The Asia Star Entertainer Awards 2026 (ASIA STAR ENTERTAINER AWARDS 2026, hereafter ASEA 2026), a global music festival representing Asia, concluded successfully.
Held over two days on the 16th and 17th at Belluna Dome in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, ASEA 2026 saw top Asian artists, including K-pop acts, gather in full force, once again proving its status as a global awards ceremony. Branded as a "performance-style awards ceremony" where music, stars and fans become one, spectacular performances continued throughout both days.
The first day of the awards began with a powerful opening by dancer Kyoka (Kyoka). Following that, MONSTA X's Hyungwon and IVE's Ray served as MCs for a second consecutive year, guiding the event with fluent hosting and Japanese-language skills. Actor Lee Jun-ho appeared as a presenter for the grand prize, adding luster to the event.
The prestigious artist of the year award went to ENHYPEN. They won three awards, including album of the year for their sixth mini album Desire: Unleash, setting a record of winning the grand prize for a second consecutive year.
&TEAM won performance of the year, taking home their first grand prize since debut, and Blackpink won song of the year for "Jump." The best new artist award went to Alphadrive One, showcasing their presence.
The momentum continued into the second day. TVXQ!'s Max Changmin and actress Lee Sung-kyoung hosted as MCs, delivering experienced moderation, and actor Lee Chae-min presented the grand prize.
The record of the year grand prize on the second day went to ATEEZ. ATEEZ achieved a triple crown with their "Golden Hour" series, proving their global achievements and once again demonstrating the strength of a strong live performer.
The "living legend" TVXQ! showcased an unmatched presence by winning three awards, including grand legendary artist of K-pop and top touring artist.
Other winners included Hearts2Hearts and The Rampage from Exile Tribe, with Japanese and Korean artists alike receiving awards, demonstrating the diversity and expansiveness of the Asian music market. In the acting category, Lee Jun-ho, Go Youn-jung, Lee Chae-min and Lim Yoona took home trophies, adding balance to the awards.
The ceremony was broadcast live worldwide via Naver TV, CHZZK and Japanese OTT platform U-NEXT. With about 30,000 fans attending the venue, the intense enthusiasm of the global K-pop fandom was felt once again.
Since its launch in 2024, ASEA has established itself as an awards ceremony with global influence beyond Asia. In particular, it has sought to differentiate itself by strengthening fan voting systems and focusing on performance-centered production, growing in scale each year.
This year's ASEA 2026, which proved its presence again with an unprecedented lineup and stage, solidified its position as another global K-pop platform.
Meanwhile, ASEA 2026 was hosted by Newsen, South Korea's leading entertainment and sports specialist media marking its 21st anniversary, and @style, a star and style magazine marking its 14th anniversary, with the ASEA organizing committee overseeing the event.
[Photo] Provided by the ASEA organizing committee
[OSEN]