Melon Music Awards 2026 Lineup: All 26 Acts, Day by Day
I.O.I reunites, aespa and IVE headline opposite nights, and two NCT units split the weekend. Here is who plays when, and how to plan around it.
Awards weekends used to be about trophies. These days they are mostly about the lineup, because that is what decides who gets the stage time, the fan chants and the clips everyone shares on Sunday morning. So here is the full roster, split by night, plus the things the announcements did not spell out.
Melon Music Awards 2026 Lineup by Day
The lineup was released in four waves between September 16 and October 14, according to Soompi, and The Korea Times confirmed the final list of 26. The theme this year is "K-POP CONNECT: The New Pulse", with KakaoBank as title sponsor.
Day 1 · Saturday Nov 14
I.O.IAENaespaATEEZDragon PonyHANAHearts2HeartsIDIDNCT DREAMRESCENERIIZETUIDETWSYENADay 2 · Sunday Nov 15
82MAJORILLITALPHA DRIVE ONEAND2BLECORTIShrtz.wavIVEKiiiKiiiLNGSHOTNCT 127NCT WISHPLAVEOne thing worth noticing: the nights are balanced rather than stacked. Day 1 carries the reunion and two groups with brand-new releases, while Day 2 has IVE, NCT 127, CORTIS and PLAVE. If you can only watch one night, your pick depends on whether you want a reunion or a run of current favorites.
ATEEZ is releasing a new mini album the day before their stage, and NCT DREAM has a fresh album out five days before theirs. Awards stages that follow a release week tend to feel less like a recital and more like a victory lap. I would rather see those two on this night than any other.
Source: The Korea Times, "MMA2026 brings 26 K-pop acts to Gocheok Dome" (Oct 14, 2026); Soompi lineup updates (Sep 16-Oct 14, 2026); KpopOfficial event page. Comeback dates from KpopOfficial's November 2026 schedule. As of Nov 2026.
The Reunion Everyone Is Talking About: I.O.I
The Korea Times notes that I.O.I will perform on Day 1, about nine years after the group's previous activities. A reunion on a stage like this is the kind of moment that gets clipped and shared outside of the usual fandom circles, even by people who do not follow the current scene.
Because the reports do not describe what the group plans to perform, treat any set list you see online as speculation until it is confirmed.
Trusting unverified leaks about performance lineups, special stages or winners. The official announcements cover who will attend and perform, not what they will perform. Wait for the broadcast.
Source: The Korea Times (Oct 14, 2026). As of Nov 2026.
Melon Music Awards 2026 Tickets: What Is Actually Known
KpopOfficial's event page links to Melon Ticket (ticket.melon.com) as the place to buy. I could not find ticket prices or an on-sale schedule in the sources I checked, so this guide will not guess a number. The Korea Times also reported a promotion that gave away 224 invitations, which ran through November 4 and has now closed.
| Question | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Dates and venue | November 14-15, 2026, Gocheok Sky Dome, Seoul |
| Where to buy | Melon Ticket (linked on KpopOfficial) |
| Ticket prices | Not stated in the sources reviewed |
| Hosts | Not stated in the sources reviewed |
| Voting for awards | Not stated in the sources reviewed |
Many international buyers hit the same wall with Korean ticket platforms: they need a local-format account, phone number or payment method. If you are traveling for this, check Melon Ticket's current sign-up and overseas-purchase notices early. Packages sold through travel marketplaces such as Klook also appeared in search results, but the listing I saw did not show confirmed 2026 pricing, so confirm details with the seller before paying.
Source: KpopOfficial event page (Oct 14, 2026); The Korea Times (Oct 14, 2026). Platform sign-up limits are general experience, not a statement from the organizers. As of Nov 2026.
How to Watch the Melon Music Awards 2026 From Outside Korea
This is the question I most wanted answered, and the honest answer is that none of the sources I reviewed state a broadcast or livestream plan. The event is organized by Melon, so the official Melon accounts on YouTube, Instagram and X are the places to check first. I am not going to name a streaming platform until it is announced.
A practical tip regardless: time zones. Korea is UTC+9, so an evening show in Seoul falls in the morning in London and early morning on the US East Coast. Check the announced start time and convert it before you set an alarm.
Source: KpopOfficial lists official Melon social accounts; no broadcast details were found in the Korea Times, Soompi or KpopOfficial pages reviewed. As of Nov 2026.
Where MMA Fits in K-Pop Awards Season
MMA2026 lands in the middle of a crowded stretch. KpopOfficial lists MAMA AWARDS 2026 at Kyocera Dome Osaka on November 20 and 21, with SBS Gayo Daejeon on December 24 and 25 at KINTEX. The Korea Herald reported that in a prior year the MMA considered releases through November 19, which is why comebacks cluster in early November. That is the pattern to watch for this year too, though the 2026 eligibility window should be confirmed with the organizers.
The new "Global Top 10" category, linked to the Global-K Chart, is also worth noticing. The Korea Times describes that chart as an index combining China, Japan and Korea, created by Melon, Tencent Music and Line Music. If you want a hint about how the organizers think of overseas listeners, that is it.
Source: KpopOfficial; The Korea Herald, "November rush gives K-pop one last comeback window" (Sep 28, 2026); The Korea Times (Oct 14, 2026). As of Nov 2026.
Key Takeaways
- MMA2026 runs November 14-15 at Gocheok Sky Dome with 26 acts: 14 on Saturday, 12 on Sunday.
- I.O.I performs on Day 1 in a reunion about nine years after their previous activities.
- Tickets go through Melon Ticket; prices, hosts, voting and streaming details were not stated in the sources reviewed, so verify before you plan.
Melon Music Awards 2026: Quick Answers
November 14 and 15, 2026, at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.
26 acts, including aespa, ATEEZ, NCT DREAM and I.O.I on Day 1, and IVE, CORTIS, PLAVE and NCT 127 on Day 2.
The event page links to Melon Ticket. Prices were not stated in the sources reviewed, so check the platform directly.
Streaming plans were not announced in the sources reviewed. Follow the official Melon accounts for updates.
Your turn: which night would you pick if you could only be in the dome for one, the Day 1 reunion or the Day 2 rising stars? Drop your choice in the comments.
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Sources: The Korea Times, "MMA2026 brings 26 K-pop acts to Gocheok Dome for 2-night spectacle" (Oct 14, 2026); Soompi, Melon Music Awards 2026 lineup announcements (Sep 16-Oct 14, 2026); KpopOfficial, Melon Music Awards 2026 event page and November 2026 comeback schedule; The Korea Herald (Sep 28, 2026). Details can change, so confirm with official Melon channels.