[TF Focus] K-Pop Festival Heats Up Busan, Targeting ATEEZ→CORTIS

ATEEZ&NMIXX&RIIZE&CORTIS, Grand Prize WinnerFrom Fan-Voted Awards to a Festival of Artist-Fan Collaboration'2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS' illuminated the night in Busan with a vibrant festival created by K-POP artists and their fans. /Busan Asiad Main Stadium=Reporter Park Heon-woo[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Soo-bin] '2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS' successfully concluded its return to Korea after three years and its first-ever event in Busan, once again showcasing its significance as a leading K-POP awards ceremony. From spectacular stages by top artists to unique performances exclusive to 'TMA,' a diverse array of attractions heated up the Busan night.On the 19th, '2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS' (2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS, TMA), hosted by THE FACT and organized by FANNSTAR and UCW, was held at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium.This awards ceremony featured top-tier K-POP artists beloved both domestically and internationally, including groups RIIZE, RESCENE, xikers, IDID, ILLIT, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, EVAN, ATEEZ, NMIXX, ALLDAY PROJECT, Lim Young Woong, YENA, CORTIS, CLOSE YOUR EYES, KiiiKii, TREASURE, and tripleS (group names in Korean alphabetical order). They filled the stage without a moment's rest, transforming the Busan Asiad Main Stadium into a grand K-POP festival.Notably, after engaging with global fans in Osaka, Japan in 2024 and Macau in 2025, 'TMA' returned to Korea, the heartland of K-POP, for the first time in three years. Moreover, by utilizing the Busan Asiad Main Stadium, a massive outdoor performance venue, as its stage, the event combined spectacular performances with the passionate energy of fans, creating a global music festival.Groups ATEEZ NMIXX CORTIS RIIZE (from top left, clockwise) took home the prestigious Grand Prize at the '2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS', hosted by THE FACT and organized by FANNSTAR and UCW, on the 19th. /Busan Asiad Main Stadium=Reporter Bae Jeong-hanThe ceremony was co-hosted by Jeon Hyun-moo and Seohyun, who have become the "faces of TMA." Now in their eighth year of hosting 'TMA' together, they led the awards ceremony with stability, drawing on their long-standing chemistry. Their witty remarks, incorporating artists' representative songs and various memes, injected delightful fun throughout the event.The Grand Prize was awarded to ATEEZ, NMIXX, RIIZE, and CORTIS. ATEEZ was honored with the 'Icon of the Year,' NMIXX with the 'Sound of the Year,' RIIZE with the 'Muse of the Year,' and CORTIS with the 'Record of the Year.'Notably, CORTIS swept three awards, including 'Record of the Year,' 'Artist of the Year,' and 'Next Leader.' By receiving both the 'Next Leader' award for new artists and the Grand Prize 'Record of the Year' at the same ceremony, they made a dazzling impression. In addition, a total of 11 teams, recognized for their outstanding achievements in the K-POP scene over the past year, were honored as 'Artist of the Year.'The fan-created awards also added special meaning to 'TMA.' Lim Young Woong received the 'TMA Popularity Award,' decided solely by fan votes, reaffirming their strong fandom support. Actor Kim Soo-hyun, who presented the award, personally handed over the trophy, creating a special moment.Actor Kim Soo-hyun (left) presented the 'Popularity Award' to singer Lim Young Woong at the '2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS' on the 19th. /Busan Asiad Main Stadium=Reporter Park Heon-wooKim Soo-hyun later returned to the stage as a presenter to introduce Lim Young Woong's performance. He emphasized the meaning of music as a special medium for everyone, resonating with the power of music to connect hearts and time across generations. Lim Young Woong then delivered a captivating performance with delicate emotional expression and solid vocals, leaving a deep impression on the audience.The 'My Star Award,' newly established this year, also highlighted 'TMA's identity as an awards ceremony created together with fans. The first recipients of the 'My Star Award,' awarded to male and female artists respectively based on 100% global fan voting, were Jin of BTS and NMIXX SULLYOON. This marked a significant moment as the first trophies were awarded through the direct choice of fans worldwide.The joy of winning was matched by the excitement of the performances. 'TMA' once again delivered special stages that are rarely seen elsewhere, creating a complete and high-quality K-POP concert.The ceremony's first-ever location in Busan also brought about special local connections. TREASURE JIHOON and KiiiKii JIYU, both from Busan, formed a special duet called 'Busan Boys' and performed Yoonha's 'Comet.' They further added to the significance by greeting fans in their friendly Busan dialect during their acceptance speeches. ALLDAY PROJECT TARZZAN also elicited laughter from the audience with a humorous acceptance speech using the Gyeongsang dialect.CLOSE YOUR EYES, tripleS, 'Busan Boys (KiiiKii JIYU&TREASURE JIHOON)', and xikers (from top left, clockwise) delivered special performances at '2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS'. /Busan Asiad Main Stadium=Reporters Nam Yoon-ho, Nam Yong-heeFan participation was another pillar that completed 'TMA.' The 'Today's Choice' award, decided by on-site voting, went to RESCENE, while in the FANNSTAR category, BTS, Lee Chan-won, and PLAVE took home trophies. Through various methods, from global fan voting to on-site voting, fans directly contributed to artists' wins, further clarifying 'TMA's meaning as an awards ceremony "created by artists and fans together."As such, over the past two years, 'THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS' has solidified its status as a global awards ceremony enjoyed by K-POP fans worldwide, engaging intensely with international audiences in Osaka, Japan, and Macau. Returning to Korea, the home of K-POP, after three years, 'TMA' successfully concluded its first ceremony in Busan, which is rapidly emerging as a new mecca for K-POP, marking another brilliant milestone.This year's 'TMA,' which has confirmed the expanded influence of K-POP and the passionate energy of fans with each venue change, once again clearly imprinted its presence as a leading K-POP awards ceremony by presenting a rich lineup of events, from the Grand Prize honor to fan-created award moments and special stages showcasing Busan's unique charm.The following is the list of winners for '2026 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS'.▶Icon of the Year: ATEEZ▶Sound of the Year: NMIXX▶Muse of the Year: RIIZE▶Record of the Year: CORTIS▶World Best Performer: TREASURE▶Artist of the Year: RIIZE, RESCENE, ILLIT, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, ATEEZ, NMIXX, ALLDAY PROJECT, YENA, CORTIS, KiiiKii, TREASURE▶World Best Wave: EVAN▶Global Hot Trend: CLOSE YOUR EYES, tripleS▶Next Leader: ALPHA DRIVE ONE, CORTIS▶Hottest: xikers, IDID▶TMA Popularity Award: Lim Young Woong▶Today's Choice: RESCENE▶Special Jury Award: Lim Young Woong▶FANNSTAR Choice Award 'Solo': Lee Chan-won▶FANNSTAR Choice Award 'Group': BTS▶Best Music 'Spring': BTS▶Best Music 'Summer': BTS▶Best Music 'Autumn': PLAVE▶Best Music 'Winter': Lee Chan-won▶Global Hot Star: PLAVE▶My Star Award: Jin of BTS, NMIXX SULLYOONsubin7134@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]