Why was 2025 MAMA Awards red carpet canceled? Reason explained

2024 MAMA Awards - Source: Getty
2025 MAMA Awards red carpet canceled (Image via Getty)

The 2025 MAMA Awards arrived in Hong Kong this week after a major tragedy took place in the city days before the previously scheduled ceremony. The annual K-pop event is often described by fans as one of Asia's most watched music award ceremonies.

The 2025 MAMA Awards were officially scheduled to take place across two nights on November 28 and 29, 2025. The main ceremony is still moving forward. However, the organizers have confirmed that the red carpet of the 2025 MAMA Awards has been officially canceled.

On November 26, 2025, a fire broke out in the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in the Tai Po district of northern Hong Kong. According to reports, at least 75 to 94 people lost their lives, while dozens remain missing, and many others were injured.

Local authorities issued a level 5 fire alert. Notably, it is the highest rating, which is something Hong Kong has not seen since 2008. Multiple public gatherings across the city were postponed or canceled.

CJ ENM, the company behind the MAMA Awards, issued an official public statement to announce that the red carpet would be canceled to show respect for the victims and the mourning family members. However, the main 2025 MAMA Awards ceremony would continue.


MAMA Awards Secretariat's official statement regarding the red carpet cancellation

CJ ENM shared that the red carpet stage did not align with the emotional state of Hong Kong after the tragic event. The company's formal statement read:

"Hello, this is the MAMA AWARDS Secretariat. We are taking the seriousness of the current fire situation in the Tai Po region of Hong Kong very seriously, and the MAMA AWARDS organizing committee is rapidly discussing appropriate response measures for each category. In addition to official responses related to the awards ceremony and event operations, we are also carefully reviewing matters concerning artist performances and award presentation scripts."

The statement continued:

"We will share updates as soon as everything is finalised. To prevent confusion and ensure accurate communication, we kindly ask for your cooperation in directing all external media and public inquiries through the CJ ENM and Mnet communications team. Once again, we sincerely apologise for the concern caused to all artists and related parties, and the organising committee will carefully review the situation and work to determine the best possible course of action. Thank you. MAMA AWARDS Committee - MAMA Organizers"

2025 MAMA Awards hosts, streaming plans, and format

Despite the changes, the ceremony will continue with the previously announced hosts:

  • Day 1 (November 28, 2025): Park Bo-gum
  • Day 2 (November 29, 2025): Kim Hye-soo

Streaming access will also remain the same. Fans and enthusiasts around the world can watch through platforms including Mnet Plus, YouTube channels such as Mnet K-POP and M2. Region-based services like HBO Max, tvN Asia, and TVING will offer streaming depending on availability.

The main ceremony will begin at:

  • 6:30 pm HKT
  • 7:30 pm KST
  • 4:00 pm IST

Performers and presenters lineup for the 2025 MAMA Awards

Below is the complete performing artist lineup and the presenter lineup as announced by MAMA before the programming changes. Organizers confirmed that some appearances and segments could be revised.

Performers

Chapter 1, November 28, 2025

  • TXT's Yeonjun
  • ALPHA DRIVE ONE
  • BABYMONSTER
  • BOYNEXTDOOR
  • BUMPSUP
  • ENHYPEN
  • Hearts2Hearts
  • i-dle
  • IVE
  • MEOVV
  • MIRROR
  • NCT WISH
  • SUPER JUNIOR
  • TREASURE
  • TWS

Chapter 2, November 29, 2025

  • TOMORROW X TOGETHER
  • aespa
  • ALLDAY PROJECT
  • CORTIS
  • G-Dragon
  • IDID
  • izna
  • JO1
  • KickFlip
  • KYOKA
  • RIIZE
  • Stray Kids
  • ZEROBASEONE

Presenters and hosts of the 2025 MAMA Awards

Hosts for the two 2025 MAMA Awards nights are Park Bo-gum and Kim Hye-soo. Red carpet MCs named earlier included Cho Sae Ho and Shin Hyun Ji. However, the red carpet event itself is now canceled.

Other listed presenters included Ahn Eun Jin, Ahn Hyo Seop, Arden Cho, Cha Joo Young, Cho Han Gyeol, Cho Sae Ho, Choi Dae Hoon, Go Youn Jung, Lee Hyeri, Jang Do Yeon, Jeon Yeo Been, Jo Yuri, Ju Ji Hoon, Lee Do Hyun, Lee Joon Hyuk, Lee Jun Young, Lee Kwang Soo, Lee Soo Hyuk, Noh Sang Hyun, Park Hyung Sik, Roh Yoon Seo, Shin Hyun Ji, Shin Seung Hun, Shin Ye Eun, and Yim Si Wan.

It is worth noting that the organizers stated the lineup could be updated.


2025 MAMA Awards nominees across all categories

The MAMA Awards committee has officially published complete nominee lists across categories. Below are the nominees as announced for each category:

Best New Artist

  • AHOF
  • ALLDAY PROJECT
  • Baby DONT Cry
  • CLOSE YOUR EYES
  • CORTIS
  • Heart2Hearts
  • IDID
  • izna
  • KickFlip
  • KiiiKiii

Best Female Artist solo

  • i-dle’s YUQI
  • BLACKPINK’s JENNIE
  • BLACKPINK’s JISOO
  • TAEYEON
  • BLACKPINK’s ROSÉ

Best Male Artist solo

  • MARK
  • BAEKHYUN
  • Jin
  • G-DRAGON
  • j-hope

Best Male Group

  • SEVENTEEN
  • TOMORROW X TOGETHER
  • BOYNEXTDOOR
  • ENHYPEN
  • RIIZE
  • Stray Kids
  • ZEROBASEONE

Best Female Group

  • aespa
  • BABYMONSTER
  • i-dle
  • IVE
  • LE SSERAFIM
  • TWICE

Best Dance Performance male solo

  • MARK - “1999”
  • KEY – “HUNTER”
  • G-DRAGON – “TOO BAD (feat. Anderson .Paak)”
  • j-hope – “MONA LISA”
  • KAI – “Wait On Me”

Best Dance Performance female solo

  • DAYOUNG – “body”
  • MINNIE – “HER”
  • JENNIE – “like JENNIE”
  • JISOO – “earthquake”
  • KARINA (aespa) – “UP”

Best Dance Performance male group

  • SEVENTEEN – “THUNDER”
  • BOYNEXTDOOR – “IF I SAY, I LOVE YOU”
  • NCT DREAM – “When I’m With You”
  • NCT WISH – “poppop”
  • PLAVE – “Dash”
  • RIIZE – “Fly Up”
  • TWS - "Countdown!"

Best Dance Performance female group

  • ILLIT – “Cherish (My Love)”
  • aespa – “Whiplash”
  • BABYMONSTER – “DRIP”
  • BLACKPINK – “JUMP”
  • IVE – “REBEL HEART”
  • LE SSERAFIM – “HOT”

Best Vocal Performance solo

  • NCT’s DOYOUNG – “Memory”
  • Roy Kim – “If You Ask Me What Love Is”
  • LEE MU JIN – “Coming Of Age Story”
  • TAEYEON – “Letter To Myself”
  • BLACKPINK’s ROSÉ - “toxic till the end”

Best Vocal Performance group

  • DAVICHI - “Stitching”
  • HIGHLIGHT – “Endless Ending”
  • MEOVV – “DROP TOP”
  • TREASURE – “YELLOW”
  • ZEROBASEONE – “Doctor! Doctor!”

Best Band Performance

  • N.Flying – “Everlasting”
  • CNBLUE – “A Sleepless Night”
  • DAY6 – “Maybe Tomorrow”
  • QWER – “Dear”
  • Xdinary Heroes – “Beautiful Life”

Best Rap & Hip Hop Performance

  • HAON – “Skrr (Feat. GISELLE of aespa)”
  • Dynamicduo & GUMMY – “Take Care”
  • BIG Naughty – “MUSIC (Feat. LEE CHANHYUK)”
  • pH-1 – “Life Is A Movie (Feat. Jung Zi So)”
  • TABLO & RM – “Stop The Rain (TABLO X RM)”

Best Collaboration

  • MARK – “Fraktsiya (Feat. Lee Young Ji)”
  • JENNIE & Doechii – “ExtraL (Feat. Doechii)”
  • G-DRAGON – “TOO BAD (feat. Anderson .Paak)”
  • ROSÉ, Bruno Mars – “APT.”
  • V & Park Hyo Shin – “Winter Ahead (With Park Hyo Shin)”

Best OST

  • Park Hyo Shin – “HERO (From the Film ‘Firefighters’)”
  • TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “When the Day Comes”
  • BOYNEXTDOOR – “Never Loved This Way Before”
  • HUNTR/X – “Golden”
  • Saja Boys – “Soda Pop”

Best Music Video

  • LEE CHANHYUK – “Vivid LaLa Love”
  • JENNIE – “ZEN”
  • aespa – “Dirty Work”
  • ALLDAY PROJECT – “FAMOUS”
  • BLACKPINK – “JUMP”

Best Choreography

  • JENNIE – “like JENNIE”
  • aespa – “Whiplash”
  • ALLDAY PROJECT – “WICKED”
  • CORTIS – “GO!”
  • G-DRAGON – “TOO BAD (feat. Anderson .Paak)”

Fans' Choice Male

  • 10CM
  • 82MAJOR
  • 8TURN
  • AB6IX
  • AHOF
  • AMPERS&ONE
  • ARrC
  • ASTRO
  • ATEEZ
  • Baekhyun
  • BOYNEXTDOOR
  • BTOB
  • CLOSE YOUR EYES
  • CNBLUE
  • CORTIS
  • CRAVITY
  • D.O. (Doh Kyung Soo)
  • Daesung
  • DAY6
  • Doyoung
  • ENHYPEN
  • Epik High
  • EVNNE
  • G-Dragon
  • GOT7
  • IDID
  • j-hope
  • Jay Park
  • Jin
  • Kai
  • KickFlip
  • Lee Mu Jin
  • N.Flying
  • NCT DREAM
  • NCT WISH
  • NEXZ
  • P1Harmony
  • PLAVE
  • RIIZE
  • SEVENTEEN
  • SHINee
  • Stray Kids
  • Super Junior
  • TIOT
  • TREASURE
  • TWS
  • TOMORROW X TOGETHER
  • WayV
  • Xdinary Heroes
  • ZEROBASEONE

Fans' Choice Female

  • aespa
  • ALLDAY PROJECT
  • Apink
  • ARTMS
  • AtHeart
  • Baby DONT Cry
  • BABYMONSTER
  • BIBI
  • Billlie
  • BLACKPINK
  • BoA
  • BOL4
  • Chungha
  • Chuu
  • Davichi
  • FIFTY FIFTY
  • fromis_9
  • H1-KEY
  • Hearts2Hearts
  • Hwasa
  • Hyolyn
  • i-dle
  • ILLIT
  • Irene
  • ITZY
  • IU
  • IVE
  • izna
  • Jeon Somi
  • Joy
  • KARD
  • Kep1er
  • KiiiKiii
  • KISS OF LIFE
  • LE SSERAFIM
  • MEOVV
  • NiziU
  • NMIXX
  • OH MY GIRL
  • QWER
  • SAY MY NAME
  • Seulgi
  • STAYC
  • Taeyeon
  • tripleS
  • TWICE
  • UNIS
  • VIVIZ
  • Wendy
  • Yena

Fans can keep an eye on the official MAMA Awards pages for further updates about winners.


Also Read: "Health code violations are IMMENSE!": Internet reacts as Mariah Carey's unbound hair and diamond ring steal attention in Thanksgiving cooking video

46th Blue Dragon Film Awards: Complete list of nominees and winners

Edited by Gourab Kundu