The 2026 Melon Music Awards are approaching, and the official evaluation rules reveal how digital performance, expert review and fan voting will contribute to different categories.
MMA 2026 Evaluation Period
For the main digital categories, the official evaluation period covers tracks released from November 20, 2025 through October 14, 2026. Several special awards use different evaluation periods, so the rules vary depending on the category.
How the Main Categories Are Scored
TOP10, Global TOP10 and several major popularity-based categories combine performance data, panel review and fan votes. For TOP10, the formula is 60% digital score, 20% panel review and 20% votes.
| Category Type | Evaluation |
|---|---|
| TOP10 | Digital 60% + Panel 20% + Votes 20% |
| Global TOP10 | Chart 60% + Panel 20% + Votes 20% |
| Album of the Year | Digital 60% + Panel 20% + Votes 20% |
| TrackZero Choice | Digital 20% + Panel 60% + Votes 20% |
| Japan Favorite Artist | Panel 50% + Votes 50% |
The official criteria show that the exact formula is not the same for every award. Fans should therefore avoid assuming that strong streaming performance automatically determines every winner.
Some Awards Are Determined Entirely by the Panel
Several categories are evaluated through panel review alone. These include Artist of the Year, 1theK Icon, Hot Trend and Best Producer. Other judge-based categories shown in the official criteria include Stage of the Year, Best Music Video, Song Writer, J-POP Favorite Artist, Global Impact and Global Rising.
Special Evaluation Periods
Global TOP10 uses a separate evaluation period from May 11 through October 14, 2026 and is based on artists’ cumulative Global-K Chart scores. TrackZero Choice uses an October 5, 2025 through October 4, 2026 period, while Hot Trend has no release-date restriction.
When Is MMA 2026?
MMA 2026 will take place on November 14 and 15 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, with the show scheduled for 6 PM on both days.
TOP10 voting is scheduled for October 15–29, while category voting runs from October 30 through November 13. Ticket sales are scheduled for October 19 and October 22.
Why the Criteria Matter
The MMA system rewards different forms of achievement depending on the award. Digital performance remains central to many major categories, but professional evaluation and fan participation can also have substantial weight.
For fans following the 2026 award season, understanding the individual formulas makes it easier to follow nominations, voting campaigns and the eventual results without treating every category as if it were calculated the same way.
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