The D Awards is officially returning next year.
On December 1, Sports Donga confirmed that the 2nd D Awards will take place on February 11, 2026, at Korea University’s Hwajeong Gymnasium in Anam-dong, Seoul. After a successful first year, the ceremony is coming back with an even bigger goal.
The 2nd edition will spotlight the artists who helped K-pop shine on the global stage and celebrate the “dreams” and “delights” that continue to push the industry forward.
The D Awards is structured around three major divisions, each designed to honor different parts of the K-pop landscape. At the top is the D Awards Black Label, which represents the ceremony’s biggest honors. This section includes categories such as Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Performance of the Year, Record of the Year, and major awards.
Last year’s inaugural ceremony, held on February 22, 2025, saw SEVENTEEN claim the prestigious Artist of the Year award, while ENHYPEN secured Album of the Year for “ROMANCE: UNTOLD” and also took home honors for Best Group and Best Tour. aespa earned Song of the Year for their hit “Supernova,” and ZEROBASEONE was recognized with Record of the Year.
The next division is the D Awards Delights Blue Label, which focuses on artists who showed remarkable activity and influence throughout the year. Categories include Best Group, Best Solo Artist, Best Choreography, and Best Video. A key category here is the D Awards Impact.
For rookies, there is the D Awards Dreamers Silver Label, which celebrates rising artists expected to lead the next generation of K-pop. This category shines a spotlight on fresh talent and acknowledges the newcomers who made a notable impression in 2025.
Alongside the main categories, the ceremony also includes several special honors. One is D Awards Iconic, which recognizes individuals who represent the past, present, and future of K-pop. The event will also present awards such as D Awards Impact, given to actors and broadcasters who made a strong mark in Korean pop culture. D Awards Discovery highlights some of the standout K-content breakthroughs of the year.
This year’s ceremony is partnering with the global fandom platform Upick as its naming sponsor. As part of the collaboration, the popular fan-voting category D Awards Fanpick will once again be decided through 100% fan participation on Upick. Details about the official voting schedule will be announced soon to give fans plenty of time to prepare their ballots.