MAMA Awards 2026 – Osaka, Japan

• November 20, 2026
  Event date:
• November 21, 2026
  Event end:

Overview

The MAMA Awards 2026 is the world’s No.1 K-POP Awards ceremony, presented annually by CJ ENM through Mnet, and this edition marks a powerful return to Osaka, Japan. Known for its cinematic production, global fan voting, and historic performances, MAMA is more than an award show — it is the definitive year-end celebration of K-pop and Asian music culture.

The 2026 edition is built on the concept A MUSIC INTERSTELLAR, a journey across a musical universe that transcends time and space. Through this concept, the show aims to connect artists and fans worldwide while encouraging each attendee to discover their own star. Organizers have announced that this will be the largest single-region lineup in MAMA history, with expectations of over 26 performing acts across two chapters.

Hosted at Kyocera Dome Osaka, one of Japan’s premier dome venues with a capacity of over 36,000, the event combines award presentations, exclusive collaboration stages, and world-premiere performances. The ceremony is broadcast live globally via Mnet, Mnet Plus, YouTube through Mnet K-POP, M2, and KCON channels, and through regional partners.

This year also introduces the first ever MAMA FAN FESTA, a parallel fan festival running both offline across Osaka and online on Mnet Plus, offering interactive fan experiences, pop-ups, and behind-the-scenes content for global fans who cannot attend the dome.

What Makes This Event Special

Largest Single-Region Lineup Ever: CJ ENM has confirmed that the 2026 ceremony is preparing what it expects to be the largest number of performing artists in MAMA history for an edition held within a single host location. With two full chapters, fans get double the performances, special units, and award moments.

A MUSIC INTERSTELLAR Concept: Unlike previous themes that focused on music as a universal language, this year’s concept treats music as an interstellar journey. Expect a 360-degree stage design, immersive LED and AR production, and storytelling that links performances as chapters in a cosmic voyage.

Return to Kyocera Dome Osaka: MAMA has a deep history with Osaka. The dome hosted memorable editions in 2022 and 2024. Its dome structure allows for flawless sound, weather-proof comfort, and massive center-stage setups that Tokyo and Los Angeles cannot replicate in the same way.

First MAMA FAN FESTA: Newly introduced for this edition, the FAN FESTA transforms Osaka into a city-wide K-pop celebration. Running for nearly two weeks across the city and online, it includes SUPER PASS access, fan meetings, exhibitions, and dance challenges, making the experience accessible even without a dome ticket.

Global Title Sponsorship by Visa: For the third consecutive year, Visa returns as title sponsor, enabling global Visa Presale registration for fans worldwide. This partnership extends until 2029 and provides secure, seamless payment experiences and exclusive presale access for cardholders globally.

Lineup / Featured Artists

The official performer lineup is revealed in waves. The first and second waves for 2026 have been officially announced by CJ ENM.

First wave artists announced include twelve acts who have led global K-pop trends this year: ALPHA DRIVE ONE, BABYMONSTER, CORTIS, ENHYPEN, ILLIT, INI, KiiiKiii, LE SSERAFIM, Nayeon of TWICE, NCT WISH, RESCENE, and ZEROBASEONE. These artists represent the new generation of global K-pop dominance with record-breaking streaming and album sales during the eligibility period.

Second wave additions announced shortly after expanded the lineup to 26 artists. This star-studded second lineup includes legendary and top-tier acts such as BIGBANG, CL, HWASA, ALLDAY PROJECT, Hearts2Hearts, LNGSHOT, MODYSSEY, TREASURE, plus groups like IVE and additional special stages. Organizers also announced a special stage featuring the stars of Mnet’s dance competition show Street World Fighter: Directors’ War.

Chapter breakdown:

CHAPTER 1 Performers: ALLDAY PROJECT, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, BABYMONSTER, CL, ENHYPEN, Hearts2Hearts, ILLIT, INI, LNGSHOT, MODYSSEY, NCT WISH, RESCENE, TREASURE, and cast of Street World Fighter.

CHAPTER 2 Performers: Features BIGBANG, HWASA, LE SSERAFIM, Nayeon, CORTIS, KiiiKiii, ZEROBASEONE, IVE, and more artists to be announced in final waves.

The ceremony will also feature a star-studded presenter lineup including actors, athletes, and directors. Past hosts have included Park Bo-gum, who has hosted seven times, as well as Jeon Somi, Kim Tae-ri, and Kim Hye-soo. Presenters for this edition are being announced individually via Mnet Plus.

Nominees for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Fan’s Choice are determined by a combination of jury evaluation, streaming and downloads, physical album sales, and global fan voting on Mnet Plus.

Event Experience

Attending MAMA at Kyocera Dome Osaka is a full-scale entertainment experience that goes far beyond a typical concert.

Inside the dome, production is built around a massive center stage with extended runways and a 360-degree LED system that allows every seat to feel close. The dome’s ceiling is used for aerial effects, light drones, and suspended screens. Each performance is a world-premiere production created exclusively for MAMA, often featuring never-before-seen collaborations between groups, dance crews, and live bands.

The show structure flows between award presentations and live stages. Major categories such as Best Male Group, Best Female Group, Best Music Video, Best Dance Performance, and the four Daesang Grand Prizes — Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Fan’s Choice of the Year — are interspersed with performances, keeping energy high throughout.

Outside the performance floor, the dome concourse hosts official merchandise booths, Visa-sponsored fan zones, light stick sync stations, and photo spots themed to A MUSIC INTERSTELLAR. Fans can sync their official light sticks to the dome’s central control system, creating a unified ocean of light.

The MAMA FAN FESTA extends the experience beyond the dome. Across Osaka, pop-up stores, exhibition spaces, and interactive dance stages allow fans to participate in challenges, watch live streaming of red carpet events, and purchase exclusive city-wide collaboration goods. Online, Mnet Plus hosts live watch parties, voting, and behind-the-scenes cams.

Broadcast experience for global fans is equally immersive, with multi-angle cams, real-time subtitles in multiple languages, and exclusive Mnet Plus content.

Date & Schedule

Event Dates: November 20–21, 2026

Venue: Kyocera Dome Osaka, Osaka, Japan

Official Website: https://www.mnetplus.world/mama/en/2026/awards/main

Daily Schedule Structure Based on Official Announcements:

Day 1 – November 20, 2026 – CHAPTER 1: Doors open in late afternoon. Red carpet event begins approximately 2 hours before main ceremony. Main award ceremony and performances start in early evening and run for approximately 4 to 5 hours including all performances and Daesang announcements. MAMA FAN FESTA activities run throughout the day across Osaka.

Day 2 – November 21, 2026 – CHAPTER 2: Same structure as Day 1. Doors open in late afternoon. Red carpet followed by main ceremony in early evening until late evening. Final Daesang winners including Artist of the Year are traditionally announced on Chapter 2.

Key Surrounding Dates: Visa Presale registration for global Visa cardholders runs from October 13 at 11:00 AM to October 18 at 10:59 PM Singapore time. Entry status checks are available within Qoo10 from October 21. MAMA FAN FESTA runs from November 9 to November 21 both offline and online.

All times are subject to change. Final door and broadcast times are confirmed on Mnet Plus approximately two weeks before the event. Eligibility period for nominations is from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Location & Venue

MAMA Awards 2026 will be held at Kyocera Dome Osaka, located at 1-3-20 Chiyozaki, Nishi-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka, 550-0023, Japan.

Kyocera Dome Osaka is one of Japan’s five major domes, opened in 1997. It is primarily home to the Orix Buffaloes baseball team but is internationally known as a premier concert venue for K-pop, J-pop, and global acts. The venue has a maximum concert capacity of approximately 36,000 to 40,000 depending on stage configuration, with excellent sightlines from all levels.

The dome is fully indoor and climate-controlled, guaranteeing a comfortable experience regardless of weather. Facilities include permanent restrooms on every floor, barrier-free access, nursing rooms, merchandise concourses, and numerous food and beverage stands offering bento, snacks, and drinks.

Its location in western Osaka makes it easily accessible from central Osaka, Namba, Umeda, and from Kansai International Airport. The dome’s structure allows for advanced rigging for MAMA’s signature aerial stages and massive LED walls.

MAMA has previously been held at this venue in 2022 and 2024, with both editions praised for production quality and fan management.

Event History

The MAMA Awards began in 1999 as the Mnet Video Music Awards, modeled after the MTV Video Music Awards, to celebrate outstanding achievements in music video production. It was first held in Seoul and merged with KMTV Korean Music Awards in 2004, becoming the Mnet KM Music Video Festival.

In 2009, it was rebranded as Mnet Asian Music Awards to reflect its expansion beyond Korea. The first ceremony outside Korea was held in Macau in 2010, followed by Singapore in 2011, and Hong Kong from 2012 to 2017. During this period, MAMA established itself as Asia’s largest music awards show, helping globalize K-pop.

From 2017, the ceremony expanded into multiple nights across different countries, including Vietnam and Japan, before consolidating. In 2022, CJ ENM rebranded it simply as MAMA Awards, signaling its evolution into a global K-pop awards platform.

The ceremony has been hosted in major domes including Nagoya Dome in 2019, Tokyo Dome in 2023, and Kyocera Dome Osaka in 2022 and 2024. In 2024, MAMA made history by holding its first ceremony outside Asia at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, followed by two days at Kyocera Dome Osaka, creating a three-day global format.

Artists with the most wins include BTS with 21 Daesang Grand Prizes and 52 total awards, followed by SEVENTEEN, TWICE, EXO, and BIGBANG. Legendary performances include BTS’s historic stages, G-Dragon’s solo showcases, and collaborative stages between rival groups created exclusively for MAMA.

As of 2025, actor Park Bo-gum has hosted seven times, becoming the face of the ceremony.

Getting to the Event

By Train: Kyocera Dome Osaka is served by multiple stations. The closest is Dome-mae Station on the Nagano Line and Osaka Metro Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line, which is directly connected to the dome via underground passage, approximately 2 minutes walk. Taisho Station on JR Osaka Loop Line and Osaka Metro Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line is about 7 minutes walk. Kujo Station on Osaka Metro Chuo Line is about 9 minutes walk. From Namba, take Osaka Metro to Dome-mae in under 10 minutes. From Umeda, transfer is about 20 minutes.

By Air: Fly into Kansai International Airport or Itami Airport. From Kansai Airport, take Nankai Airport Express to Namba then transfer to Osaka Metro to Dome-mae. Total journey approximately 60 to 70 minutes. Airport limousine buses also run to central Osaka.

By Bus: Osaka City buses stop at Kyocera Dome-mae Chiyozaki and Kyocera Dome Kita stops. During major events, additional temporary shuttle buses operate from Osaka Station and Namba.

By Taxi or Rideshare: Taxis from Namba cost approximately $15 to $20. From Umeda, approximately $20 to $25. Expect heavy traffic after the show ends, so train is recommended for return.

Accessibility: Dome-mae Station has elevators and the dome itself is fully barrier-free with wheelchair spaces available via advance application through ticket vendors.

Where to Stay Nearby

Osaka offers accommodation for all budgets, and staying near Namba or Umeda provides easy train access to the dome.

Luxury Hotels Near Dome: Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka is directly connected to Dome-mae area and is the closest upscale option, approximately $180 to $300 per night. The St. Regis Osaka and Conrad Osaka in central Osaka offer luxury with easy metro access, $250 to $450 per night.

Mid-Range Hotels: APA Hotel Namba-Shinsaibashi, Cross Hotel Osaka, and Hotel Nikko Osaka are popular with K-pop fans due to proximity to shopping and train lines, ranging $90 to $160 per night. Many offer early check-in for concert attendees.

Budget and Business Hotels: Toyoko Inn, Dormy Inn, and Super Hotel chains near Taisho and Dome-mae stations offer clean, compact rooms from $55 to $85 per night. Capsule hotels in Namba provide options from $30 to $50.

Fan-Focused Areas: Namba and Shinsaibashi are ideal for fans who want to combine MAMA with shopping, street food, and MAMA FAN FESTA pop-ups. Umeda is better for business travelers and direct airport access.

Book early, as Kyocera Dome events cause nearby hotels to sell out weeks in advance, especially with global fans traveling for MAMA.

Things to Do Before or After the Event

Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi: Osaka’s iconic entertainment district is famous for neon signs, the Glico running man, street food like takoyaki and okonomiyaki, and endless shopping. It is approximately 15 minutes by train from the dome.

Osaka Castle: One of Japan’s most famous castles with a museum inside and a large park that is especially beautiful in autumn foliage season.

Universal Studios Japan: Located in Osaka Bay area, easily reachable via JR Yumesaki Line, offering Super Nintendo World and Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Umeda Sky Building: Features the Floating Garden Observatory with 360-degree views of Osaka skyline, perfect for photos before evening ceremony.

MAMA FAN FESTA Zones: During the festival period, official pop-up zones across Osaka feature artist exhibitions, photo card trading events, dance cover contests, and exclusive merchandise not available at the dome.

Kuromon Ichiba Market: Known as Osaka’s kitchen, offering fresh seafood, wagyu skewers, and seasonal fruits, ideal for a pre-show lunch.

Restaurants & Dining Nearby

Inside Kyocera Dome Osaka: The dome concourse offers standard arena food including bento boxes, karaage, yakisoba, burgers, and soft drinks. Prices range $6 to $15. Lines are long during breaks, so eating before entry is recommended.

AEON Mall Osaka Dome City: Directly adjacent to the dome, this mall has a large food court, family restaurants, and cafes including McDonald’s, ramen shops, and Japanese set meal restaurants, average $8 to $14.

Taisho and Dome-mae Area: Local izakaya and ramen shops offer quick meals for fans, such as Torikizoku grilled chicken chain and Coco Ichibanya curry house, $7 to $12.

Namba and Dotonbori: For a full Osaka food experience, try Mizuno for okonomiyaki, Ichiran for ramen, and Kukuru for takoyaki, $10 to $25 per person. Many restaurants stay open late after the ceremony.

Convenience Stores: Lawson, FamilyMart, and 7-Eleven are located inside Dome-mae Station and around the dome, useful for water, onigiri, and light snacks from $2 to $5.

Ticket Information

Official ticketing is managed through Qoo10 Japan and Mnet Plus for global fans, with Visa Presale as the first presale opportunity.

Based on previous editions, pricing structure is as follows. All prices are converted to USD.

Visa Presale Registration: Global Visa cardholders can register for presale access. Registration itself is free, and selected applicants can purchase tickets through Qoo10. This is the first presale and offers best seat allocation.

MAMA FAN FESTA SUPER PASS: New for 2026, this pass provides access to offline FAN FESTA events across Osaka and online content on Mnet Plus. Expected price approximately $35 to $55.

Dome Ceremony Tickets: For reference, 2025 MAMA Awards at Kai Tak Stadium Hong Kong ranged from approximately $115 to $335 depending on tier. 2024 MAMA at Kyocera Dome Osaka had similar tiers.

Expected tiers for 2026:
Standard Tier: Upper stands and rear arena, approximately $115 to $155 per day.
Premium Tier: Lower stands and mid arena with better sightlines, approximately $180 to $250 per day.
VIP and Front Arena Tier: Front arena blocks and front lower stands closest to main and extended stages, approximately $280 to $400 per day.
2-Day Pass: If offered as a bundle, typically provides 10 to 15 percent discount compared to buying two single days, expected $320 to $650 depending on tier.

Tickets are electronic and require ID verification at entry. Each person must have their own ticket, including children. Resale tickets from unofficial sites are not guaranteed. Additional fees including service fee of approximately $8 to $15 per ticket apply.

Tips Before You Go

Secure Presale Early: Register for Visa Presale as soon as it opens, as Kyocera Dome sells out quickly. Even if you do not own a Visa card, many banks offer virtual Visa cards that qualify. Keep your Qoo10 account verified and ready.

Light Stick Preparation: Bring your official group light sticks and ensure they have fresh batteries. MAMA offers central light stick control via Bluetooth, but only official light sticks sync correctly. Unofficial light sticks may be confiscated at entry.

Dome Rules: Kyocera Dome prohibits large bags over 30cm, professional cameras with detachable lenses, selfie sticks, tripods, and outside food and drink. Bring a small shoulder bag, portable charger, and a light jacket as dome air conditioning can be strong.

Arrival Strategy: Aim to arrive at Dome-mae Station at least 90 minutes before doors open to avoid crush at ticket verification and merchandise lines. Red carpet viewing areas outside fill early. After the show, wait 20 to 30 minutes inside the dome to avoid the worst train queue.

Voting Preparation: Winners for Fan’s Choice categories are heavily influenced by Mnet Plus voting. Create your Mnet Plus account in advance, complete daily missions, and collect voting tickets before the ceremony. Votes cast during the live show may count for special live voting segments.

Official Event Information

Official Website: https://www.mnetplus.world/mama/en/2026/awards/main

Official Streaming: Mnet Plus, Mnet K-POP YouTube, M2 YouTube, KCON YouTube, Mnet Japan, tvN Asia, and regional partners.

Organizer: CJ ENM Entertainment Division, Mnet

Title Sponsor: Visa

Venue Official Site: Kyocera Dome Osaka – https://www.kyocera-dome.co.jp/

Ticketing Platform: Qoo10 Japan – Special page for MAMA 2026 Visa Presale, and Mnet Plus for FAN FESTA SUPER PASS.

Social Media: Follow @MnetMAMA on X, Instagram, and TikTok, and @ Mnet Plus for real-time lineup announcements, presenter reveals, and behind-the-scenes content.

Eligibility and Voting: All songs and albums eligible for nomination must be released within the tracking period. Voting occurs exclusively on Mnet Plus. Criteria for winners: Artist of the Year and Artist Category Awards are 40 percent jury evaluation, 30 percent streaming and downloads, 30 percent physical album sales.

Attendee Experiences

Attendees of previous Kyocera Dome editions describe MAMA as a once-in-a-lifetime production that feels larger than any concert. The scale of the center stage, combined with synchronized light stick waves across 36,000 fans, creates an emotional atmosphere that cannot be replicated via broadcast.

Many fans highlight the surprise collaboration stages as the most memorable moments — for example, vocalists from different groups performing together, or dance leaders from Street Woman Fighter joining idol groups for special choreography. These stages are created exclusively for MAMA and never performed again.

International fans praise the organization despite crowds, with clear multilingual signage, efficient entry via QR codes, and staff guiding fans to correct blocks. The dome’s indoor environment is appreciated compared to outdoor festivals, especially in late autumn.

The red carpet event is also a major draw, with fans lining up hours early to see artists in designer outfits before the ceremony. Those who purchased FAN FESTA passes in previous years noted that offline exhibitions in Osaka offered intimate photo opportunities and exclusive photocards not available elsewhere.

Overall, reviews emphasize that MAMA feels like the K-pop industry’s grandest reunion, where rival fandoms unite to celebrate the year’s achievements.

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