The 2026 KM Chart Awards honoured K-pop’s biggest achievements of the past year across four Daesang categories and an extensive list of additional awards. Along with MAMAMOO’s HWASA, Bighit labelmates CORTIS, BTS and Tomorrow X Together each claimed a Daesang, which is the ceremony’s top tier of recognition.
For CORTIS, the Record of the Year win is their first Daesang (Grand Prize) of any kind, arriving less than twelve months after their August 2025 debut.
CORTIS Win Their First Daesang
Record of the Year at the KM Chart Awards draws from the ceremony’s annual KM Chart data, which is itself compiled from monthly rankings weighted at 70% chart performance and 30% fan voting, and seasonal rankings weighted at 50% chart performance, 30% fan voting, and 20% judging panel evaluation. For rookie group CORTIS, whose debut EP COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES entered the Billboard 200 at number 15 in September 2025 and second EP GREENGREEN debuted at number three in May 2026, the award reflects a year of chart performance unusual for a group still in their first twelve months. The win comes the same week CORTIS were confirmed to livestream their LA concerts in cinemas globally on August 13 and 14. Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon, and Keonho also received a Bonsang as part of the Ultimate 12 earlier in the evening.
BTS And TXT Take Home Top Prizes
BTS claimed Album of the Year for ARIRANG — their first group album since all seven members completed their mandatory military service obligations and reunited as a full group. BTS also received a Bonsang as part of the Ultimate 12.
Tomorrow X Together claimed Artist of the Year as well as 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 debuted their eighth Korean mini album 7th Year: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns in April 2026. Yeonjun also released his solo EP No Labels: Part 01 in November 2025.
Both BTS and TXT also received Bonsangs as part of the Ultimate 12.
HWASA Claims Song Of The Year
HWASA’s “Good Goodbye” took Song of the Year. Born Maria Hwang Hye-jin, HWASA debuted as a member of MAMAMOO in 2014 before launching her solo career in 2019 with “Twit.” “Good Goodbye” is her first Song of the Year win at a major ceremony as a solo artist.
2026 KM Chart Awards — Full 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
