Award show performances usually play it safe. The 2026 Fact Music Awards (TMA) just announced it’s doing the opposite — cover stages, surprise duets, and debut performances of songs nobody’s heard yet. If you needed a reason to circle September 19 on your calendar, this lineup is it.

The Opening Stage: Three 5th-Gen Groups, Three Iconic Covers

TMA is kicking things off with a trio of rising fifth-generation acts putting their own spin on some of K-pop’s biggest hits. xikers will take on BTS’s “Hooligan,” CLOSE YOUR EYES will reimagine NCT DREAM’s “Beat It Up,” and tripleS will perform their version of aespa’s “LEMONADE.” It’s a bold way to open the show — letting nedjwer groups reinterpret tracks from some of the industry’s most established names.

A Busan-Born Duet, Set Against the City’s Skyline

Since this year’s ceremony is being held in Busan, organizers arranged a special collaboration to match. TREASURE’s Jihoon and KiiiKiii’s Jiyu — both Busan natives — will perform a duet under the show’s theme, “Shine on, Dream One,” set against a nighttime Busan backdrop. It’s a nice full-circle touch: two artists returning to their hometown to headline a moment built specifically around it.

Debut Performances You Won’t Want to Miss

Beyond the covers and collaborations, TMA is also promising genuine firsts. xikers and ATEEZ are each preparing to perform songs they’ve never done on a music show stage before, while CLOSE YOUR EYES will debut an entirely unreleased track live for the first time. For an award show, that’s a notably high number of exclusive moments packed into one night.

Quick Facts: 2026 The Fact Music Awards

Detail	Information
Event Date	September 19, 2026
Venue	Busan Asiad Main Stadium
Opening Acts	xikers, CLOSE YOUR EYES, tripleS
Special Duet	TREASURE’s Jihoon x KiiiKiii’s Jiyu
Debut Performances	ATEEZ, xikers, CLOSE YOUR EYES
Theme	“Shine on, Dream One”

Why This Lineup Feels Different

Most award ceremonies rely on artists performing their own discography — TMA’s decision to build an entire opening segment around cross-generational covers signals a genuinely curated show rather than a standard promotional stop. Combined with hometown duets and unreleased debuts, it’s shaping up to be one of the more memorable nights on this year’s K-pop awards calendar.

For more K-pop award show updates and lineup announcements, check out our ongoing coverage on technosports.co.in. And if you’re tracking every reveal ahead of TMA 2026, technosports.co.in has more breakdowns worth following.