The 2025 MAMA Awards is set to take over Hong Kong this November with a massive celebration of K-pop’s biggest names and rising stars. Returning to the city after several years, the highly anticipated show will unfold across two nights, from 28 to 29 November, at the brand-new Kai Tak Stadium.
Known as Asia’s largest music awards show, MAMA has long been a platform for honouring artistry, performance, and fandom on a global scale. This year’s theme, “UH-HEUNG”, captures the essence of joy and excitement — a nod to the Korean word “흥” which represents an infectious spirit of fun, energy, and cultural pride that transcends borders.
The first wave of performers promises an unforgettable start, featuring powerhouse acts such as ENHYPEN, IVE, BABYMONSTER, BOYNEXTDOOR, SUPER JUNIOR, BUMSUP, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, MEOVV, Heart2Hearts, and TWS. Each artist is expected to bring their own distinct flair to the MAMA stage, from the new-generation dominance of IVE and BABYMONSTER to the enduring charisma of legends like SUPER JUNIOR.
The second wave of performers, announced shortly after, continues to raise the stakes with appearances by aespa, Stray Kids, G-DRAGON, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, RIIZE, ZEROBASEONE, JO1, CORTIS, IDID, KYOKA, ALLDAY PROJECT, and izna. With such a diverse mix of acts representing the full spectrum of K-pop — from established icons to promising rookies — fans can expect two nights of explosive stages and cross-genre collaborations that define the MAMA experience.
Alongside its star-studded performances, the 2025 MAMA Awards will honour excellence across dozens of competitive categories. In Best New Artist, nominees include AHOF, ALLDAY PROJECT, Baby DONT Cry, CLOSE YOUR EYES, CORTIS, Heart2Hearts, IDID, izna, KickFlip, and KiiiKiii. The Best Male Artist lineup features Mark, Baekhyun, Jin, G-Dragon, and j-hope, while Best Female Artist nods go to Yuqi, Jennie, Jisoo, Taeyeon, and Rosé.
Leading the Best Male Group category are SEVENTEEN, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, BOYNEXTDOOR, ENHYPEN, RIIZE, Stray Kids, and ZEROBASEONE, while aespa, BABYMONSTER, (G)I-DLE, IVE, LE SSERAFIM, and TWICE dominate Best Female Group.
Other key categories highlight the industry’s range — from Best Dance Performance Solo, featuring hits like G-Dragon’s 'TOO BAD (feat. Anderson .Paak)' and Jennie’s 'like JENNIE', to Best Rap & Hip-Hop Performance with nominees such as TABLO & RM’s 'Stop The Rain' and BIG Naughty’s 'MUSIC (feat. Lee Chanhyuk)'.
Major recognition also extends to categories like Best Collaboration, where Rosé and Bruno Mars’ 'APT.' and V & Park Hyo Shin’s “Winter Ahead” stand out, as well as Album of the Year nominees such as aespa’s Whiplash, G-Dragon’s Übermensch, Stray Kids’ KARMA, ENHYPEN’s DESIRE : UNLEASH, and IVE’s IVE EMPATHY.
Fans can also take part directly through the Fans’ Choice awards, with separate male and female categories including acts like SEVENTEEN, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ZEROBASEONE, aespa, BABYMONSTER, IVE, LE SSERAFIM, and TWICE.
The nominations were officially revealed on 16 October, with fan voting now open through Mnet Plus. Round one runs until 26 October, followed by Round two from 30 October to 10 November. While Fans’ Choice is decided entirely by public votes, major awards also take into account judging, sales, and streaming performance.
With its scale, spectacle, and sheer star power, the 2025 MAMA Awards is shaping up to be an unmissable celebration of K-pop’s global reach. From veterans making their long-awaited returns to breakout stars carving new milestones, every performance and nomination will contribute to the show’s legacy of uniting fans and artists under one stage.
Like what you read? Show our writer some love!
1