South Korea’s drama industry has its awards date. The 2026 APAN Star Awards, hosted by the Korea Entertainment Management Association, will take place on December 23 at Sangmyung Art Center’s Gyedang Hall in Seoul, with the ceremony broadcast live on tvN.
2026 APAN Star Awards (Credits: Soompi)
What makes the APAN Star Awards different
The APAN Star Awards is South Korea’s only comprehensive drama awards ceremony, recognizing content across every domestic platform — broadcast, cable, OTT, and web dramas. That makes it the one night a year where K-drama’s fragmented landscape is judged under one roof, from traditional networks to streaming hits.
APAN Star Awards 2026 date and venue
This year’s December 23 date sets the stage for a year-end celebration of the dramas that defined 2026. With the ceremony airing live on tvN, fans everywhere will be able to watch the winners take their bows in real time.
One night, every platform
What sets the APAN Star Awards apart is scope. While many ceremonies split their attention by network or format, APAN covers broadcast, cable, OTT, and web dramas in a single night, making it a genuine snapshot of where Korean drama stands each year. Nominees will be watching from every corner of the industry, from traditional broadcasters to streaming platforms that now drive much of the global conversation around K-dramas.
With the ceremony set for December 23 and airing live on tvN, the awards arrive just in time to close out the year — and to crown the dramas that defined 2026. Expect the nominees list to drop in the coming weeks.
Source: Soompi — read the full story there.
