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With less than a month to go, the countdown is on for MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026 (MAJ) — Japan’s largest international music awards. Moving from its inaugural Kyoto setting to Tokyo, the Premiere Ceremony will be held at SGC Hall Ariake and the Grand Ceremony at TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO on June 13. Throughout MAJ Award Week (June 5 to 13), top music industry figures from around the globe will converge to experience firsthand Japan’s massive, established music market and its remarkably genre-diverse output. The week will also feature one of Japan’s still-rare co-writing camps, bringing together creators from home and abroad to collectively explore new frontiers in music.
Built on the concept of “connecting the world, illuminating the future of music,” MAJ spans 77 categories across genres and borders. Nominees were drawn from roughly 2,000 entries via votes cast by 5,000 music industry professionals worldwide. The major categories — song of the year, artist of the year, album of the year, and new artist of the year — celebrate the songs and artists that brought the joy and emotion of music to audiences across Japan. The best global hit from Japan category displays how Japanese music continues to resonate internationally, while the best song Asia category honors standout tracks from beyond Japan’s borders, underscoring MAJ’s ambition to become the most prestigious awards of Asian music.
Song of the year recognizes outstanding musical creativity and artistry in some of the year’s biggest songs on Billboard Japan’s all-genre songs chart Japan Hot 100, one of MAJ’s official data partners. HANA’s “Blue Jeans,” from the hitmaking group that has turned out one success after another since their 2025 debut, peaked at No. 1; Kenshi Yonezu’s “IRIS OUT,” the theme for the animated film Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, logged a landmark No. 5 on the Billboard Global 200 — the highest-ever charting position for a Japanese-language track — and spent 14 weeks at No. 1 domestically; Sakanaction’s “Kaiju,” from the band celebrating its 19th anniversary in May, peaked at No. 2; AiNA THE END’s “On The Way,” the opening theme for Season 2 of the TV anime Dandadan, reached No. 4; and M!LK’s “Sukisugite Metsu!,” whose “Metsu!” pose trend continues to flood social media, climbed to No. 3.
Yuma Totsuka
The album of the year category brings together a defining cross-section of the era. Mrs. GREEN APPLE — ranked No. 13 on IFPI’s list of the world’s most successful artists of 2025 and currently on a domestic stadium tour — is in the mix alongside Fujii Kaze, fresh off a Coachella appearance; Gen Hoshino, whose project Gen, featuring an array of international collaborations, earned widespread acclaim; and Southern All Stars, a household name in the country now just two years from their 50th anniversary.
Several categories reflect something distinctly Japanese. The “idol” has been a cornerstone of the country’s entertainment landscape since the 1960s, and with the surging popularity of dance groups in recent years, it’s fair to call this the age of idols and dance groups. This reality is reflected in three newly established categories: best dance & vocal song (group/solo), best boys idol culture song (group/solo), and best girls idol culture song (group/solo). Among the nominees are FRUITS ZIPPER and CANDY STREET, both part of KAWAII LAB., a new project launched by ASOBISYSTEM to bring idol culture to the world.
The new best analog record sales category nods to the surging demand for vinyl as record store tourism draws increasing numbers of international visitors to Japan’s vinyl shops. Nominees include Tatsuro Yamashita’s MELODIES (1983) and Sugar Babe’s sole album SONGS (1975).
With live venues ranging from intimate clubs to domes and stadiums in every corner of the country, Japan is an indispensable market for global artists. Breaking through in the country is no easy task, but the loyalty that follows is deep and lasting. The best international pop song in Japan nominees — Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra,” HUNTR/X’s “Golden,” Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild,” Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia,” and Shakira’s “Zoo (From Zootopia 2)” — aren’t just Billboard Hot 100 entries; they’re songs that Japanese listeners can hum from memory.
Though the awards strive to recognize Japanese excellence, the impact of artists from outside the country is undeniable. Best song Asia nominees span the region: Silet Open Up’s “Tabola Bale” (Indonesia), Cup of Joe’s “Multo” (the Philippines), and PLAVE’s “Dash,” WOODZ’s “Drowning,” and HUNTR/X’s “Golden” from South Korea. The Best Cross-Border Collaboration Song category features Gen Hoshino & Lee Youngji’s “2,” ZICO & Lilas’s “DUET,” Balming Tiger & ATARASHII GAKKO!’s “Narani Narani,” LiSA & Felix of Stray Kids’ “ReawakeR,” and AURORA & ATARASHII GAKKO!’s “Some Type Of Skin.”
Rounding out the international categories: Best International Rock Song in Japan nominees include Wet Leg, Aerosmith & YUNGBLUD, Bon Jovi, Green Day, and Linkin Park; Best International Hip Hop/Rap Song in Japan features Doechii, JENNIE, Travis Scott, Drake, and Tyler, The Creator; Best International R&B/Contemporary Song in Japan spotlights Tyla, The Weeknd, Doja Cat, Mariah Carey, and Thundercat; Best International Alternative Song in Japan includes sombr, HAIM, ROSALÍA, Lizzo, and PinkPantheress; Best K-POP Song in Japan nominees are ILLIT, LE SSERAFIM, BLACKPINK, JENNIE, and TWICE; and Best K-POP Artist contenders are BLACKPINK, BTS, LE SSERAFIM, Stray Kids, and TWICE. The full list of nominees is available on the MAJ official website.
Both the Grand Ceremony covering the major categories and the Premiere Ceremony will be streamed live on YouTube to audiences worldwide (excluding select regions). Japan’s top artists and international guests are expected on the night, with glamorous moments and special performances not to be missed.
Watch MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026 on Saturday, June 13, 2026, airing life from Tokyo: TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO & SGC Hall Ariake, and follow along for the Awards Week: Friday, June 5, 2026 – Saturday, June 13, 2026