Led by Korean entertainer-singer Sung Si Kyung and actress Mun Ka Young, the Golden Disc Awards (GDA) celebrated its 40th edition at the Taipei Dome in Taiwan on January 10, 2026. The show honored the best K-pop music and artists that made waves over the past year. Jennie, G-Dragon, and Stray Kids secured the Grand Prize and took home multiple awards. What awards do they take home? See the complete list of winners from the 40th Golden Disc Awards in 2026, and find out which K-pop artists took home the awards.
The Winners of the 40th Golden Disc Awards (GDA) in 2026
The 2026 Golden Disc Awards (GDA) nominated K-pop releases from November 2024 to October 2025. Winners were determined by expert evaluation (40%) and various metrics such as album sales, global chart rankings, and streaming usage, which weighed 60%. Meanwhile, the Popular Awards winners were determined 100% by fan votes.
This year, the Golden Disc Awards introduced Artist Daesang (Artist of the Year), in addition to the Album Daesang (Album of the Year) and Digital Daesang (Song of the Year).
Big Winners
Jennie
Jennie from BLACKPINK made waves in 2025 with her brilliant solo album “Ruby” and its tracks. She earned multiple nominations and awards from the 40th Golden Disc Awards. Jennie made history by winning the first Artist of the Year at the Golden Disc Awards. She also took home Best Digital Song and Global Impact awards.
From being the first Korean soloist to win a Billboard Women in Music Award to receiving the Global Impact Award at the Golden Disc Awards, Jennie’s hard work has been widely recognized. Her win is more than personal success. It shows a growing shift in which female K-pop soloists can take center stage in the global pop conversation.
G-Dragon
G-Dragon collected three awards at the Golden Disc Awards this year. He won the Song of the Year award for his electrifying song “Home-Sweet-Home,” featuring Taeyang and Daesung. He also took home the Best Album and Best Digital Song awards.
His comeback is a reminder of K-pop’s longevity as artistry. In an industry obsessed with “newness,” G-Dragon’s wins show that reinvention is its own kind of cultural power, and its impact can deepen over time.
IVE
IVE, one of the most consistently popular in the K-pop world, won three awards this year. They took home Best Album, Best Digital Song, and the special Cosmopolitan Artist award.
Their victory highlights how K-pop fandom isn’t just about fans and trends. It’s also about identity and lifestyle. How music, fashion, appearance, and image combine to create a story that fans want to live.
Stray Kids
Stray Kids also didn’t just win the Album Daesang (Album of the Year), they also took home the Best Album award. Their fourth full-length album “KARMA” ranked No. 1 this year, with nearly 3.4 million copies shipped worldwide according to the Circle Charts.
Rookie Wins
Rookie groups BOYNEXTDOOR and ALLDAY PROJECT also won two accolades.
ALLDAY PROJECT earned the Best Digital Song award and Rookie Artist of the Year.
BOYNEXTDOOR won the Best Digital Song award and the Naver AI Choice. Naver AI Choice is an award presented by NAVER as an official sponsor of the 40th Golden Disc Awards in 2026. It uses AI technology to create a unique recognition category to identify the most standout artist on the red carpet, highlighting fashion, presence, and visual impact.
Check out the complete list of winners from the 2026 Golden Disc Awards below.
Full List of GDA Winners
Daesang
- Artist of the Year: Jennie
- Album of the Year: Stray Kids – “KARMA”
- Song of the Year: G-Dragon – “HOME SWEET HOME” (feat. Taeyang and Daesung)
Best Album
ATEEZ, IVE, ENHYPEN, G-Dragon, NCT WISH, RIIZE, SEVENTEEN, Stray Kids, TXT, ZEROBASEONE,
Best Digital Song
aespa, ALLDAY PROJECT, BLACKPINK, BOYNEXTDOOR, G-Dragon, IVE, Jennie, LE SSERAFIM, Rosé, ZO ZAZZ
Rookie Artist of the Year
CORTIS, ALLDAY PROJECT
Popular Artist Award
Jin, Hearts2Hearts
Special Awards
- Best Performance: izna, TWS
- Best Group: MONSTA X
- Cosmopolitan Artist: IVE
- Global Impact Award: Jennie
- Golden Choice: ARrC, CLOSE YOUR EYES
- Naver AI Choice: BOYNEXTDOOR
- Next Generation: KiiiKiii
Congratulations to all of the winners!
2025 brought a wide range of artists, songs, and performances to K-pop fans around the world. These winners show how much fans value their talent, artistry, and performance.
Now that 2026 is here, it’s time to get ready for a new wave of music and performances from K-pop artists, along with renewed hope that we can all be united through music.
So, what do you think about the winners? Which artists have accompanied you throughout 2025? Let us know in the comments.
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