Blue Dragon Series Awards returns for its 5th edition in 2026. Organized by Sports Chosun, this year’s ceremony celebrates the best in Korean OTT dramas and variety shows from June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026. As streaming content drives much of Korean entertainment now, this award show has become a key event for recognizing talent outside traditional broadcast TV.
Fans already know the big names in the running. The night itself arrives soon, and the details line up clearly.
Here is everything known so far about the 5th Blue Dragon Series Awards.
5th Blue Dragon Series Awards Date and Venue
The main ceremony is locked in for Friday, July 31, 2026, at 8:30 PM KST. The event will take place at the Chroma Hall in Paradise City, Incheon, the same venue that has hosted the awards since its launch in 2022. Red carpet action starts around 7:00 p.m. KST.
Prior to the main event, a traditional handprinting ceremony took place on July 7, 2026, at the CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall in Seoul. It featured past winners like IU, Lee Kwang Soo, Shin Min Ah, Ju Hi Hoon, Yeon Hye Ran, and more.
Nominees
The competition this year is fierce, to say the least. The full nominee list came out on July 1. Public votes from June 17 to 30 on the official site mixed with expert and journalist scores produced the final slate. The nominations cover 13 categories for drama and variety. The Scarecrow leads with the most nominations at 6.
Here are the standout categories and nominees:
Best Drama
- Made in Korea
- Yumi’s Cells 3
- You and Everything Else
- The Legend of Kitchen Soldier
- The Scarecrow
Best Actor
- Hyun Bin (Made in Korea)
- Kim Seon Ho (Can This Love Be Translated?)
- Kim Woo Bin (Genie, Make A Wish)
- Park Ji Hoon (The Legend of Kitchen Soldier)
- Park Hae Soo (The Scarecrow)
Best Actress:
- Go Youn Jung (Can This Love Be Translated?)
- Kim Go Eun (You and Everything Else)
- Park Bo Young (Gold Land)
- Park Ji Hyun (You and Everything Else)
- Shin Hae Sun (The Art of Sarah)
Best Supporting Actor
- Yoon Kyung Ho (The Legend of Kitchen Soldier)
- Lee Kwang Soo (Gold Land)
- Lee Sang Yi The Legend of Kitchen Soldier)
- Jung Moon Sung (The Scarecrow)
- Jin Sun Kyu (Aema)
Best Supporting Actress
- Kwak Sun Young (The Scarecrow)
- Moon Jung Hee (Gold Land)
- Park Bo Kyung (The Art of Sarah)
- Seo Eun Soo (Made in Korea)
- Im Soo Jung (Low Life)
Best New Actor
- Kim Jae Won (Yumi’s Cells 3)
- Kim Jin Wook (Low Life)
- Baek Sun Ho (If Wishes Could Kill)
- Song Geon Hee (The Scarecrow)
- Lee Hong Nae (The Legend of Kitchen Soldier)
Best New Actress
- Kim Min (Low Life)
- Bang Hyo Rin (Aema)
- Seo Ji Hye (The Scarecrow)
- Arin (S Line)
- Jeon So Young (If Wishes Could Kill)
Best Variety Show
- Screwballs 4
- Better Late Than Single
- Jae Seok’s B&B Rules!
- The White Collars 2
- Culinary Class Wars 2
Best Male Entertainer
- Yu Jae Seok
- Lee Kwang Soo
- Shin Dong Yup
- Kim Won Hun
- Joo Woo Jae
Best Female Entertainer
- Kim Sook
- Lee Soo Ji
- Lee Eun Ji
- Jung Yi Rang
- Ji Ye Eun
Best New Entertainer (Male)
- Kim Kyu Won
- Kim Seon Ho
- Byeon Woo Seok
- Car, the Garden
- Hu Deok Juk
Best New Entertainer (Female)
- Kim Sihyeon
- Kim Ye Won
- Shim Ja Yoon
- Ahn Joo Mi
- Choi Mina Sue
The Popular Star Award and OST popularity are also part of the categories. The Grand Prize winner is still TBA.
Presenters and Hosts
The hosting duties will be handled by a beloved, returning duo: Jun Hyun Moo and Girls’ Generation’s YoonA. Both have hosted previous editions of the Blue Dragon Series Awards and bring experience with live broadcasts.
The official presenter lineup for the 5th edition has not been announced yet. In the past ceremonies, presenters included actors and entertainers who handed out awards across drama and variety categories. Updates are expected closer to July 31.
Blue Dragon Series Awards 2026 Live Streaming Details
KBS2 will broadcast the ceremony live on television in South Korea. International viewers can stream the event globally via official partners, including Naver TV and YouTube. Domestic streaming platforms like TVING and CHZZK will also carry the live broadcast.
Launched in 2022, the Blue Dragon Series Awards is Korea’s first major awards ceremony focused entirely on streaming platforms. It honors original dramas and entertainment programs produced by OTT services rather than traditional networks.
The selection process combines online voting from June 17 to June 30 with evaluations by Sports Chosun reporters and industry experts.