Pop Golden Awards 2026: Official Nominees Announcement

The Wait is Over – Celebrating Excellence in Global Entertainment

We are thrilled to announce the official nominees for the Pop Golden Awards 2026, honoring the most exceptional talents and groundbreaking achievements in music, film, and entertainment from around the world. This year’s edition promises to be our most spectacular yet, celebrating artists who have captivated audiences and redefined excellence across multiple genres and regions.

The Pop Golden Awards recognizes outstanding contributions from international markets, including Korean, Chinese, Thai, Turkish, and Bollywood entertainment industries, alongside Western cinema, J-pop, and global pop music. Our comprehensive categories reflect the diverse landscape of contemporary entertainment and the artists who continue to push creative boundaries.

Voting is officially open in every category. Browse the full list of nominees below and cast your votes on our official Awards page.

Music Categories

Golden Pop Artist of the Year Award (2026)

Honoring the solo performer whose music, artistry, and global impact defined pop culture over the past year. The nominees are:

• Taylor Swift
• Sabrina Carpenter
• Bruno Mars
• Lady Gaga
• Billie Eilish
• The Weeknd
• Olivia Dean
• Olivia Rodrigo
• Tate McRae
• Harry Styles
• Ariana Grande
• Addison Rae

Cast your vote: Golden Pop Artist of the Year →

Golden Pop Group of the Year Award (2026)

Celebrating the group that delivered chart-topping hits, unforgettable performances, and remarkable fan engagement worldwide. The nominees are:

• BTS
• BLACKPINK
• Stray Kids
• Coldplay
• Imagine Dragons
• SEVENTEEN
• TWICE
• Twenty One Pilots
• NewJeans
• aespa
• IVE
• LE SSERAFIM
• SB19
• Snow Man
• INI
• ATEEZ
• Number_i
• JO1

Cast your vote: Golden Pop Group of the Year →

Golden Pop Song of the Year Award (2026)

Recognizing the track that defined the year — combining outstanding artistry, commercial success, and cultural impact. The nominees are:

• Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas”
• HUNTR/X – “Golden”
• Bruno Mars – “I Just Might”
• Olivia Rodrigo – “Drop Dead”
• Olivia Dean – “Man I Need”
• Kehlani – “Folded”
• PinkPantheress (with Zara Larsson) – “Stateside”
• Ella Langley – “Be Her”
• Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
• Harry Styles – “Aperture”
• JENNIE & Tame Impala – “Dracula (Remix)”

Cast your vote: Golden Pop Song of the Year →

Golden J-Pop Artist of the Year Award (2026)

Japan’s vibrant music scene is represented by these outstanding artists and groups:

• Kenshi Yonezu
• Ado
• Vaundy
• Yorushika
• AiNA THE END
• imase
• Snow Man
• JO1
• INI
• Number_i
• BE:FIRST

Cast your vote: Golden J-Pop Artist of the Year →

The Golden K-Pop Artist of the Year Award (2026)

Individual artistry takes center stage with these exceptional nominees:

• Jennie
• IU
• j-hope
• Jin
• Jisoo
• Rosé
• Yuqi
• Karina
• G-Dragon
• Doyoung
• Roy Kim
• Lim Young-woong
• Hwasa
• Chungha
• Yena

Cast your vote: The Golden K-Pop Artist of the Year →

Golden K-Pop Group of the Year Award (2026)

The battle of the groups features these industry titans:

• BTS
• BLACKPINK
• Hearts2Hearts
• Stray Kids
• IVE
• aespa
• BABYMONSTER
• ENHYPEN
• NewJeans
• TWICE
• ILLIT
• ATEEZ

Cast your vote: Golden K-Pop Group of the Year →

Golden K-Pop Song of the Year Award (2026)

This category showcases the explosive creativity of K-pop over the past 18 months. The nominees are:

• BTS – “SWIM”
• Hearts2Hearts (H2H) – “RUDE!”
• BLACKPINK – “GO”
• BABYMONSTER – “CHOOM”
• IVE – “Bang Bang”
• ATEEZ – “Adrenaline”
• ROSÉ – “Messy”
• JISOO – “Your Love”
• G-Dragon – “Home Sweet Home”
• Taeyeon – “Letter To Myself”
• BAEKHYUN – “Elevator”
• Hwasa – “Good Goodbye”
• Minnie – “HER”
• Karina – “UP”
• Jin – “Don’t Say You Love Me”
• j-hope – “Sweet Dreams”

Cast your vote: Golden K-Pop Song of the Year →

Golden K-Pop Music Video of the Year Award (2026)

Visual storytelling excellence is recognized through these stunning nominations:

• BTS – “SWIM”
• Hearts2Hearts (H2H) – “RUDE!”
• j-hope – “Sweet Dreams”
• BLACKPINK – “GO”
• BABYMONSTER – “CHOOM”
• CORTIS – “REDRED”
• ILLIT – “It’s Me”
• ENHYPEN – “Knife”
• IVE – “Bang Bang”
• ATEEZ – “Adrenaline”
• NEXZ – “Mmchk”
• ROSÉ – “Messy”

Cast your vote: Golden K-Pop Music Video of the Year →

Golden Korean Record of the Year Award (2026)

Honoring the most outstanding and impactful Korean records released within the past 18 months. The nominees are:

• BIBI – “Scott and Zelda”
• KISS OF LIFE – “Lips Hips Kiss”
• NMIXX – “Papillon”
• Lim Young Woong – “Eternal Moment”
• IU – “Never Ending Story”
• Jin – “Don’t Say You Love Me”
• BTS – “Into the Sun”
• NMIXX – “Heavy Serenade”
• WOODZ – “Drowning”
• Rosé – “Number One Girl”
• Hwasa – “Good Goodbye”
• j-hope – “Killin’ It Girl”
• G-DRAGON – “DRAMA”
• ZEROBASEONE – “Doctor! Doctor!”
• Roy Kim – “If You Ask Me What Love Is”
• Jennie – “Twin”
• Jisoo – “Your Love”
• Lee Mujin – “Coming Of Age Story”
• Changsub – “Heavenly Fate”

Cast your vote: Golden Korean Record of the Year →

Golden Hip Hop Song of the Year Award (2026)

Hip hop excellence is celebrated with these powerful tracks:

• DaBaby – “POP DAT THANG”
• Don Toliver – “E85”
• Lil Uzi Vert – “What You Saying”
• Pooh Shiesty – “FDO”
• Don Toliver – “Body”
• “Father” (feat. Travis Scott)
• T.I. – “Let ’Em Know”
• G Herbo – “Went Legit”
• “wgft” (feat. Burna Boy)
• Kendrick Lamar – “TV Off”
• Doechii – “Anxiety”
• SB19 – “DAM”
• LE SSERAFIM (ft. j-hope) – “Spaghetti”
• BABYMONSTER – “CHOOM”
• Stray Kids – “Do It”
• Jackson Wang – “BUCK”
• Snow Man – “SAVE YOUR HEART”
• INI – “All 4 U”

Cast your vote: Golden Hip Hop Song of the Year →

Acting Categories

Golden Korean Actor of the Year Award (2026)

Korea’s finest acting talents are recognized:

• Cha Eun-woo
• Lee Min-ho
• Byeon Woo-seok
• Park Ji-hoon
• Kim Soo-hyun
• Hyun Bin
• Ji Chang-wook
• Kim Seon-ho
• Park Seo-joon
• Song Kang
• Ju Ji-hoon
• Lee Jong-suk
• Chae Soo-bin
• IU
• Shin Hae Sun
• Park Shin Hye
• Song Hye Kyo
• Kim Yoo Jung
• Han So Hee
• Park Min Young
• Woo Do-hwan
• Ahn Hyo-seop
• Gong Yoo
• Choi Hyun-wook
• Kim Young-dae
• Kim Jisoo

Cast your vote: Golden Korean Actor of the Year →

Golden Chinese Actor of the Year Award (2026)

Chinese entertainment’s brightest stars are honored:

• Zhang Linghe
• Xiao Zhan
• Wang Yibo
• Song Weilong
• Chen Zheyuan
• Dylan Wang
• Yangyang
• Hou Minghao
• Xu Kai
• Cheng Yi
• Tian Xuning
• Lin Yi
• Zhao Lusi
• Bai Lu
• Dilraba Dilmurat
• Tian Xiwei
• Yang Zi
• Wang Churan
• Lu Yuxiao
• Zhou Yiran
• Liu Yuning
• Chen Xingxu
• Wang Anyu
• Li Yunrui
• Song Zu Er
• Zi Yu
• Zhang Miaoyi
• Zhang Jingyi

Cast your vote: Golden Chinese Actor of the Year →

Golden Thai Actor of the Year Award (2026)

Thailand’s exceptional acting talent shines through:

• Win Metawin
• Pawat Chittsawangdee
• Pond Naravit
• Gemini Norawit
• Fourth Nattawat
• Noeul Nuttarat
• Perth Tanapon
• Santa Pongsapak
• Lingling Sirilak
• Freen Sarocha
• Becky Armstrong
• Orm Kornnaphat
• Faye Peraya
• Build Jakapan
• Jeff Satur
• NuNew Chawarin
• Charlotte Austin
• Engfa Waraha
• Lookmhee Punyapat

Cast your vote: Golden Thai Actor of the Year →

Golden Bollywood Actor of the Year Award (2026)

Bollywood’s finest performers are celebrated:

• Rohit Purohit
• Harshad Chopda
• Gaurav Khanna
• Parth Samthaan
• Ahaan Panday
• Samridhii Shukla
• Shivangi Joshi
• Aneet Padda
• Jennifer Winget
• Ayushmann Khurrana

Cast your vote: Golden Bollywood Actor of the Year →

Golden Turkish Actor of the Year Award (2026)

Türkiye’s most admired and beloved stars compete for this fan-voted honor:

• Hande Erçel
• Afra Saraçoğlu
• Demet Özdemir
• Sinem Ünsal
• Mert Ramazan Demir
• Halil İbrahim Ceyhan
• Çağatay Ulusoy
• Kubilay Aka
• Şükrü Özyıldız
• Mert Yazıcıoğlu
• Yağmur Yüksel
• Cemre Arda
• Özge Yağız
• Birce Akalay
• Serkan Çayoğlu
• Alp Navruz
• Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ
• Simay Barlas
• Gokberk Yildirim
• Ozan Akbaba
• Ulaş Tuna Astepe
• İlhan Şen
• Mina Demirtaş
• Emin Günenç
• Ilsu Demirci

Cast your vote: Golden Turkish Actor of the Year →

Golden TV Drama Actor of the Year Award (2026)

Television’s most compelling performers from around the world go head to head in this international category:

• Rohit Purohit
• Harshad Chopda
• Parth Samthaan
• Pawat Chittsawangdee
• Lingling Sirilak
• Orm Kornnaphat
• Jeff Satur
• Dilraba Dilmurat
• Xiao Zhan
• Zi Yu
• Chen Zheyuan
• Zhang Miaoyi
• Kim Soo-hyun
• Lee Min-ho
• Ji Chang-wook
• Kim Jisoo
• Şükrü Özyıldız
• Gokberk Yildirim
• Ilsu Demirci
• Emin Günenç
• Yağmur Yüksel
• Nicolas Cage
• Belmont Cameli

Cast your vote: Golden TV Drama Actor of the Year →

Film Category

Golden Film of the Year Award (2026)

The most anticipated and acclaimed films compete for this prestigious honor:

• Apex
• Swapped
• The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
• Project Hail Mary
• Michael
• War Machine
• Anaconda
• Pegasus 3
• The Rip
• Thrash
• The Devil Wears Prada 2
• 28 Years Later
• Hoppers

Cast your vote: Golden Film of the Year →

About Voting and the Ceremony

The Pop Golden Awards 2026 represents a celebration of artistic excellence across continents and genres. Each nominee has demonstrated exceptional talent, creativity, and impact in their respective fields. Winners will be determined through a combination of industry expert votes and public participation.

Voting is now open in all categories — visit our official Awards page to cast your votes for your favorite artists, actors, and films. Stay tuned to our official channels for voting updates, ceremony details, and exclusive content featuring your favorite nominees.

The journey to the golden stage begins now. Who will take home the prestigious Pop Golden Awards? The choice is in your hands.