KMA 2026 has sparked massive excitement among global K-pop fans by revealing its star-studded first lineup. From trendsetting groups representing each generation to next-gen rookies showing explosive growth, the event is set to be a thrilling celebration.
The first lineup for KMA 2026, revealed on the 11th, includes TOMORROW X TOGETHER, 82MAJOR, VVUP, Kickflip, Allday Project, Cortis, and Longshot (in order of debut). With a large number of artists expanding their presence in the global market joining in, the heat for this year’s awards ceremony is expected to soar.
First up, TOMORROW X TOGETHER proved their unrivaled global popularity by becoming million-sellers once again with their eighth mini album, “7TH YEAR: When the wind stopped for a moment in the brambles,” released last month. They boasted their continued influence by surpassing 1.8 million copies in first-week sales and ranking 3rd on the US Billboard main album chart, the “Billboard 200.” The title track “One More Day” also received immense love from global fans, ranking high on the “World Digital Song Sales” chart.
82MAJOR is also maintaining a steady upward trend. Their fifth mini album “FEELM,” released last month, landed high on domestic album charts immediately after release and showed a strong presence on China’s NetEase Cloud Music and global iTunes charts. In particular, they proved their expanding overseas fandom by hitting #1 on the Spain iTunes “Top 100 Song Downloads” chart and #1 on the Vietnam iTunes “Top Album” chart.
Multinational girl group VVUP is rapidly expanding its presence in the global market. The pre-release track “House Party” from their first mini album entered the top ranks of iTunes K-pop charts in various countries, including Russia, Indonesia, France, the UK, and Hong Kong. Combined with the influence of Indonesian member Kim, the music video even hit #1 on the local YouTube trending list.
Kickflip has emerged as a “super rookie” representing 2025. Their song “The Song I Sing for the First Time” was named one of Billboard’s “2025 Best K-pop 25,” and they proved their global competitiveness by performing at world-renowned music festivals like Lollapalooza Chicago and Summer Sonic. Their recently released fourth mini album “My First Kick” is showing steep growth, surpassing 450,000 copies in first-week sales.
Co-ed group Allday Project is also drawing attention for their unique team color and impact. They proved their global buzz by being nominated for “K-pop Best New Artist” at the iHeartRadio Music Awards earlier this year and have shown a powerful presence by sweeping music charts with every release, including “FAMOUS,” “WICKED,” “ONE MORE TIME,” and “LOOK AT ME.”
Cortis’ growth is equally impressive. In less than a year since debut, they set a record for the highest sales for a K-pop debut album by surpassing 2 million cumulative sales for their first mini album. Their second mini album “GREENGREEN” also achieved explosive results, exceeding 2 million copies just four days after release. The title track “REDRED” is receiving a hot response from global fans, sparking a viral SNS challenge.
Longshot, which garnered attention for being produced by Jay Park, is also on a remarkable rise. Their debut album “SHOT CALLERS,” released in January, surpassed 100 million Spotify streams in just 59 days. With all members participating in the songwriting process, they are being recognized for both their free-spirited team color and musicality. They are emerging as next-generation performance powerhouses, showing a strong presence at various festivals both domestically and abroad.
Meanwhile, KMA 2026 is hosted by KM Chart and KM Chart World, and organized by the KMA Organizing Committee and Upic. It will be held on July 25 at Korea University’s Hwajung Gymnasium, and anticipation is building for the additional lineup to be revealed later.
