What To Look Forward To At The “2025 MAMA Awards”

The 2025 MAMA Awards (MAMA) kicks off this week, and here are the key highlights you shouldn’t miss.

The global flagship K-Pop awards show will take place over two days, November 28th (Friday) and 29th (Saturday), at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium. This year promises an unprecedented lineup and stage production that will prove K-Pop’s global stature once again, drawing worldwide attention from fans everywhere.

Who will claim the award that G-Dragon vowed not to miss, the “Music Visionary of the Year”?

First introduced last year to great buzz with its inaugural winner, the “Music Visionary of the Year” category draws major interest this year as well. G-Dragon, who received the award last year as an artist ushering in a new era of globally celebrated K-Pop, made headlines with his acceptance speech. He humorously said, “I don’t know if this is an award you can’t win twice, but I won’t miss it next year either.”

On the first day, Chapter 1, awards in the Fans Choice category, where recipients are decided by fan votes, will be presented alongside awards for artists and genres. On the second day, Chapter 2, the ceremony will spotlight artists’ outstanding musical achievements over the year, honoring the high-quality musicianship and contributions of K-Pop artists.

K-Pop’s first-ever mega stadium event in Hong Kong!

Returning to Hong Kong after 7 years, MAMA will be held at the brand-new landmark, Kai Tak Stadium. As the first-ever K-Pop awards held in such a large-scale, state-of-the-art stadium, anticipation is already mounting over the spectacular stage productions and performances to come. The “Another Level” lineup is now finalized—featuring legendary artists, global trendsetting groups, and rising global rookies, gathering stars who represent K-Pop’s present and future.

On day one, artists include ALPHA DRIVE ONE, BABYMONSTER, BOYNEXTDOOR, BUMSUP, ENHYPEN, Hearts2Hearts, i-dle, IVE, MEOVV, MIRROR, NCT Wish, Super Junior, TREASURE, TWS, and Yeonjun.

On day two, the lineup features aespa, ALLDAY PROJECT, CORTIS, G-Dragon, IDID, izna, JO1, Kickflip, Kyoka, RIIZE, Stray Kids, TXT, Wing, and ZEROBASEONE.

These artists are generating buzz just by name, and global K-pop fans are eagerly expecting special stages and collaborations at MAMA. Notably, all stunning performances will be broadcast live worldwide in 4K resolution via Mnet Plus, delivering the excitement of the event vividly to viewers everywhere.

An explosion of energy

Held over two days, November 28 and 29, MAMA opens with uniquely themed stages for Chapter 1 and Chapter 2. This year’s concept, “UH-HEUNG,” embraces various regions, races, and cultures, symbolizing a fearless declaration to accept oneself as is and live authentically. The opening of Chapter 1, which will amplify this “energy” most powerfully and spread it globally, features the popular BUMSUP team from Mnet’s World of Street Woman Fighter mega crew mission “Dream Realm.” Host Park Bo Gum, with artists BOYNEXTDOOR, CORTIS, and TREASURE, will reinterpret the traditional song “Kwaejina Ching Ching” on the theme of “K-Hip.”

The opening of Chapter 2 will begin with host Kim Hye Soo and Stray Kids’ Felix delivering a message performance. Following that, Hanbin of ZEROBASEONE and globally renowned dancer Kyoka, familiar from “World of Street Woman Fighter,” will headline an exclusive theme stage.

Additional performances are being prepared, featuring K-Pop artists and K-Content stars collaborating on special shows. Legendary global stars like actors Yang Zi Qing and Chow Yun Fat are also slated to attend, creating buzz. This gathering of world-class figures who led trends and captured public affection throughout 2025 will transcend genres and generations, becoming an event where music unites all.