The Golden Disc Awards ceremony will be celebrating its 40th anniversary at the Taipei Dome in Taiwan today. Bringing forth a massive lineup of ‘K-pop trendsetters’ of the past year, the annual award show will honour outstanding achievement of the K-music industry.
The 2026 ‘Golden Disc Awards with Upbit’ will mark the years-long continuation of the tradition upheld by the ceremony since its inauguration in 1986. Hailed as the “most favoured awards by artists” for its fairness and objectivity, the 40th GDAs will be hosted by entertainer-TV host Sung Si Kyung and actress Mun Ka Young (or Moon Ga Young).
This year’s edition will acknowledge the best in K-pop music release between November 2024 and November 2025.
In honour of this being the 40th edition of the GDAs, the awards ceremony even unveiled a list of the ‘Golden Disc Powerhouse 40,’ commemorating the contributions made by influential figures. The list in question serves as a retrospective tribute to pioneering artists and producers responsible for consolidating the foundation of the K-pop scene on a global level. (See the list below)
When and where to watch Golden Disc Awards 2026?
The main show goes live at 6:30 pm KST (3 pm IST) on January 10, 2026, with the red carpet happening beforehand around 5 pm KST (1:30 pm IST).
Various ways to tune into the 40th Golden Disc Awards with Upbeat include Naver CHZZK for Korea, ABEMA for Japan, TVBS and Disney+ for Taiwan and PRIZM for global streaming. On the other hand, domestic audiences in South Korea can also watch a delayed broadcast on the channels JTBC2 and JTBC4 at 2 pm KST on January 17.
40th Golden Disc Awards lineup: K-pop performers and star presenters
Artist lineup is as follows:
- ALLDAY PROJECT
- ARrC
- ATEEZ
- BOYNEXTDOOR
- CLOSE YOUR EYES
- CORTIS
- ENHYPEN
- IVE
- izna
- BLACKPINK’s Jennie
- KiiiKiii
- LE SSERAFIM
- MONSTA X
- NCT WISH
- Stray Kids
- TWS
- ZEROBASEONE
- ZO ZAZZ
Presenter lineup: A-listers from the K-drama world will walk the red carpet and ultimately take to the stage on January 10 to honour the 2026 GDA recipients.
Among them, Ahn Hyo Seop of Business Proposal and KPop Demon Hunters fame is bound to make heads turn. Lovely Runner‘s breakout star Byeon Woo Seok and K-drama veteran Song Joong Ki will also be there as presenters.
In subsequent announcements via social media, Taiwanese stars Jolin and Hsu Kuang Han were als added to the presenters’ lineup.
2026 Golden Disc Awards nominees
Rookie of the Year
- NouerA
- idntt
- IDID
- AHOF
- izna
- ZO ZAZZ
- CORTIS
- CLOSE YOUR EYES
- KiiiKiii
- KickFlip
- Hearts2Hearts2
Digital Song Division
- “toxic till the end” by BLACKPINK’s Rose
- “Starting With You” by MAKTUB
- “Thunder” by SEVENTEEN
- “Never Ending Story” by IU
- “Flower” by OVAN
- “Sadder Than Yesterday” by WOODY
- “like JENNIE” by BLACKPINK’s Jennie
- “Don’t You Know (Prod. Rocoberry)” by ZO ZAZZ
- “I Miss You So Much” by Hwang Ga Ram
- “Dirty Work” by aespa
- “Famous” by ALLDAY PROJECT
- “Jump” by BLACKPINK
- “If I Say, I Love You” by BOYNEXTDOOR
- “Home Sweet Home (Ft Taeyang and Daesung)” by G-Dragon
- “The Chase” by Hearts2Hearts
- “Rebel Heart” by IVE
- “I Do Me” by KiiiKiii
- “Hot” by LE SSERAFIM
- “Hands Up” by MEOVV
- “Dash” by PLAVE
Album Division
- “Unexpected” by THE BOYZ
- “Essence of Reverie” by EXO’s Baekhyun
- “Happy Burstday” by SEVENTEEN
- “We Are” by i-dle
- “Hype Vibes” by CxM of SEVENTEEN
- “Ruby” by Jennie
- “Happy” by BTS’ Jin
- “The Star Chapter: TOGETHER” by TOMORROW X TOGETHER
- “Rich Man” by aespa
- “Golden Hour Part 2” by ATEEZ
- “Desire: Unleash” by ENHYPEN
- “Ubermensch” by G-Dragon
- “IVE EMPATHY” by IVE
- “Dreamscape” by NCT DREAM
- “Color” by NCT WISH
- “Odyssey” by RIIZE
- “Karma” by Stray Kids
- “Strategy” by TWICE
- “Never Say Never” by ZEROBASEONE
- “Back to Life” by &TEAM
Golden Disc Powerhouse 40
- Kim Gun Mo
- Kim Kwang Seok
- Kim Min Gi
- Kim Wan Sun
- Kim Eana
- Kim Chang Hwan
- Kim Hyun Sik
- Kim Hyung Suk
- Na Hoon A
- TVXQ
- Deux
- Deulgukhwa
- Park Jin Young aka JYP
- Bang Si Hyuk
- BTS
- BoA
- BLACKPINK
- BIGBANG
- Seo Taiji
- Girls’ Generation
- Shin Seung Hun
- Shin Joong Hyun
- Shin Hae Chul
- PSY
- IU
- Yang Hyun Suk
- Yoo Young Jin
- Yoo Jae Ha
- Yoon Il Sang
- Lee Moon Sai
- Lee Soo Man
- Lee Young Hoon
- Lee Hyori
- Lim Young Woong
- Cho Young Pil
- G-Dragon
- Kenzie
- Teddy
- G.o.d
- H.O.T