The 2026 VMAs made room for a growing roster of Asian talent, from the red carpet to the winner’s circle. With Lisa making history, BTS taking home three awards, and HUNTR/X’s “Golden” earning a Song of the Year nomination, Asian artists continued to make their presence felt on one of music’s biggest stages.
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Asian Presence
Lisa wasn’t the only Asian talent making an appearance at this year’s VMAs. Filipino-American artist Bella Poarch and Korean-American artist Rei Ami also walked the carpet, adding to the growing Asian presence at the ceremony.
Rei Ami’s appearance was particularly timely, as she is one of the voices behind “Golden,” the breakout song from Netflix’s animated film KPop Demon Hunters. The track was nominated for Song of the Year alongside BTS’ “Swim,” putting a song rooted in K-pop’s global influence alongside some of the biggest names in mainstream music. While “Golden” ultimately did not take home the award, its nomination was another sign of how far Asian-influenced pop has traveled.
Lisa’s Historical Win
After three previous “Best K-Pop” wins since 2022, Thai superstar Lisa added another milestone to her VMA history. She took home Best Pop for “Dream,” featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi, becoming the first Asian solo artist to win the category.
The win also brought Lisa’s total VMA tally to four, further cementing her place among the VMAs’ most decorated K-pop soloists.
BTS Sweeps the VMAs
Then came BTS, who had one of the night’s biggest hauls. The group took home three awards: Best Group, Best K-Pop, and Song of the Year, with the latter two wins going to their song “Swim.”
“Swim” also beat out fellow Asian-pop contender “Golden” for Song of the Year, making BTS’ sweep an especially significant moment for Asian representation at the ceremony.
The 2026 VMAs offered another snapshot of Asian talent claiming a growing space in global pop music. As the night celebrated artists across genres, it also highlighted how Asian artists are no longer simply showing up on the VMA stage, but competing—and winning—alongside some of the ceremony’s biggest names.
Featured Image and Photos: MTV, SPOTIFY (via X and Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions
Lisa won Best Pop for “Dream,” featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi. The win added to her earlier VMA success, and MEGA puts her career total at four Moon Person awards.
BTS won three awards: Best Group, Best K-Pop, and Song of the Year, with the latter two going to their song “Swim.”
No. “Golden,” from Netflix’s animated film KPop Demon Hunters and sung in part by Rei Ami, was nominated for Song of the Year but lost to BTS’ “Swim.”
Lisa, Filipino-American artist Bella Poarch, and Korean-American artist Rei Ami all attended the 2026 VMAs, adding to the ceremony’s growing Asian presence from the red carpet to the winner’s circle.
Lisa has won Best K-Pop three times: in 2022 for “Lalisa,” in 2024 for “Rockstar,” and in 2025 for “Born Again.” In 2026 she won Best Pop for “Dream.”
