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about
awards

Golden Disc Awards, the most fair and prestigious awards ceremony

Golden Disc Awards is presented annually to recognize the outstanding achievements of K-POP industry. It was first established in 1986 and has continued to significantly contribute to the growth of Korean music industry by fostering creative environment and encouraging new talents. Golden Disc Awards has been recognized as “The Most Favored Awards by Artists” through its fairness and objectivity since its first ceremony. The Golden Disc Awards is recognized as one of the most trusted and prestigious award ceremonies by both artists and the public. Winners are determined through a fair evaluation by industry experts, with the greatest weight placed on album sales and digital music performance over the past year.

The 40th Golden Disc Awards

Information
Date(KST)2026. Jan. 10. 6:30 PM
LocationTaipei Dome, Taiwan
Sponsor
Digital Streaming
naverchzzkprizmabema
Broadcast
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Sponsorship
upbitnaverprizmKOFCAMinistry of SMEs and Startupschina_airlinesadatabessie
Division

Since winners are determined mostly by both album sales and digital streaming, it is most trusted and loved by artists and fans. Golden Disc Awards precisely reflects the annual K-POP music industry, thus marking the award in the highest authority.

Digital Song Division WinnerArtist WinnerAlbum Division Winner
Digital Song DivisionAlbum Division
Rookie Artist of the Year
Special Awards
Popular Vote Awards
Selection Process

Digital Song Division / Winner

Album Division / Winner

Artist Winner

Rookie Artist of the Year

Special Awards

Popular Vote Awards

Judging Criteria
  • Applies to Albums/Digital Songs released between early-November 2024 and end-October 2025
  • Albums/Digital Songs that were released towards the deadline of last year's sales count and were thus excluded from last year's nominees will be taken into account for this year's evaluation.
  • Count record sales for selecting winners until end November 2025.
  • An evaluation group - consisted of industry officials, K-Pop reporters, music program producers, pop culture critics, major distribution officials, with Golden Disc Awards evaluation committee
  • If an artist released more than one album or song, the one with the highest sales record will be considered for division award.
  • Albums with same main songs (tracks), same release date, produced and distributed in Korea will be considered as one album. Non-Korean, other language versions of the album will also be included as one album if it meets the criteria mentioned above and will be calculated into the total sale.
  • Repackage albums that meet the criteria above will be considered as a separate album and will be evaluated equally as other albums.
  • Special Awards and Rookie Artist of the Year applies to all digital singles, mini albums with 6 or less songs, and albums.
  • OSTs and project songs made in TV programs are not considered as nominees.
  • The evaluation committee judges nominee selections, fairness of criteria, relevance of categories, suitability of standards, and more.
  • If the subject of examination and the candidate cause a social scandal, it can be excluded according to the severity of the issue and the level of legal punishment.
  • Data Source: CIRCLE Music Chart