K-pop’s brightest stars of the year are set to gather at the Golden Disc Awards.
On November 26, HLL Joongang — the organizer and host of the event — announced the first lineup for the '40th Golden Disc Awards,' scheduled for January 10, 2026.
According to the revealed lineup, LE SSERAFIM, IVE, NCT WISH, ENHYPEN, ALLDAY PROJECT, izna, ZEROBASEONE, ZO ZAZZ, and CORTIS will take the stage.
LE SSERAFIM will make their fourth consecutive appearance since their debut, heightening anticipation. Fresh off their solo concert at Tokyo Dome, the group dominated the year with notable achievements. From their lyrical fifth mini-album 'HOT' to their bold first single album 'SPAGHETTI,' they showcased an impressive range of genres. Their title track "SPAGHETTI (feat. j-hope of BTS)" reached No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking their highest U.S. chart entry yet. Known for delivering legendary stages at the Golden Disc every year, LE SSERAFIM is once again expected to unveil a performance unlike anything seen before.
IVE, also attending for the fourth straight year, is preparing a special stage exclusive to the Golden Disc. After sweeping Rookie of the Year and the Digital Song Grand Prize at the 37th Golden Disc Awards, IVE has continued to cement their status as a powerhouse. This year’s releases — 'IVE EMPATHY' (1.48M) and 'IVE SECRET' (1.19M) — both surpassed one million copies, marking their “seven consecutive million-seller” milestone. They are nominated in both Digital Song and Album categories with 'REBEL HEART' and 'IVE EMPATHY.'
NCT WISH returns after earning Rookie of the Year last year. With their 2024 release 'COLOR,' they achieved back-to-back million-seller status and secured an Album Bonsang nomination. Their popularity in Taipei — the host city — is also notable, with their first local concert selling out completely and receiving widespread local media attention.
ENHYPEN is also part of this year’s lineup. The group marked a monumental year, becoming the fastest foreign act to enter a Japanese stadium in just four years and seven months since their debut. Their largest-ever 'WALK THE LINE' world tour drew over 676,000 attendees across 32 shows in 19 cities. They also graced the stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April. Known for their performance-driven stages, ENHYPEN is expected to return stronger and more polished than ever.
ALLDAY PROJECT — the mixed-gender group that sparked a “co-ed group phenomenon” — will make their Golden Disc debut. Launched in June as the first co-ed group created by hitmaker Teddy, they quickly rose as a “monster rookie.” Their debut track "FAMOUS" topped major music charts and entered Billboard’s Global 200, proving international traction.
izna will also take the stage. After leaving a strong impression during the Golden Choice Stage at last year’s ceremony, they now return as Rookie of the Year nominees. The group surpassed 100 million cumulative streams on Spotify this year and scored their first music show win on a major broadcast network with "Mamma Mia." They also performed at major festivals, including Japan’s 'Summer Sonic' and Taiwan’s '2025 ALL LOUD KT POP,' solidifying their status as emerging global rookies.
ZEROBASEONE will attend for the third consecutive year. From their debut album to their first full-length, 'NEVER SAY NEVER,' released in September, they achieved six consecutive million-seller titles. The group is also nominated for an Album Bonsang and is preparing a special stage available only at the Golden Disc.
ZO ZAZZ — who reminded listeners of the “power of music” — will make his first appearance as well. His debut track "Don't You Know" became a steady chart-topper throughout the year, earning them nominations in both the Digital Song and Rookie categories. Their emotive and soulful style is expected to captivate the Taipei Dome audience.
Rounding out the lineup is CORTIS, the standout “monster rookie” from BigHit Music — the label behind BTS and TXT. True to their identity as a “young creator crew,” the members co-create their music, choreography, and music videos. Their debut album surpassed 430,000 first-week sales — the highest for any 2025 debut album — and is nearing one million cumulative sales, putting them on track for their first million-seller certification.
The 40th Golden Disc Awards will take place on January 10, 2026.
SEE ALSO: ALLDAY PROJECT gears up for their 1st EP 'ALLDAY PROJECT' with tracklist teaser
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