The clock has started ticking for one of the biggest K-pop events to start the year. People from different countries are already looking for where to watch the 40th Golden Disc Awards live, as the iconic music ceremony prepares to celebrate its milestone 40th edition in grand fashion. It is going to be a great show, as the awards ceremony is all set for January 10, 2026, to be held at the Taipei Dome, Taiwan, marking its historic overseas stop for the awards. 제40회 골든디스크어워즈, the event is going to be the K-pop global influence showcase with major changes in awards, a star-studded line-up, and increased international streaming options.
Even before the ceremony starts, some of the results have captured a lot of attention. The UPbit Popularity Award, which is fully determined by worldwide fan voting, has declared its winners for this year. After a heated competition with ENHYPEN, Jin of BTS was the final winner of the Male Popularity Award at the 40th Golden Disc Awards, while the rookie girl group Hearts2Hearts was leading in the fan votes from the very beginning and eventually won the Female Popularity Award. Both artists will be presented with their physical trophies on stage during the official ceremony on January 10, 2026, which will only increase the excitement for that night.
Below is everything we know so far about the 40th Golden Disc Awards 2026, from hosts and presenters to performers, nominees, and streaming details.
All About the 2026 Golden Disc Awards in Taipei
40th Golden Disc Awards MCs
Sung Si-kyung and Mun Ka-young will be the main hosts of the milestone ceremony. The pair is known for their smooth and dignified handling of the stage, and they are expected to lead the audience through the event’s biggest moments, which will be spectacular performances, touching acceptance speeches, and the new, larger Daesang awards announced, among others.
40th Golden Disc Awards Presenters Lineup
The presenters’ lineup at the 2026 Golden Disc Awards is a further indication of the event’s star-studded nature and its broad appeal across various industries. The most popular top-notch actors Song Joong-ki, Byeon Woo-seok, and Ahn Hyo-seop are going to be the ones presenting at the ceremony, so they will be bringing along both A-list and prestige to the event. Besides them, the very famous Taiwanese pop diva Jolin Tsai and the highly praised actor Hsu Kuang-han will be the ones giving out awards, as the organisers are asserting the global and pan-Asian nature of the awards this year.
40th Golden Disc Awards Lineup of Performers
The Performers lineup of the 40th Golden Disc Awards features the leading artists together with newcomers, thus it is going to be a night of various stages. The cutting-edge acts like LE SSERAFIM, IVE, ENHYPEN, Stray Kids, ATEEZ, MONSTA X, and Jennie, who enjoy global admiration, are expected to perform with impressive scale and the most electrifying shows, besides displaying their musical development over the last year. These artists, who have been able to create a stronghold for their presence on stage with their unique concepts, are probably going to be the night’s most thrilling highlights.
Joining them are rising stars and most recent groups, who have gradually gained momentum throughout the year, such as NCT WISH, ZEROBASEONE, BOYNEXTDOOR, TWS, izna, ALLDAY PROJECT, KiiiKiii, CORTIS, ZO ZAZZ, CLOSE YOUR EYES, ARrC are going to perform as well.
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Where to Watch the 40th Golden Disc Awards
Fans across the world will have several ways to tune in for the 40th Golden Disc Awards live, with streaming options available across Korea, Japan, and international regions. In South Korea, viewers can watch the ceremony through NAVER, along with televised broadcasts on JTBC, ensuring easy access for domestic audiences. Japanese fans will be able to follow the event via ABEMA, which has consistently streamed major K-pop award ceremonies in recent years. Taiwanese audiences will be able to catch the ceremony through TVBS, with additional streaming access provided via Disney+, allowing local fans to enjoy the event on both television and digital platforms.
For global viewers outside these regions, the awards will be streamed through PRIZM, accessible via both its mobile app and web live page. The platform is set to provide multi-language subtitles, real-time fan chats, and seamless streaming across devices, allowing international fans to enjoy the ceremony together in real time. The 40th Golden Disc Awards red carpet coverage will begin at 5:00 PM KST, followed by the main awards ceremony at 6:30 PM KST, making it easier for fans worldwide to plan their viewing experience and join the celebration live.
40th Golden Disc Awards Nominations and Awards Categories
The 40th Golden Disc Awards nominees for the Digital Song Division, Album Division, and Rookie Artist of the Year are revealed. Songs and albums released between early November 2024 and early November 2025 were eligible for nomination.
Digital Song Division Bonsang (Main Award)
This year’s digital category features a competitive lineup and that are
toxic till the end by Rosé
THUNDER by SEVENTEEN
Dirty Work by aespa
JUMP by BLACKPINK
like JENNIE by Jennie
Never Ending Story by IU
HOME SWEET HOME (feat. Taeyang, Daesung) by G-Dragon
IF I SAY, I LOVE YOU by BOYNEXTDOOR
REBEL HEART by IVE
HOT by LE SSERAFIM
I Miss You So Much by Hwang Karam
FAMOUS by ALLDAY PROJECT
The Chase by Hearts2Hearts
I DO ME by KiiiKiii
Starting With You by MAKTUB
HANDS UP by MEOVV
Flower by OVAN
Dash by PLAVE
Sadder Than Yesterday by Woody
Don’t you know by ZO ZAZZ
Album Division Bonsang (Main Award)
Ruby by Jennie
Happy by Jin
Übermensch by G-Dragon
Essence of Reverie by Baekhyun
HAPPY BURSTDAY by SEVENTEEN
KARMA by Stray Kids
STRATEGY by TWICE
Unexpected by THE BOYZ
Back to Life by &TEAM
Rich Man by aespa
GOLDEN HOUR : Part.2 by ATEEZ
HYPE VIBES by CxM
DESIRE : UNLEASH by ENHYPEN
We are by i-dle
IVE EMPATHY by IVE
DREAMSCAPE by NCT DREAM
COLOR by NCT WISH
ODYSSEY by RIIZE
The Star Chapter: TOGETHER by TXT
NEVER SAY NEVER by ZEROBASEONE
Rookie Artist of the Year
The Rookie category shines a spotlight on emerging talent, with nominees including ALLDAY PROJECT, CLOSE YOUR EYES, AHOF, CORTIS, Hearts2Hearts, IDID, idntt, izna, KiiiKiii, ZO ZAZZ, KickFlip and NouerA, signalling a strong new wave of artists entering the K-pop scene.
More Categories to Look Forward To
In addition to the main Bonsang and Rookie awards, the 40th Golden Disc Awards in Taipei will also present three Daesangs for the first time in its history—Album, Digital Song, and the newly introduced Artist Daesang. Other categories are expected to include genre-specific awards and special recognitions, with winners announced during the ceremony.
Will you be watching the 40th GDA ceremony? Let us know your thoughts on who you think will take the maximum win in the comments section below.
