# 2026 MAMA Awards Nominations: BTS Lead With 5 Nods as BIGBANG, TXT, aespa and IVE Join the Race

URL: https://technosports.co.in/2026-mama-awards-nominations-bts-lead/  
Published: 2026-10-13  
Updated: 2026-10-13  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

K-pop fans, clear your calendars. The **2026 MAMA Awards nominations** dropped on October 12, and the race is already heated. BTS are out in front, but BIGBANG, TXT and several fourth-gen favourites are close behind. If you’re wondering who is up for what, this guide covers it in under two minutes.

## BTS Take the Lead With Five Nominations

BTS are up for **Artist of the Year**, **Best Male Group** and **Album of the Year** for *ARIRANG*. They also have nods for **Best Vocal Performance Group** (*SWIM*) and **Best Music Video** (*2.0*).

J-Hope earns two more for his work on LE SSERAFIM’s *SPAGHETTI*, nominated for Best Collaboration and Best Dance Performance Female Group.

![MAMA](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/MAMA-Aw2-1-1024x910.jpg)

## Nomination Snapshot

| Act | Nominations | Key Categories |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **BTS** | 5 | Artist of the Year, Best Male Group, Album of the Year (*ARIRANG*) |
| **BIGBANG** | 4 | Artist of the Year, Best Male Group, Best Music Video, Best Dance Performance Male Group (*BiiiG*) |
| **TXT** | 3 | Artist of the Year, Best Male Group, Album of the Year |
| **aespa, ATEEZ, IVE, LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, CORTIS, MAMAMOO** | 5 each | Multiple categories (Hwasa has 4 of MAMAMOO’s nods) |

## BIGBANG’s Big Comeback Energy

BIGBANG’s four nominations are a nostalgic treat for longtime fans. **Taeyang** adds three solo nods, including Best Male Artist and Best Dance Performance Male Solo for *LIVE FAST DIE SLOW*.

**G-Dragon**, last year’s Artist of the Year winner, is nominated for Best Collaboration for his part in aespa’s *WDA (Whole Different Animal)*.

## TXT Aim High, Too

TXT have group nominations for Artist of the Year, Best Male Group and Album of the Year for *7th Year: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns*. **Yeonjun** also earns three individual nods, including Best Male Artist and Best Dance Performance Male Solo for *Ice Cream*.

## When and Where Will the Awards Happen?

The ceremony is set for **November 20 and 21** at **Kyocera Dome Osaka, Japan**. Fans abroad can stream it through CJ ENM’s **Mnet Plus**. The first round of fan voting opened alongside the nominations, so now is the time to back your favourites. Music released between **October 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026** is eligible.

For background on the ceremony’s history, see the [Mnet Asian Music Awards on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mnet_Asian_Music_Awards).

## Why This Year Feels Different?

Three things stand out:

- **Veterans are back.** BTS and BIGBANG sit at the top, which makes this one of the most emotional lineups in years.
- **Fourth-gen groups are thriving.** ILLIT and CORTIS matching legends like aespa and IVE on five nods each shows how fast the scene is moving.
- **Collaborations are in the spotlight.** J-Hope and G-Dragon’s cross-group nods prove that crossovers are now a major MAMA storyline.

Want more entertainment and tech coverage like this? Explore the latest stories on [Technosports](https://technosports.co.in/) and check our [trending news section](https://technosports.co.in/) for daily updates.

## FAQs

Q1. Who has the most nominations at the 2026 MAMA Awards?

BTS lead the pack with five nominations, including Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for *ARIRANG*. Several other acts also have five.

Q2. Where can I watch the 2026 MAMA Awards online?

The show streams internationally on Mnet Plus. It takes place November 20 and 21 at Kyocera Dome Osaka.