The global K-pop scene is heading to Taiwan for one of its biggest nights. The 40th Golden Disc Awards will take place on Saturday at the Taipei Dome in Taipei.
Known as one of the most trusted and objective award shows in K-pop, the Golden Disc Awards honor artists based on clear sales and streaming data. This milestone 40th ceremony is expected to bring together top stars, rising rookies, and fans from around the world for a night full of music and celebration.
Since launching in 1986, the Golden Disc Awards have been one of the fairest award shows in the industry. Often called “The Most Favored Awards by Artists,” it collects verified data such as album sales and chart performance through the Circle Chart.
40th Golden Disc Awards Schedule
The Golden Disc Awards (GDA 2026) will take place on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at the iconic Taipei Dome (around 50,000 capacity) in Taiwan.
The event will follow a clear schedule for viewers watching live. The red carpet will begin at 6:00 PM KST, followed by the main awards ceremony at 7:30 PM KST.
How to Watch Golden Disc Awards 2026 Live
In South Korea, the ceremony will air live on JTBC channels. For global fans outside Korea, Japan, and Indonesia, the event will be streamed exclusively on HelloLive.
As in previous years, HelloLive is expected to offer a paid service with real-time multilingual subtitles. Additional streaming options reported include NAVER Chzzk and PRIZM. Fans, however, are advised to check the official Golden Disc Awards social media accounts for final confirmation and links.
Hosts and Award Presenters
The main ceremony will be hosted by singer Sung Si Kyung and actress Mun Ka Young. Last year, the duo hosted the ceremony with ASTRO member, Cha Eunwoo, who is currently serving in the military. Their calm hosting style and experience are expected to guide the long ceremony smoothly.
Adding even more star power, many renowned K-drama stars will appear as award presenters.
- Song Joong Ki
- Byeon Woo Seok
- Ahn Hyo Seop
- Jolin Tsai
Performance Lineup
The performance lineup features a mix of established artists and new faces. The first lineup, announced on November 26, includes
- LE SSERAFIM
- IVE
- NCT WISH
- ENHYPEN
- ALLDAY PROJECT
- izna
- ZEROBASEONE
- ZO ZAZZ
- CORTIS
The second lineup, revealed on November 27, adds
- Jennie (BLACKPINK)
- Stray Kids
- MONSTA X
- ATEEZ
- BOYNEXTDOOR
- KiiiKiii
- TWS
- CLOSE YOUR EYES
- ARrC
40th Golden Disc Awards Nominees
The nominees were selected from music released between early November 2024 and early November 2025. Winners are decided using Circle Chart data along with evaluations from industry experts.
A major change this year is the introduction of a new top prize, Artist of the Year, also known as a Daesang. This award joins the existing Song of the Year and Album of the Year Daesang awards.
The Digital Song Division Bonsang recognizes the most popular digital songs of the year. Nominees include aespa with “Dirty Work,” BLACKPINK with “JUMP,” IU with “Never Ending Story,” IVE with “REBEL HEART,” JENNIE with “like JENNIE,” LE SSERAFIM with “HOT,” and SEVENTEEN with “THUNDER.”
The Album Division Bonsang honors albums with strong sales and impact. This year’s nominees include ATEEZ with “GOLDEN HOUR : Part.2,” ENHYPEN with “DESIRE : UNLEASH,” (G)I-DLE with “We are,” JIN of BTS with “Happy,” SEVENTEEN with “HAPPY BURSTDAY,” Stray Kids with “KARMA,” and ZEROBASEONE with “NEVER SAY NEVER.”
Nominees for the Rookie Artist of the Year category are CORTIS, Hearts2Hearts, izna, and KiiiKiii.
Voting for the Most Popular Artist awards was held through the PRIZM app. Separate awards exist for male and female artists. Fan voting took place from December 22, 2025, to January 5, 2026. The winners will be revealed during the ceremony.
Mark your calendar for January 10 when the red carpet opens at the Taipei Dome.
