The prestigious Golden Disc Awards (GDA) is marking its 40th anniversary with a historic overhaul of its grand prize structure and trophy design.
For the first time in its four-decade history, the awards ceremony will present a total of three Daesangs (Grand Prizes), reflecting the explosive growth and global influence of the K-Pop industry.
This monumental change was announced by the organizers, HLL JoongAng, on November 21, 2025.
The Three Grand Prizes: A New Artist Daesang
The GDA first split its single Grand Prize into two separate awards—one for Digital Song and one for Album—during its 21st year to adapt to the evolving music consumption landscape.
For the upcoming 40th ceremony, a third Grand Prize, the Artist Daesang, will be introduced.
The three Daesangs for the 40th Golden Disc Awards will now be:
- Digital Song Daesang (Song of the Year)
- Album Daesang (Album of the Year)
- Artist Daesang (Artist of the Year)
This new category is designed specifically to acknowledge the “global influence and musical achievements of K-pop artists” beyond the success of a single album or song.
New Criteria for Global Recognition
The addition of the Artist Daesang is a direct response to the K-Pop industry’s massive international expansion.
Like the existing Album and Digital Song Daesangs, the Artist Daesang will be determined using a combination of data and expert evaluation:
- Quantitative Data: 60 percent
- Judges’ Panel Evaluation: 40 percent
To ensure the new award accurately reflects worldwide impact, HLL JoongAng confirmed that the quantitative data for the Artist Daesang will include global chart data.
This data, provided by Circle Chart and previously used in the GDA’s “Golden Chart,” will be reflected in the final quantitative evaluation, linking the award directly to an artist’s success in the international music market.
Golden Anniversary: Venue and Trophies
The 40th Golden Disc Awards will be held on January 10, 2026, at the Taipei Dome in Taiwan.
This marks the seventh time the ceremony has been held outside of South Korea, underscoring its commitment to being a global event.
The venue, with a seating capacity of 40,000, is Taiwan’s largest indoor arena, promising a grand scale for the anniversary celebration.
In conjunction with the new award, the trophy design will also be updated:
- The three newly established Daesangs (Digital Song, Album, and Artist) will feature a design that is fully gold.
- All other trophies will retain a design featuring gold discs on a black background.
This visual change further elevates the prestige of the three top awards, celebrating the recipients’ status as the most impactful artists in the K-Pop industry for the year.
Nominees for the major award categories are scheduled to be revealed shortly, on November 25, 2025.
