ATEEZ, NMIXX, RIIZE & CORTIS Sweep 2026 The Fact Music Awards Daesangs
ATEEZ takes home Icon of the Year and Artist of the Year as Busan hosts the star-studded celebration.
By Dee AlvarezPublished Updated 2 min read
The 2026 The Fact Music Awards turned the city of Busan into ground zero for pop royalty on September 19, delivering a thrilling evening packed with major trophy presentations and high-stakes honors. As one of the standout music gatherings on the annual calendar, the ceremony brought together top-tier talent to celebrate the biggest accomplishments in the industry over the past year. When the ultimate honors were officially handed out, four major acts stood tall above the rest. The highly coveted Daesang, which represents the grand prize of the event, was awarded to four standout groups: ATEEZ, NMIXX, RIIZE, and CORTIS. Each act earned supreme recognition during the star-studded program, confirming their powerful footprint across the current entertainment landscape.
Who won the daesang at the fact music awards 2026
Taking home a Daesang is widely regarded as one of the ultimate honors for any performing group, signaling massive impact and exceptional success. The decision to award grand prizes to ATEEZ, NMIXX, RIIZE, and CORTIS highlighted a stellar lineup of talent dominating the music scene. Among the night's biggest success stories was ATEEZ, who put together an exceptionally impressive run at the ceremony. Beyond securing their Daesang grand prize, the powerhouse group also captured two of the most distinguished title awards of the night, taking home both Icon of the Year and Artist of the Year. The double title victory combined with their grand prize made them one of the most decorated performers of the entire event.
Ateez icon of the year the fact music awards
The remaining Daesang honors went to NMIXX, RIIZE, and CORTIS, marking a historic highlight for all three groups as they joined ATEEZ at the top tier of the evening's award roster. Reports confirm that the ceremony in Busan served as a massive platform for these artists to cement their place among the industry's premier hitmakers. With the 2026 edition of The Fact Music Awards now officially in the books, the full list of grand prize winners reflects a dynamic year for the music world. From ATEEZ's massive triple-trophy showing—including Icon of the Year, Artist of the Year, and a Daesang—to the major grand prize moments for NMIXX, RIIZE, and CORTIS, the Busan event celebrated the very top of the charts.
The photos · 2
The backstory
Verified moments, in order.
ATEEZ: The Debut, the Dispute and the U.S. Breakthrough
An eight-member debut, an anxiety-related hiatus and a choreography row shape the road to a U.S. No. 1 album and Coachella. These are the milestones behind ATEEZ’s rise.
- 2018-10-24
Eight members launch ATEEZ
Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung and Jongho debut under KQ Entertainment with Treasure EP.1: All to Zero. Its lead tracks, Pirate King and Treasure, introduce the group’s performance-led identity.
- 2019-06-20
Wave delivers the first win
ATEEZ take their first South Korean music-show trophy on M Countdown with Wave. The win arrives less than eight months after their debut, giving the group an early domestic milestone.
- 2020-11
Mingi steps back
KQ Entertainment announces that Mingi will pause activities because of anxiety symptoms. ATEEZ continue working during his absence; the agency announces his return in July 2021.
- 2022-07-29
Guerrilla opens a new chapter
The group release The World EP.1: Movement, led by Guerrilla. The record becomes their first million-selling album in South Korea and reaches No. 3 on the main U.S. album chart.
- 2022-10Flashpoint
A dance move sparks a copying row
Fans and Say My Name choreographer Anze Skrube accuse dancer Vata of copying a signature move from ATEEZ’s 2019 song for his New Thing choreography on Street Man Fighter. Vata denies copying. The dispute puts the authorship of one of the group’s recognisable performance moves under scrutiny.
- 2023-12
The first U.S. No. 1 arrives
ATEEZ’s second full-length Korean album, The World EP.Fin: Will, enters the main U.S. album chart at No. 1. Led by Crazy Form, it gives the group their first chart-topping album in that market.
- 2024-04-12
ATEEZ make their Coachella debut
ATEEZ become the first K-pop boy group to perform at Coachella, taking the Sahara stage in California. They return for the festival’s second weekend on April 19, bringing their stage show to an audience beyond the K-pop touring circuit.
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People also ask
- Where were the 2026 The Fact Music Awards held?
- The awards ceremony took place in Busan on September 19.
- Who won the Daesang at the 2026 The Fact Music Awards?
- The four Daesang grand prizes were awarded to ATEEZ, NMIXX, RIIZE, and CORTIS.
- What awards did ATEEZ win at the 2026 ceremony?
- In addition to a Daesang grand prize, ATEEZ claimed both Icon of the Year and Artist of the Year.
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