The popularity award voting for the 2026 D Awards, where winners are decided by 100% fan votes, has concluded.
The final winners of the D Awards x upick popularity award were decided at 3 p.m. on the 29th. The winners of the "upick global choice" were ENHYPEN's Heeseung and aespa's Karina. This vote was held from the 6th to the 23rd with group members who advanced to the best group and best rising star finals as candidates, and fierce competition ensued with rankings frequently changing.
In the "upick global choice" male category vote, Heeseung unintentionally created a "brother showdown" dynamic by competing with fellow group member Niki, drawing attention. In the three-way contest that also included group NINE's member J.L., Heeseung's final vote count was a staggering 1.449 billion votes. Niki received about 1.249 billion votes.
Also, the "upick global choice" female category saw ranking changes until the end, producing a fierce close contest. The final winner was aespa member Karina. Karina received about 182 million votes, and Blackpink member Jennie received about 177 million votes.
ENHYPEN proved their peak popularity by winning two crowns at the D Awards x upick popularity award: the global choice awarded to member Heeseung and best group. In the best group category, ENHYPEN drew attention by engaging in a breathtaking first- and second-place battle with HYBE senior group BTS.
The D Awards x upick popularity award announced winners (teams) across six categories from the 26th: best solo popularity award (male and female), best rising star (male and female), and best group (male and female). The female best solo popularity award went to Blackpink's Jennie, and the male best solo popularity award went to Choi Rip-woo from Mnet's Boys2Planet. The best rising star winners were group NINE and IZNA, and the best group popularity award winners for male and female categories were ENHYPEN and BABYMONSTER, respectively. The D Awards x upick popularity award will be presented during the main ceremony.
The second D Awards (D AWARDS with upick), hosted by Sports Donga, will be held at 6 p.m. on Feb. 11 at Hwajeong Gymnasium, Korea University, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. It will be broadcast live on Channel A Plus, and the same day at midnight Channel A will air a delayed broadcast. [Photo] "D Awards" [OSEN]