MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026 will take place in Tokyo, expanding on the inaugural event in 2025, celebrating global music connections.
September/15/2025 15:54
The largest international music award in Japan, "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN," will be held in 2026. The "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026" award ceremony will take place at the TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO, which will open in October 2025. "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN" is the largest international music award in Japan, with the concept of "connecting with the world and lighting the future of music." It aims to promote Japanese music globally and encourage overseas artists to enter the Japanese market. Established as an opportunity for the five major organizations in the Japanese music industry to collaborate with the global music industry and pave the way for the future of music. In "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025," the best works/artists in all 62 categories, including six major categories, will be determined from a total of 3,000 entries through voting by music industry professionals, including artists (excluding some categories). The award ceremony held at the ROHM Theatre Kyoto was streamed worldwide on YouTube. "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026" will further expand in scale from the first event in 2025 and will be held at the TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO. Various performances by artists and seminars and showcases by music industry professionals from Japan and abroad are also planned. Details on categories and voting methods will be announced sequentially. We hope for your expectations for "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN," which connects with the world and lights the future of music. ◆ Comment from Tatsuya Nomura, Chairman of the "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN" Executive Committee I sincerely thank you for your support of "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN." At the inaugural event in May 2025, I believe we were able to create a precious experience to share the greatness of music with music people and fans worldwide. At the same time, I feel a determination to continue advancing so that we can look back on this invaluable time as a historic event for not only Japan but also the Asian and global music scenes. This award, which was born in Kyoto, will move its stage to Tokyo in 2026. This decision was made with a long-term perspective to become a base for promoting Japanese and Asian music to the world. After the 2025 event, we received many valuable opinions from both inside and outside the industry, and while feeling the great expectations, we are currently considering the developmental expansion for 2026. We are examining and redesigning the categories for a better award design to honor artists, creators, and staff, and we are looking forward to the day we can deliver it to everyone. Aiming for a global stage where domestic and international talents intersect, we will expand the circle of emotion from Japan to Asia and the world through heart-stirring performances. We look forward to a year of pioneering the future music scene together with all of you this year.
Related Articles
Han So-hee successfully concludes her first world tour with a fan meeting in Seoul, engaging with fans through games, performances, and heartfelt speeches. The event featured memorable moments from her tour, including cover performances and a special atmosphere, as she expressed gratitude for the support that motivates her acting career. She looks forward to future projects after this milestone.
Han So-hee successfully concludes her first world tour with a fan meeting in Seoul, engaging with fans through games, performances, and heartfelt speeches. The event featured memorable moments from her tour, including cover performances and a special atmosphere, as she expressed gratitude for the support that motivates her acting career. She looks forward to future projects after this milestone.
NINGNING from aespa has been appointed as the ambassador for the brand Matin Kim, promoting the 'PLAYLIST' winter campaign in Japan. The campaign features visuals based on her 'Winter Playlist' and showcases her wearing the latest winter collection. The first phase of the campaign started on October 24, with the second phase on November 5, and items worn by NINGNING are available in Japanese stores.
SEVENTEEN is collaborating with the Smurfs, announced by Pledis Entertainment. A special version of the music video for 'God of Music' will be released in November, coinciding with the Smurfs' birthday. The collaboration highlights themes of teamwork and joy, merging SEVENTEEN's essence with the beloved blue characters. Merchandise based on this collaboration will also be available.
On the afternoon of the 28th, Lee Chang-won headed to SBS Mokdong in Yangcheon District, Seoul, to appear on the 'Cultwo Show.' The lineup for the KOREA GRAND MUSIC AWARDS includes LUCY and Xdinary Heroes in the trot and band categories. Additionally, aespa had an incident, and ENHYPEN and timelesz received awards at 'ASEA 2025,' thrilling the audience with their performances.
The fan community 'Team Bunnies' supporting NewJeans is under investigation for alleged violations of donation laws. A member, identified as A, has been referred to juvenile court for fundraising without proper registration. The group raised 50 million won to combat malicious online comments but failed to comply with legal requirements. NewJeans is also in a legal dispute with their label ADOR, affecting their activities.
On the afternoon of the 27th, a VIP screening of the movie 'First Ride' was held at Lotte Cinema World Tower in Seoul. Attendees included Kang Ha-neul, Kim Yong-kwang, former Secret member Son Na-eun, KARA's Ji-young, and director Nam Dae-jun, among others. BTS's Jungkook and ASTRO's Cha Eun-woo also showed support at the event.
On the afternoon of the 27th, the VIP screening of the movie 'First Ride' was held at Lotte Cinema World Tower in Seoul. Attendees included BTS's Jungkook, BLACKPINK's Jisoo, and many other K-pop stars and celebrities, showcasing the film's star-studded support.
Sungkwan of SEVENTEEN and his dog Puku were featured in a photoshoot for ELLE Korea's November issue, celebrating the 33rd anniversary of the magazine. The shoot highlights their close bond and the theme of living with animals. Sungkwan expressed his love for Puku in an interview, emphasizing the lessons learned from animals. SEVENTEEN is also nearing the end of their U.S. tour, with upcoming performances in Sunrise and Washington D.C.
On the morning of the 27th, BLACKPINK returned to Korea via Gimpo Business Aviation Center after concluding their world tour in Bangkok. They were also selected for the 'Golden Disc POWER HOUSE 40' alongside G-DRAGON, showcasing their global influence. Additionally, BLACKPINK is preparing for a comeback with new music video filming starting this week.
