The 2026 SPOTV K-Pop Awards took place on September 6 at KINTEX in Goyang, South Korea, marking a significant event in the K-pop industry. The emerging group AND2BLE stood out as the evening’s biggest winner, claiming five awards including Best New Artist and Artist of the Year, just three months after their debut with the highly successful mini album _Sequence 01: Curiosity_. Individual members Zhang Hao and Ricky also secured fan-voted honors, with Zhang Hao winning in two categories and Ricky for Best Spotlight. The agency behind AND2BLE, YH Entertainment, enjoyed success as well, with co-CEO Jung Haechang receiving the Best Creative Producer award.

Besides AND2BLE, the ceremony highlighted other prominent acts who garnered top awards. Rookie girl group KiiiKiii won Best Song of the Year for their track “404 (New Era),” while the folk-pop duo AKMU earned Best Artist of the Year. BTS secured Best Album of the Year for _ARIRANG_, marking their second major album win in recent weeks, having also taken the accolade at the 2026 K-World Dream Awards. These three acts were among seven winners recognized with the Artist of the Year honor, alongside names like KISS OF LIFE, NCT WISH, and ALPHA DRIVE ONE.

The event featured an array of performances from various artists, including Yena, Jeon Yujin, Billlie, and KickFlip, among others, with a tribute to K-pop’s earlier generations as part of the opening. Hosting duties were shared by Jang Sung Kyu, Billlie’s Tsuki, and AND2BLE’s Han Yujin, who also hosted alongside her group’s recognition. The awards showcased the rising influence of both new and established groups, reflecting the dynamic nature of the K-pop market and its diverse fanbase.

Additional multiple award winners included KISS OF LIFE, which won Best Female Group and Artist of the Year, and KickFlip, which took home Best Male Group and the SPOTV Ground Performance Award. The ceremony also recognized artists across various genres, with categories such as Best Genre – Rock/Indie Artist awarded to Hanroro and Best Trot Female Artist to Jeon Yujin. The 2026 SPOTV K-Pop Awards reinforced the continued growth and international appeal of Korean pop music through its celebration of talent and creative achievements.