From Lisa’s first ‘Sawadika’ performance to BTS’ song of the year nomination, K-pop has plenty at stake at this year’s ceremony
K-pop will have several storylines to watch at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, from Lisa debuting a new song onstage to BTS competing for one of the ceremony’s major honors and rookie act Cortis seeking to extend their early momentum.
Blackpink’s Lisa heads into this year’s ceremony with four nominations, the most among K-pop artists. She is nominated in the best pop and best K-pop categories for “Dream,” a track from her first solo LP “Alter Ego.”
Lisa is also expected to give the first live performance of “Sawadika,” the prerelease track from her upcoming EP “Press Play,” slated for release on Oct. 23. Her performance joins a lineup that includes Madonna, Shaboozey, Gunna and Raye.
Another closely watched category for K-pop fans will be song of the year — one of the VMAs’ major categories — where BTS’ "Swim,” the lead track from its fifth LP “Arirang,” is nominated alongside songs by Ella Langley, Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Dean, PinkPantheress and Raye. “Golden,” from Netflix’ animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” by the fictional girl group Huntrix, is also nominated in the category.
The nomination puts BTS back in contention after a four-year break in group activities due to the members’ military enlistments.
Other than song of the year, BTS is also nominated in two other categories, best K-pop for “Swim” and best group. In the best K-pop category, “Swim” will be competing against Blackpink’s “Jump,” Cortis’ “RedRed,” Katseye’s “Pinky Up,” Le Sserafim’s “Spaghetti” featuring J-Hope of BTS and Lisa’s “Dream.”
The best group nomination also carries history for BTS, which won the category four years in a row from 2019 through 2022. In 2020, BTS also picked up four awards, including best pop, best group, best K-pop and best choreography for “On.” This year they will be up against fellow K-pop groups Blackpink, Cortis and Katseye.
The VMAs this year could also become a milestone for rookie boy group Cortis, which has earned three nominations less than a year after its debut. The boy group is up for best new artist, best K-pop for “RedRed,” and best group. Cortis, which debuted in August 2025, is the most recently debuted act in the best group lineup, and is up against artists Bella Kay, Magnus Ferrell, Malcolm Todd, Myles Smith, Sienna Spiro and Stella Lefty for best new artist.
Katseye, meanwhile, will be looking to win at the VMAs for a second consecutive year after taking home the Push Performance of the Year award for “Touch” at the 2025 VMAs. The Hybe x Geffen global girl group has four nominations this year. While “Pinky Up” is nominated for best K-pop and best choreography, its recent single “Hootie Frutti” is among the nominees for song of the summer, while the group is also nominated for best group.
K-pop’s presence extends further across this year’s field, beyond the best K-pop category. The music video for Lisa’s “Dream,” starring Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi, was also nominated for best cinematography and best editing. Blackpink member Jennie’s collaborative track with Tame Impala, “Dracula,” is also up for song of the summer, while Jisoo and Zayne’s “Eyes Closed” is nominated for best visual effects.
The 2026 MTV VMAs will be held Sunday at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with the ceremony being aired live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+. Rapper Snoop Dogg will host.
lee.jungjoo@heraldcorp.com
