist of the Year: The Bonsang Recipients

The "Artist of the Year" awards, often referred to as Bonsangs, were presented to eleven acts who demonstrated exceptional performance throughout the 2026 eligibility period. These winners represented a diverse cross-section of the industry, from established leaders to rising stars. The recipients included:

• ATEEZ
• KiiiKiii
• TREASURE
• NMIXX
• ILLIT
• Yena
• RESCENE
• CORTIS
• ALLDAY PROJECT
• ALPHA DRIVE ONE
• RIIZE

The inclusion of groups like ILLIT and RESCENE alongside veterans like ATEEZ and TREASURE points to a healthy turnover within the industry, where newer acts are quickly finding substantial commercial footing.

Recognizing New Talent and Global Trends

The Fact Music Awards 2026 also placed a heavy emphasis on the future of the genre through the "Next Leader" and "Hottest" categories. The "Next Leader Award," often seen as a predictor of future Daesang contenders, was shared by ALPHA DRIVE ONE and CORTIS. Both groups have displayed remarkable growth in their domestic and international fanbases within their first two years of debut.

The "Hottest Award" was presented to IDID and xikers, recognizing their explosive popularity and the high level of social media engagement they generated throughout the year. In the "Global Hot Trend" category, tripleS and CLOSE YOUR EYES were honored for their ability to resonate with international audiences and their success on global streaming platforms.

The ceremony also acknowledged the "World Best Performer," an award given to TREASURE. This recognition highlights the group’s intricate choreography and their ability to command large-scale stadium audiences, a skill that has become increasingly vital as K-pop continues its global expansion.

Fan-Driven Success and Popularity Honors

A hallmark of The Fact Music Awards is the integration of fan participation through the FANNSTAR platform. The "TMA Popularity Award" went to Lim Young Woong, the trot and ballad sensation whose fanbase remains one of the most organized and dedicated in the Korean music industry. Lim Young Woong also received a "Special Jury Award," further cementing his unique status as an artist who bridges generational gaps.

BTS continued their historic run at the TMA, winning the "FANNSTAR CHOICE Group" award. Despite the members’ varying individual schedules and military service timelines in previous years, the 2026 ceremony proved that the group’s collective brand remains the most potent in the industry. Member Jin also secured the "FANNSTAR MYSTAR Male" award, while NMIXX’s Sullyoon was named the "FANNSTAR MYSTAR Female" winner.

The "Best Music" awards, divided by season, showcased the year’s most enduring hits:

• Best Music (Spring): BTS
• Best Music (Summer): BTS
• Best Music (Fall): PLAVE
• Best Music (Winter): Lee Chan Won

The win for PLAVE in the Fall category is particularly noteworthy, as it highlights the increasing mainstream acceptance of virtual idol groups in the South Korean market.

Event Chronology and Production Highlights

The 2026 Fact Music Awards began with a high-profile red carpet event at 4:00 PM KST, where artists showcased the latest in high-fashion collaborations. The main ceremony commenced at 6:30 PM KST, opening with a collaborative performance that utilized the Busan Asiad Main Stadium’s massive scale, featuring augmented reality (AR) elements that blended the physical stage with digital art.

The first half of the program focused on the "Next Leader" and "Global Hot Trend" awards, interspersed with high-energy performances from xikers and tripleS. The second half of the evening transitioned into the Bonsang presentations and specialized awards like "World Best Wave," which was awarded to EVAN.

The climax of the night occurred in the final hour, as the four Daesang winners were announced. ATEEZ closed the ceremony with a high-octane performance of their latest hits, involving over 100 backup dancers and a pyrotechnic display that lit up the Busan skyline.

Analysis of the 2026 K-Pop Landscape

The results of the 2026 TMA reflect several key trends currently shaping the K-pop industry. First is the "Multi-Daesang" approach. By splitting the Grand Prize into four categories, the awards committee has acknowledged that "success" in the modern era is no longer a monolith. A group can be the most influential "Icon" without necessarily having the highest digital "Record" scores, and vice versa.

Second, the success of groups like CORTIS and RIIZE suggests that the 5th generation of K-pop has officially moved from a "rookie" phase into a "dominant" phase. These groups are now competing directly with 4th generation leaders like ATEEZ and NMIXX for top-tier honors.

Third, the continued dominance of Lim Young Woong and BTS in fan-voted categories highlights the enduring power of established fandoms. Even as new groups emerge, the "Legacy Acts" of the 3rd generation and the domestic power of the trot genre provide a stable foundation for the industry’s commercial ecosystem.

Statements and Reactions

While official acceptance speeches focused heavily on "ARMY," "ATINY," "NSWER," and other respective fandoms, industry analysts noted the emotional weight of the evening. A spokesperson for the TMA organizing committee stated that the 2026 awards were designed to celebrate "the resilience of K-pop as a global cultural phenomenon that transcends physical and digital boundaries."

In their acceptance speech for Icon of the Year, ATEEZ’s leader Hongjoong expressed the group’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of performance, stating that the award belonged to the staff and fans who supported their ambitious global visions. Similarly, the members of NMIXX emphasized their dedication to vocal excellence, promising to continue evolving their unique sound.

Broader Impact and Future Outlook

The Fact Music Awards 2026 served as a crucial mid-point for the year’s award season, setting the stage for upcoming ceremonies like the MAMA Awards and the Melon Music Awards. The heavy representation of Busan as a host city also underscores the South Korean government’s ongoing efforts to decentralize cultural events from Seoul, utilizing the world-class infrastructure of the coastal metropolis.

As the industry looks toward 2027, the 2026 TMA winners list provides a clear roadmap of who to watch. The rise of virtual acts like PLAVE and the sustained excellence of groups like ATEEZ and NMIXX suggest an industry that is both technologically forward-thinking and deeply rooted in the traditional values of performance and fan engagement. With the global market for K-pop continuing to grow, the honors bestowed at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium represent not just a look back at a successful year, but a projection of the genre’s continued dominance on the world stage.