Park Bo Gum will return as host of the 2026 MAMA Awards, leading both nights of the ceremony as its on-stage guide. MAMA organizers confirmed the appointment on October 29, positioning the actor at the center of this year’s two-day show in Osaka.
Sports Chosun reported that the announcement was made at a press conference for the 2026 MAMA Awards on October 29 at the Elliena Hotel Grand Ballroom in Gangnam, Seoul. Mnet business division head Yoon Shin Hye shared the news at the event, confirming Park Bo Gum will host both days.
His role goes beyond introducing awards. Park Bo Gum will serve as the guide connecting the ceremony’s two chapters. In a video message shared at the press conference, he described himself as the storyteller of this year’s concept, saying he would convey the musical sincerity MAMA hopes to share over the two days.
The 2026 MAMA Awards will take place on November 20 and 21 at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Japan. The ceremony will air live on Mnet and stream worldwide through Mnet Plus and other digital platforms.
This year’s concept is “Music Interstellar,” built around music crossing boundaries of time, generation and taste. Chapter 1 on November 20 will focus on the artist category, honoring singers, while Chapter 2 on November 21 will focus on the performance category, covering songs, music videos and dance works across genres. Park Bo Gum’s guiding role is designed to tie those two distinct nights into one continuous story.
The appointment continues a long relationship between Park Bo Gum and MAMA. According to the announcement, he first became connected with the ceremony in 2016 and has shared its major moments since then.
The host announcement is the latest piece of the 2026 ceremony to fall into place. CJ ENM revealed nominations on October 12, followed by performer lineups on October 13 and October 16, and a 25-person presenter roster on October 22 that includes Kim Hye Soo and Lee Junho.
First launched in 1999 as the Mnet Video Music Awards and renamed the MAMA Awards in 2022, the ceremony has grown into one of K-pop’s flagship global awards shows. This year’s edition returns to Osaka after the 2025 ceremony was held in Hong Kong.
All eyes now turn to Osaka on November 20.
