TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Hanteo Music Awards returned for its 33rd edition on February 15, 2026, at the KSPO Dome in Seoul, South Korea, as one of Korea's most prestigious music awards ceremonies. The ceremony evaluated the achievements of artists and musical works throughout 2025 based on Hanteo chart data, including sales, digital performance, and fan support.
Daesang Winners Dominated by Boy Groups and Male Soloists
The Daesang is the highest award category, recognizing outstanding achievements in the music industry. At the 2026 Hanteo Music Awards, the winners in this main category were as follows:
Best Artist (Daesang)
Winner: ATEEZ — the group recognized as the best artist of the year based on overall performance.
Best Album (Daesang)
Winner: Stray Kids with their album KARMA, which garnered widespread attention and won the Best Album award.
Best Song (Daesang)
Winner: G-Dragon with his song "Too Bad," which is considered one of the most influential works of the year.
Best Performance (Daesang)
Winner: ENHYPEN, recognized for their powerful and impressive stage performances at various events throughout the year.
Bonsang for Most Outstanding Artist
In addition to the Daesang, the Bonsang, or the grand prize, is also awarded to the ten artists or groups who demonstrate the best achievements in the Artist of the Year category. These Bonsang recipients are also known as the Hanteo Top 10. Here are the 10 artists who received Bonsangs at this year's Hanteo Music Awards:
- aespa
- ATEEZ
- BOYNEXTDOOR
- ENHYPEN
- G-Dragon
- Lee Chan-won
- NCT Wish
- PLAVE
- SEVENTEEN
- Stray Kids
These ten artists are considered the most influential throughout 2025 based on chart data and global fan support.
Other Awards Worth Noting
In addition to the main awards, the 2026 Hanteo Music Awards recognized several other categories reflecting the diverse talent within the music industry:
- Rookie of the Year
This award recognized two emerging artists with the most impressive achievements this year: Hearts2Hearts and CORTIS.
- Emerging Artist
Artists who demonstrated great potential in their musical careers this year were ARTMS and EVNNE.
- Best Popular Artist
The winner of this category was Lim Young-woong, an artist with immense popularity among music fans both domestically and internationally.
- Global Popular Artist
This award was won by BTS, confirming the group's significant international influence.
In addition, there were other special awards, such as the Continental Music category, which demonstrated Stray Kids' global dominance in various regions, including Asia, America, Europe, and Africa.
The 2026 Hanteo Music Awards are a testament to the rapid growth of Korean music on the global stage. From Daesangs to popular and continental awards, this awards night celebrates the diversity of talent and creative works that bring new dynamics to the music industry.
Congratulations to the winners of this year's Hanteo Music Awards!
SOOMPI | X | CHOSUN DAILY
