The largest international music award in Japan will be held June 13 at Toyota Arena Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan — MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026 (MAJ), Japan’s largest international music awards platform, returns for its second annual ceremony on Saturday, June 13, 2026, to be held at the newly inaugurated TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO.
Guided by its mission of “Connecting with the World and Illuminating the Future of Music”, MAJ 2026 makes its comeback after a massive success last year – featuring performances by prominent artists such as Fujii Kaze, YOASOBI, Creepy Nuts, and Mrs. GREEN APPLE, garnering more than 62 million overall views on YouTube and televised nationwide by Japan’s leading broadcasting company NHK. The grand ceremony was viewed by 13.4 million people across all platforms.
MAJ is now evolving into a pivotal event for the Asian music industry, featuring 66 awards that reflect the diverse and rapidly changing musical landscape of the region. To reflect the defining sounds of the Asian music scene, winners are determined by a vote of 5,000 artists and music industry professionals across Asia.
Eligible entries for MAJ 2026 include songs and albums whose full official versions were first digitally released or physically distributed via public services between January 1 and December 31, 2025.
THE AWARDS
Following a redesign of its framework, MAJ 2026 introduces 14 new awards to reflect the diverse Japanese and global music landscape. By uniting the industry to celebrate artistic excellence, MAJ continues its mission to share Japanese and Asian music with the world.
A total of 66 awards have been finalized for 2026, including 6 major awards, 21 domestic song awards, 12 international song awards, 3 album awards, 11 artist awards, and more. Out of the 12 international song awards, 6 International Special Awards are granted to outstanding artists in Asia in collaboration with partner awards such as Anugerah Musik Indonesia (AMI), Awit Awards in the Philippines, TOTY Awards in Thailand, and Giải thưởng Âm nhạc Cống hiến in Vietnam.
MAJ 2026 continues to feature six major awards from the previous year:
- Song of the Year
- Artist of the Year
- New Artist of the Year
- Album of the Year
- Best Global Hit from Japan
- Best Song Asia
Through celebrating the richness and diversity of music culture, MAJ 2026 continues to illuminate the future of music. Additional new awards will be announced in due course.
RECOGNITION OF REGIONAL TALENTS
MAJ 2026 also continues to feature the International Special Awards, a category dedicated to honoring the exceptional talent and cultural influence of artists across Asia. By recognizing musical excellence in South Korea, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, MAJ reaffirms its commitment to fostering a truly integrated Asian music ecosystem.
The Philippines’ vibrant music culture gained a spotlight at MAJ 2026 with the return of the International Special Award for Popular Music (Philippines), in partnership with the Awit Awards last year (2025). After the recognition of Lola Amour for “Raining in Manila” last year, this award reaffirms MAJ’s commitment to honoring P-Pop and Filipino artistry as a vital pillar of the Asian music landscape.
THE EVENT
The ceremony on June 13 will feature a Premiere Ceremony in the afternoon for specialized awards, followed by an evening Grand Ceremony and Red Carpet for the major awards. Together, these events mark a historic day celebrating global musical excellence.
Aside from the main event, from June 8 to 13, MAJ Awards Week will be held, energizing Tokyo’s Ariake area with live performances, industry seminars, and showcases featuring artists and industry professionals from Japan and abroad.