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2026 Baeksang Arts Awards to debut new musical category

Published: 24 Mar. 2026, 16:02 Updated: 24 Mar. 2026, 18:48

PAIK JI-HWAN
[email protected]

A poster for the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards [MAJOR7]

The 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards will take place on May 8, during which a new musical category will be debuted, organizers said on Tuesday.

The ceremony will take place at Coex in Gangnam District, southern Seoul. The Italian luxury brand Gucci will join as a partner for the fourth consecutive year.

The decision to add the musical category to the existing television, film and play divisions is a step toward a more comprehensive awards program. The addition is also meaningful because 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of the first Korean musical produced domestically.

This year’s theme, “The Stage,” highlights how television, film, plays and musicals each serves as a medium for content.

Content released on terrestrial broadcasters, general programming channels, cable networks and streaming platforms; Korean films released in the country; and plays and musicals released between April 1, 2025, and March 31 of this year will be eligible for nominations.

In the television category, only series with at least four episodes will qualify for nominations. For ongoing series, judges will consider those that have aired more than one-third of their episodes by the end of the eligibility period.

In both the television and film categories, nominees for best new actor must have appeared in three or fewer works in leading or supporting roles during the eligibility period.

Before selecting nominees in the television and film categories, organizers will survey 30 industry professionals in each category, including producers, critics and other experts, to gather opinions on potential candidates. Judges will use the results as a reference when choosing nominees.

The newly introduced musical category will feature awards for best production, best creative work and best actor, the last of which will be given to one performer, regardless of their gender.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [[email protected]]