The MAMA Awards 2025 officially announced the first lineup of performers for this year’s two-night ceremony. The announcement was followed by the release of the full nominee list on October 16. The fan voting period is now open, which runs until October 26.
The first 2025 MAMA Awards lineup mostly includes rookie groups, rising K-pop acts, and some legendary stars.
2025 MAMA Awards Lineup
The first wave of confirmed performers has been divided into two chapters. A total of 17 teams were announced, which include
Chapter 1
- ALPHA DRIVE ONE
- BABYMONSTER
- BOYNEXTDOOR
- BUMSUP
- ENHYPEN
- Hearts2Hearts
- IVE
- MEOVV
- Super Junior
- TWS
Chapter 2
- ALLDAY PROJECT
- CORTIS
- izna
- KickFlip
- RIIZE
- Stray Kids
- ZEROBASEONE.
Fans can look forward to performances from Stray Kids and ENHYPEN, as well as a long-awaited MAMA stage return from Super Junior, one of K-pop’s most legendary groups. Meanwhile, newer names like RIIZE and ZEROBASEONE, both nominated for Album of the Year, will light up the stage as well. More acts and special stages will be announced in the coming days.
Key Award Categories and Major Nominees
This year’s nominations reflect one of the most competitive seasons in recent K-pop memory. The Artist of the Year race features soloists j-hope and Jin from BTS, BLACKPINK’s Jennie, Jisoo, and Rosé, as well as powerhouse groups aespa, SEVENTEEN, Stray Kids, and IVE.
For Album of the Year, the nominees highlight artists who achieved major commercial and critical success. The nominees included Stray Kids’ ‘Karma,’ RIIZE’s ‘ODYSSEY,’ ZEROBASEONE’s ‘NEVER SAY NEVER,’ and SEVENTEEN’s ‘SPILL THE FEELS.’
The Best Male Group competition includes SEVENTEEN, Stray Kids, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ENHYPEN, RIIZE, ZEROBASEONE, and BOYNEXTDOOR.
On the other hand, aespa, BABYMONSTER, (G)I-DLE, IVE, LE SSERAFIM, and TWICE will battle it out for Best Female Group.
MAMA 2025 Returns to Hong Kong
The 2025 MAMA Awards will take place on November 28 and 29 at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong, marking the show’s return to the city after seven years. The venue is expected to host 50000+ fans for two nights of live performances, emotional speeches, and global collaborations.
As always, fans are already speculating about surprise guests. While BTS members are not confirmed in the current lineup, excitement remains high that one or more might make a special appearance, particularly with Jin and j-hope nominated for major solo awards.
The final performer lineup and special stage collaborations are expected to be revealed in the coming weeks.