BTS, Blackpink and Stray Kids in focus as 2026 MAMA nominations emerge

BTS, Blackpink and Stray Kids are among the prominent acts drawing attention as the 2026 MAMA Awards take shape. The nominations were unveiled Monday, and the lineup is described as featuring a strong group of established K-pop stars.

The ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 20 and 21 at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Japan. CJ ENM organizes the MAMA Awards, which are among K-pop’s major music award events. The available nomination details do not identify specific categories or individual nominees for the three acts.

The awards are being discussed alongside the 2027 Grammy Awards, which will introduce an Asian pop category. BTS, Blackpink and Stray Kids are not included in that category, according to the report. The source also characterizes the MAMA nominations as having a stronger established K-pop lineup than the Grammy category, though it provides no further comparison details.