Melon Music Awards 2026 (MMA) First Lineup Revealed: PLAVE, RIIZE, NCT WISH Set to Perform

The countdown to K-pop’s biggest annual celebration has officially begun. On September 16, 2026, the 18th Melon Music Awards (MMA2026) dropped its first wave of confirmed performers, and the lineup already has fans buzzing.

MMA2026 Key Details

A Lineup That Blends Established Stars With Rising Talent

This first batch of confirmed acts brings together a mix of proven crowd-pullers and fresh faces making their mark. RIIZE and NCT WISH arrive with growing global followings, while virtual sensation PLAVE continues to prove that its unique format can hold its own on one of K-pop’s biggest stages. Rounding out the announcement are ALPHA DRIVE ONE and LNGSHOT, both newer names getting a major platform boost from this early confirmation.

What “Connect” Means for This Year’s Show

Melon Music Awards has chosen “Connect” as its central theme this year, framed under the slogan “K-POP CONNECT: The New Pulse.” It’s a fitting direction for an event that has long served as one of the genre’s biggest annual meeting points between fans, artists, and the wider K-pop industry — bringing generations of idols together under one roof each November.

Two-Night Format at Gocheok Sky Dome

This year’s ceremony returns to the massive Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul across two nights, November 14 and 15, giving organizers room to spotlight a wider range of artists across both evenings compared to a single-night format.

More Names Expected Soon

With this being just the first lineup announcement, more artist confirmations are almost certainly on the way in the coming weeks as MMA2026 continues its rollout. Given the scale of past ceremonies, expect the final lineup to include several more chart-topping names before November arrives.

For more award show lineups and K-pop event updates, check out TechnoSports Entertainment.

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