Legendary male duo ‘Panic’ is teaming up with All-Day Project, ZEROBASEONE, and Cortis. Meanwhile, ‘BIGBANG’ will hold a special collaboration stage with the animated character ‘Dooly the Little Dinosaur’. These exciting performances are set for the 2026 MAMA Awards, taking place next month on the 20th and 21st at the Osaka Kyocera Dome in Japan.
The MAMA Awards announced these details during a media day held on the 29th at the Eliena Hotel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Presenters at the event included Shin Hyung-kwan, head of CJ ENM’s Music Content Business Division, Yoon Shin-hye, head of Mnet’s Business Division, and Park Chan-wook, head of the Convention Business Division.
Music Interstellar Concept and Collaborations
This year’s awards ceremony will run under the concept of ‘Music Interstellar’, symbolizing the blurring of boundaries between time and space, imagination and reality. To bring this to life, stars from different eras and genres will gather in a single universe. Yoon Shin-hye stated, "Music is not trapped in an era. It is an era where songs of the past are consumed hip again, and global fans enjoy the same music beyond spatial limits. This year’s MAMA Awards will showcase the power of music that transcends time and space."
In line with the concept, diverse artist collaborations have been teased. In addition to the previously announced performing artists such as All-Day Project, Alpha Drive One, BABYMONSTER, CL, ENHYPEN, Hearts2Hearts, ILLIT, and Rescene, MAMA Awards newly added male duo Panic. Yoon explained, "Panic is a team that debuted when Mnet first opened. They will present a stage that breaks generational boundaries alongside Cortis members Martin and Seonghyun, WOODZ, ZEROBASEONE’s Kim Tae-rae, All-Day Project’s Woochan, and Hearts2Hearts’ Yuha."
BIGBANG, celebrating their 20th debut anniversary this year, will showcase a collaborative stage with characters from the animation ‘Dooly the Little Dinosaur’. Yoon described it as "a meeting between a legendary character and a legendary artist." Group ENHYPEN is also set to deliver a performance combining the narrative of the movie ‘Dune: Part Three’.
Changes to Ceremony Format and Fan Festa
Changes have also been made to the event’s format. This year, the awards will be divided into the Artist Category (on the 20th) and the Performance Category (on the 21st). In simple terms, awards given to artists will be presented on the 20th, while song and album awards will be given on the 21st. The host for the event is Park Bo-gum, who has continuously served as MAMA’s solo host since 2017, excluding his military service period in 2020 and 2021. Yoon explained, "Park Bo-gum will act as a storyteller, connecting the first and second days of the MAMA Awards into a single coherent story."
First-Ever MAMA Awards Fan Festa in Osaka
For the first time, the ‘MAMA Awards Fan Festa’ will also be held. From November 9th to the 21st, interactive programs related to the MAMA Awards will be provided at Hep Five, Dotonbori, Namba Station Plaza, Midosuji Street, and other locations.
Park Chan-wook noted, "Booths will be set up all over Osaka, allowing visitors to enjoy nominated artists’ music on the Hep Five Ferris wheel, meet artists via video through ‘Star Touch’, connect with backstage cams, and experience the red carpet. We will make this a festival where fans do not just watch the awards ceremony, but become the main characters themselves." He added, "If the MAMA Awards are held in another city next year, the Fan Festa will continue in that city as well."
