Melon Music Awards Introduces New Global Category Reflecting K-pop Indexes from Korea, China, and Japan

by Lee Yiseul

Published 13 Aug.2026 09:34(KST)

"Global TOP10" to Be Awarded at the November Ceremony

MMA Poster. Provided by Kakao Entertainment

Kakao Entertainment announced on August 13 that the "2026 Melon Music Awards (MMA2026)", hosted by Melon, will introduce a new "Global TOP10" category this year, reflecting the integrated K-pop index of Korean, Chinese, and Japanese music platforms.

MMA2026 will take place at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul from November 14 to 15. This is the first time that MMA will be held over two days with two separate performances.

The "Global TOP10" is a main award, just like the existing "Top 10". Based on the cumulative scores from the "Global-K Chart"—which is participated in by Korea's Melon, China's Tencent Music, and Japan's Line Music—30 candidates will be shortlisted first.

The final ten winners will be selected by adding up 60% of the Global-K Chart score, 20% from a judging panel, and 20% from fan voting. Domestic votes will be conducted through Melon, while overseas votes will be cast on the K-culture fan platform "Berriz".

The Global-K Chart is a chart that aggregates K-pop-related indicators from music platforms in Korea, China, and Japan. In addition to music streaming, fan activity data from each platform is also counted.

This is not the first time the MMA has used the Global-K Chart as an award criterion. The "TMElive International Music Awards 2026 (2026 TIMA)" hosted by Tencent Music, which will take place in Hong Kong on August 22 and 23, has also introduced a new "Global-K Artist" category that uses this chart.

MMA2026 has chosen "Connect" as its main theme this year and adopted the slogan "K-POP CONNECT: The New Pulse".

A Kakao Entertainment representative said, "The Global TOP10 category has been created to reflect the responses of international K-pop fans, as expressed through the Global-K Chart, in the awards."