Honestly, if you've been living on K-pop Twitter lately, you’ve probably seen the chaos. Everyone is asking the same thing: When is MAMA Awards 2025? It’s the one event that basically shuts down the internet for forty-eight hours.
The short answer? It already happened.
I know, I know. If you were looking for a "coming soon" countdown, this might be a bit of a shock. The 2025 MAMA Awards took place on November 28 and 29, 2025. It returned to Hong Kong for the first time in seven years, and man, it was a rollercoaster.
Where exactly did it go down?
CJ ENM didn’t just pick a random hall. They went big. The ceremony was held at the brand-new Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong. This place is massive. It was actually the first-ever music awards ceremony held at this venue.
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Because it was Mnet’s 30th anniversary, the "Hear My Roar" theme felt extra loud. Or it was supposed to.
Things got complicated.
Just two days before the show, a massive fire broke out at the Wang Fuk Court residential estate in Tai Po. It was devastating. We’re talking about one of the deadliest urban disasters in Hong Kong’s history. Because of that, the whole vibe of the 2025 MAMA Awards shifted. It wasn't just a party anymore.
The schedule that changed everything
Originally, the plan was the typical MAMA grandeur. Two nights of over-the-top stages. But after the fire, the organizers had to pivot.
On November 28 (Day 1), Park Bo-gum took the stage as the host. The red carpet? Cancelled. The performances? Toned down. They called it "restrained production." Artists like izna and TWS, who were supposed to do red carpet sets, had their segments scrapped. Instead, the night opened with a moment of silence. Everyone wore black memorial ribbons.
Then came November 29 (Day 2). Kim Hye-soo hosted this one. By then, some heavy hitters like the group Mirror and even legends like Michelle Yeoh and Chow Yun-fat had withdrawn from appearing out of respect for the city's mourning.
Who actually walked away with the trophies?
Even with the somber atmosphere, the awards themselves were a massive deal. If you're wondering who dominated the 2025 circuit, look no further than G-Dragon and Rosé.
Basically, G-Dragon proved he’s still the king. He took home Artist of the Year. Then you had Rosé and Bruno Mars' "APT." which was literally everywhere in 2025. It naturally scooped up Song of the Year.
Stray Kids won Album of the Year for KARMA. It was a big night for JYP fans.
A quick look at the major winners:
- Artist of the Year: G-Dragon
- Song of the Year: Rosé & Bruno Mars ("APT.")
- Album of the Year: Stray Kids (KARMA)
- Best Female Group: aespa
- Best Male Group: SEVENTEEN
- Best New Artist: CORTIS and Hearts2Hearts
Why people are still searching for the date
There’s always a bit of confusion because MAMA usually splits its dates across different countries. In 2024, they were in LA and Osaka. People expected 2025 to follow that multi-city trend.
But for the 2025 edition, they consolidated everything into those two days in Hong Kong. If you see clips circulating on TikTok right now, those are highlights from the November broadcast.
The 2025 MAMA Awards also hit a milestone by streaming live on HBO Max for the first time in certain regions. It made it way easier for Western fans to watch, even if they had to wake up at 4:30 AM EST to catch the start.
What you should do now
If you missed the live broadcast, you're not totally out of luck.
First, check the Mnet Plus app. They usually keep the VODs (Video on Demand) up for a while, though you might need a subscription. YouTube is also filled with the "restrained" versions of the performances.
Look for the "Hear My Roar" special stages. Even though they weren't as flashy as previous years, the emotional weight of the 2025 performances—especially aespa’s "Whiplash" and G-Dragon’s collaboration with Anderson .Paak—was something else.
Keep an eye out for the 2026 rumors starting around May or June. That’s usually when CJ ENM starts dropping hints about the next host city. Given how 2025 went, people are already betting on a return to Seoul or maybe a debut in Europe.
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Stay updated by following the official MAMA AWARDS social handles, as they’re the only ones who can confirm if the 2026 dates will stick to the late November tradition.