One of the most spectacular K-pop year-end celebrations is finally here. The 2025 MAMA Awards lineup is already making all the buzz, and it is going to make a fabulous return to Hong Kong, seven years since the show last took place. The event will take place on November 28 and 29 of this year at Kai Tak Stadium, a newly opened mega-venue that can hold up to 50,000 people. This year’s show is special, as Mnet celebrates its 30th anniversary, and the production scale is almost four times bigger than in previous years.
This year’s theme, its 27th edition, is entitled “Hear My Roar: uh-heung” – a Korean phrase capturing fun and excitement – and for the event, Mnet is promising bigger-than-ever production values, collaborative special stages, and a program designed for a worldwide audience. Organised by CJ ENM through its music channel Mnet, the show embraces spectacle and cross-border appeal as it celebrates artists who shaped K-pop between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025.
The full nominee list is already making waves online, not least of all with the explosive emergence of CORTIS, whose commanding vocals and kinetic stage presence have made them one of the year’s most buzzworthy debuts to date. BOYNEXTDOOR kept up their unstoppable momentum, proving the staying power of songs that practically lived on the charts and showing ever more artistic reach. Several other rookie and veteran groups have put out equally compelling offerings this year, making the competition even tighter.
Adding to that, 2025 has been a landmark period for solo releases. BTS members Jin, V, and J-Hope returned from the military with individual projects that instantly conquered playlists worldwide, each offering a distinct sound fans can’t get enough of. G-Dragon’s long-awaited comeback added another layer of excitement, sending the world into a frenzy the moment it dropped.
And with all four BLACKPINK members presenting standout solo releases that swept trends and charts alike, this year’s nomination pool has become one of the strongest and most diverse in recent memory. The competition is fierce, from powerhouse rookies down to industry veterans, which further adds to the anticipation surrounding this year’s event. Here’s everything we know so far about the 2025 MAMA Awards.
All About the 2025 MAMA Awards
Hosts of the 2025 MAMA Awards
This year’s two-day showcase brings together two favourite Korean stars: Park Bo-gum leads Chapter 1 on November 28, marking his seventh time hosting MAMA, while Kim Hye-soo hosts her first time as MC for Chapter 2 on Nov 29. An accomplished actress with a commanding presence and eloquence, she will connect global fans in a shared language of music. Also, the Red Carpet for the 2025 MAMA Awards will be helmed by MC Cho Sae-ho and Shin Hyun-ji.
2025 MAMA Awards Lineup of Performers
MAMA Awards Hong Kong 2025 (Day 1): The opening night has been dominated by leading groups together with fresh idols.
IVE
ENHYPEN
BABYMONSTER
BOYNEXTDOOR
Super Junior
MEOVV
TWS
Hearts2Hearts
ALPHA DRIVE ONE
BUMSUP
i-dle
MIRROR
NCT WISH
TREASURE
MAMA Awards 2025 in Hong Kong, Day 2: The next day promises to raise the bar even higher as a powerhouse mix of artists is scheduled to light up the Kai Tak Stadium stage.
Stray Kids
RIIZE
ZEROBASEONE
ALLDAY PROJECT
CORTIS
izna
KickFlip
aespa
G-Dragon
IDID
JO1
KYOKA
TXT
2025 MAMA Awards Special Performance
CHAPTER 1 of 2025 MAMA Awards
Chapter 1 is a thrilling mix of traditional music with modern flavours, brought to the fore by a newer version of “Kwaejina Ching Ching,” led by BUMSUP and joined by members of BOYNEXTDOOR, CORTIS, and TREASURE, and with a fun surprise appearance from host Park Bo-gum.
It’s also a nod to the animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” whose soundtrack—performed by the fictional groups Saja Boys and HUNTRIX—became an unexpected global phenomenon, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for months and making the album perhaps the most widely discussed release of the year.
CHAPTER 2 of 2025 MAMA Awards
This year’s special stages will underscore new inspiration and touching homages. ZEROBASEONE’s Sung Han Bin and dancer Kyoka are jointly working on a themed collaboration, while Stray Kids will show a powerful mega stage for “DIVINE.” There will also be a performance honouring Super Junior’s 20th anniversary, and ALPHA DRIVE ONE will make its first live appearance on the stage of MAMA since the group was formed.
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2025 MAMA Awards Presenter Lineup
Presenters for this year’s MAMA Awards 2025 Red Carpet are the powerhouse mix of rising and established K-drama talents: Go Youn-jung, Noh Sang-hyun, Shin Hyun-ji, Arden Cho, Roh Yoon-seo, Park Hyung-sik, Shin Seung-hun, Shin Ye-eun, Ahn Eun-jin, Ahn Hyo-seop, Lee Jun-hyuk, Yim Si-wan, Jang Do-yeon, Jeon Yeo-been, Lee Kwang-soo, Lee Do-hyun, Lee Soo-hyuk, Cho Han-gyeol, Ju Ji-hoon, Cha Joo-young, Choi Dae-hoon, Lee Jun-young, Cho Sae-ho, Jo Yu-ri, and Hyeri.
2025 MAMA Awards Nominations
Best New Artist
CORTIS, Hearts2Hearts, AHOF, ALLDAY PROJECT, Baby DONT Cry, CLOSE YOUR EYES, IDID, izna, KickFlip and KiiiKiii
Best Male Artist
G-Dragon, j-hope, Baekhyun, Jin and Mark
Best Female Artist
Jennie, Jisoo, Rosé, Yuqi and Taeyeon
Best Male Group
SEVENTEEN, BOYNEXTDOOR, Stray Kids, TXT, ZEROBASEONE, ENHYPEN and RIIZE
Best Female Group
TWICE, aespa, I-DLE, BABYMONSTER, IVE, and LE SSERAFIM
Best Dance Performance – Male Solo
j-hope, G-Dragon, Kai, Key and Mark
Best Dance Performance – Female Solo
Jennie, Dayoung, Jisoo, Minnie and Karina
Best Performance of Dance Male Group
BOYNEXTDOOR, SEVENTEEN, NCT DREAM, NCT WISH, PLAVE, TWS and RIIZE
Best Dance Performance Female Group
LE SSERAFIM, aespa, BABYMONSTER, BLACKPINK, IVE and ILLIT
Best Vocal Performance (Solo)
Rosé, Roy Kim, Taeyeon, Doyoung and Lee Mu Jin
Best Vocal Performance Group
HIGHLIGHT, Davichi, MEOVV, TREASURE and ZEROBASEONE
Best Band Performance
CNBLUE, DAY6, N.Flying, Xdinary Heroes and QWER
Best Rap & Hip-Hop Performance
Tablo & RM, BIG Naughty, Dynamic Duo & Gummy, HAON and pH-1
Best Collaboration
BTS V & Park Hyo Shin, G-Dragon & Anderson.Paak, Jennie & Doechii, Mark & Lee Young Ji and Rosé & Bruno Mars
Best OST
HUNTRIX, Park Hyo Shin, Saja Boys, TXT and BOYNEXTDOOR
Best Music Video
BLACKPINK, Lee Chanhyuk, aespa, ALLDAY PROJECT and Jennie
Best Choreography
aespa, ALLDAY PROJECT, CORTIS, Jennie and G-Dragon
Song of the Year and Artist of the Year
It means that all the nominees from the song and artist categories at the 2025 MAMA Awards earn automatic nominations this year.
2025 MAMA Awards Main Teaser
Where to Watch the 2025 MAMA Awards
This year’s show will be more accessible to fans globally than ever, as the 2025 MAMA Awards mark their first-ever global livestream on HBO Max, expanding access for international audiences across the major streaming platform. Viewers in Korea will see all of the action thanks to extensive coverage on Mnet and TVING. The red carpet will be rolled out at 4:30 PM KST, with the main ceremony kicking off an hour later, at 6:30 PM KST, on both days, providing a comprehensive spectating experience for fans who wish to watch every moment of this two-day spectacular event.
Boasting one of the largest slates of performers, including newly incorporated stages, a return to one of its most storied host cities, and the biggest production to date, the MAMA Awards 2025 are setting up to be one of the most unforgettable editions in its history.
Which nominees or performances are you most excited to see? Share your thoughts below!
