The 2026 KM Chart Awards celebrated K‑pop’s standout achievements of the past year, presenting four Daesang honors alongside a comprehensive suite of additional awards. Among the recipients, MAMAMOO’s Hwasa and Bighit labelmates CORTIS, BTS, and Tomorrow X Together each earned a Daesang, the ceremony’s highest recognition.
For CORTIS, winning Record of the Year marks their first Daesang (Grand Prize) of any kind, coming less than twelve months after their August 2025 debut.
CORTIS Secures Historic First Daesang at 2026 KM Chart Awards
The Record of the Year honor at the KM Chart Awards is based on the ceremony’s annual KM Chart data, which combines monthly rankings (70% chart performance, 30% fan voting) and seasonal rankings (50% chart performance, 30% fan voting, 20% judging panel evaluation). For rookie group CORTIS, this recognition underscores a remarkable chart trajectory: their debut EP COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES entered the Billboard 200 at number 15 in September 2025, and their second EP GREENGREEN debuted at number three in May 2026—milestones rarely achieved within the first twelve months of a career. The award was announced the same week CORTIS confirmed a global cinema livestream of their upcoming LA concerts on August 13 and 14. Members Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon, and Keonho also earned a Bonsang as part of the Ultimate 12 earlier in the evening.
BTS and Tomorrow X Together Dominate with Top Awards at 2026 KM Chart Awards
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JULY 19: RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook of BTS perform during the Topps Final Halftime Show in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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BTS earned Album of the Year for ARIRANG, marking their first full‑group release since all seven members completed mandatory military service and reunited. The group also secured a Bonsang as part of the Ultimate 12.
Tomorrow X Together captured Artist of the Year, Best Popular Song for “Stick With You,” Best Popular Male Group, and Yeonjun’s Best Popular Solo Male, making them the night’s biggest winners by total award count. TXT released their eighth Korean mini album 7th Year: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns in April 2026, and Yeonjun launched his solo EP No Labels: Part 01 in November 2025.
Both BTS and TXT also received Bonsangs as part of the Ultimate 12.
Hwasa Wins Song of the Year at 2026 KM Chart Awards
AUSTIN, TEXAS – MARCH 16: Hwasa of Mamamoo performs during the K-Pop Night Out SXSW showcase at The Belmont on March 16, 2016 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Redferns)
Redferns
Hwasa’s “Good Goodbye” earned the Song of the Year award. Born Hwang Hye‑jin (stage name Hwasa), she debuted with MAMAMOO in 2014 and launched a solo career in 2019 with the single “Twit.” This marks her first Song of the Year win at a major ceremony as a solo artist.
Complete 2026 KM Chart Awards Winners List
Daesang
Song of the Year: Good Goodbye — Hwasa
Album of the Year: ARIRANG — BTS
Record of the Year: CORTIS
Artist of the Year: TOMORROW X TOGETHER
Fans’ Choice Awards
Best Popular Song: Stick With You — TOMORROW X TOGETHER
Best Popular Solo Male Singer: YEONJUN
Best Popular Solo Female Singer: WINTER
Best Popular Male Group: TOMORROW X TOGETHER
Best Popular Female Group: UNIS
Best Popular Trot: YoungTak
Global Rising Star: LNGSHOT
KM Next Potential: NEWBEAT and VVUP
New Artist
LNGSHOT, ALPHA DRIVE ONE
Special Awards
KM Favorite Icon: 82MAJOR, UNIS
KM Band Icon: Hi-Fi Un!corn
Best Female Group: Hearts2Hearts
Best Male Group: P1Harmony
Ultimate 12 (Bonsang)
ZEROBASEONE, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, BTS, HWASA, CORTIS, Hearts2Hearts, NCT WISH, RIIZE, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, ALLDAY PROJECT, KickFlip, P1Harmony
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