The Blue Dragon Series Awards (청룡시리즈어워즈) is an annual awards ceremony organised by Sports Chosun — a sister brand of the Chosun Ilbo — recognising excellence in streaming television and OTT content in South Korea. Wikipedia
Launched in 2022, Sports Chosun — which also presents the prestigious Blue Dragon Film Awards — created Korea’s first award ceremony specifically for streaming platforms, honoring excellence in dramas and variety shows produced by streaming services rather than traditional TV networks.
Table of Contents
Blue Dragon Edition History
| Edition | Date | Grand Prize Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1st (2022) | July 19, 2022 | Squid Game / D.P. |
| 2nd (2023) | July 19, 2023 | The Glory |
| 3rd (2024) | July 19, 2024 | Moving |
| 4th (2025) | July 18, 2025 | When Life Gives You Tangerines |
| 5th (2026) | TBA — Expected July 2026 | TBA |
When & Where: What to Expect
No official date for the 5th ceremony has been confirmed yet. However, based on the ceremony’s consistent track record, the 5th Blue Dragon Series Awards is widely expected to be held in July 2026 — most likely around July 18–19 — at the now-iconic Paradise City in Incheon, which has hosted every edition since the inaugural ceremony in 2022.
The ceremony is broadcast live on KBS2, making it accessible to domestic viewers, with global fans typically catching the live stream via Naver and other platforms. Wikipedia
Hosts & Format
Jun Hyun-moo and Girls’ Generation’s YoonA (Im Yoon-ah) have hosted all four previous editions — a fan-favourite pairing that has become as much a part of the ceremony’s identity as the awards themselves.
Voting for nominees typically involves a combination of expert jury evaluation, entertainment journalist scores, and public netizen voting rounds — giving fans a meaningful role in who takes home the trophies.
What Shows Could Compete in 2026?
Based on the eligibility window (typically OTT dramas and variety shows released between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026), major contenders could include K-drama hits that dominated Netflix, Disney+, and Coupang Play over the past year. Keep an eye on our K-drama awards season tracker and best Korean shows of 2026 on TechnoSports for nominee announcements as they drop.
Learn more about the ceremony’s origins on the Blue Dragon Series Awards Wikipedia page.
FAQs
Q: Where can international fans watch the Blue Dragon Series Awards 2026 live?
Previous editions have streamed live on KBS2 for domestic viewers and via Naver and YouTube for international fans — expect the same for the 5th ceremony.
Q: What is the difference between the Blue Dragon Series Awards and the Blue Dragon Film Awards?
The Series Awards celebrate OTT and streaming dramas and variety shows, while the Film Awards — held since 1963 — honour the best in Korean cinema; they are separate ceremonies held at different times of the year.
