The 2026 Asia Artist Awards is starting to take shape. Organizers have announced the first wave of performers for this year’s ceremony, confirming that ATEEZ, &TEAM, and LNGSHOT will take the stage in December.
The AAA will be held over two nights, December 5 and 6, at the Kaohsiung National Stadium in Taiwan. Actor Ji Chang Wook and IVE’s Jang Won Young have been named as hosts for the event.
The lineup announcement came on July 28, giving fans their first look at which artists will perform at one of Asia’s biggest year-end award shows.
ATEEZ returns to the AAA stage once again. The 8-member K-pop group has become a staple at major award shows for their high-energy performances and precise choreography. Known for hits like “Wonderland,” “BOUNCY,” and “WORK,” ATEEZ has built a global fanbase through world tours and viral stage clips. Their presence signals that AAA is aiming for big production numbers right from night one.
&TEAM will also be performing. The 9-member Japanese-Korean group debuted under HYBE Labels Japan and has quickly gained traction across Asia for blending polished pop vocals with sharp dance routines. With members from both Korea and Japan, &TEAM represents the cross-border appeal that AAA has leaned into in recent years.
LNGSHOT rounds out the first announcement. The rising group has been gaining attention in 2026 for their fresh sound and growing streaming numbers. While still early in their career compared to ATEEZ and &TEAM, their inclusion points to AAA’s effort to spotlight newer acts alongside established names.
This is the second consecutive year that the Asia Artist Awards will be held at Kaohsiung National Stadium. The 70,000-capacity venue was praised last year for its scale and production capabilities, and moving the show to southern Taiwan has helped AAA reach a broader Southeast Asian audience.
Holding the ceremony across two nights also allows more time for performances, awards, and special stages — something fans have been asking for as K-pop and Asian pop acts continue to grow globally.
Kaohsiung’s location makes it accessible for fans traveling from Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, and China, and local tourism officials have already promoted the event as a major draw for December.
Ji Chang Wook returns as an AAA host. The actor is known for dramas like Healer, The K2, and Backstreet Rookie, and has hosted the awards before. His experience with live shows and strong fanbase across Asia make him a steady presence for the ceremony.
Joining him is Jang Won Young of IVE. The idol has co-hosted major events in Korea and Japan over the past two years and is known for her poise on stage. Pairing an actor and an idol as hosts has become an AAA tradition, balancing acting and music representation.
The Asia Artist Awards, launched in 2016, honors artists in music, television, and film across Asia. Unlike some year-end shows that focus only on Korea, AAA positions itself as a pan-Asian event, with winners and performers from Korea, Japan, China, Southeast Asia, and beyond.
Categories typically include Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Actor/Actress, and several popularity and rookie awards. Winners are decided through a mix of expert panel judging, chart data, and fan votes.
For performers, AAA is also known for special stages and collaborations that don’t happen anywhere else. With two nights in a stadium setting, 2026 is expected to lean even harder into large-scale performances.
While only three acts have been confirmed so far, industry insiders expect the full lineup to include a mix of top-tier K-pop groups, J-pop acts, C-pop stars, and Southeast Asian artists. Last year’s show featured more than 20 performance teams across both nights.
Announcing ATEEZ early is a strong signal. The group consistently delivers some of the most talked-about stages of any award show, and their fans travel internationally to see them.
&TEAM’s inclusion highlights AAA’s continued focus on Japan-Korea acts, a market that has exploded since 2023. And putting LNGSHOT on the first poster gives a newer group major exposure in front of a stadium audience and millions of viewers online.
For fans, the early announcement also means more time to plan travel to Kaohsiung. Tickets for last year’s show sold out within days, and with Ji Chang Wook and Jang Won Young hosting again, demand is expected to be high.
Organizers said “stay tuned” for the next lineup drop, which is expected in August. Based on past years, we’ll likely see additional K-pop headliners, Japanese acts, and at least a few surprise regional performers.
For now, AAA 2026 has set the tone: big venue, global hosts, and a mix of established and rising talent. With ATEEZ, &TEAM, and LNGSHOT locked in, the first piece of the puzzle is in place.
