Details have been revealed for the general voting categories and co-creation awards at MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026 (MAJ2026), the international music awards ceremony set to be held June 13 at TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO.
MAJ2026 defines eligible works as songs and albums whose full-version official recordings were first made available via digital distribution on a public service or released physically between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2025 (with exceptions in some categories). The awards recognize outstanding works and artists shaping Japan‘s current music scene, with winners determined by votes from music industry professionals.
The general voting categories and co-creation awards announced today are presented in partnership with Spotify Japan K.K., XING Inc., DAIICHIKOSHO Co., Ltd., MIXI, Inc., USEN Corporation (U-NEXT HD), and LINE MUSIC Corporation, encompassing seven public-participation categories in total. The awards honor the best songs enjoyed by everyday listeners through karaoke, Spotify, cable music broadcasting, and more.
Additional new categories have also been introduced, including the Best Vocaloid Culture Song, for which listeners can cast votes via dwango’s website, and the Student Creator Encouragement Award — STUDENT MUSIC CREATORS CHALLENGE — in association with Kyoto University of the Arts, open to student creators who submit their own works for consideration. These new categories are aimed not only at general listeners but at general creators as well.
GENERAL VOTING CATEGORIES
Best of Listeners’ Choice: Domestic Song powered by Spotify
A co-created category with Spotify Japan K.K. in which Spotify users in Japan and worldwide vote to determine the best domestic song.
Selection process: The top 100 domestic songs from among the entries for Song of the Year are selected as eligible works, with the winner determined by a public vote from Spotify listeners in Japan and abroad.
First vote: Thursday, Mar. 19 – Wednesday, Apr. 8
Final vote: Thursday, Apr. 30 – Wednesday, May 20
Best of Listeners’ Choice: International Song powered by Spotify
A co-created category with Spotify Japan K.K. in which Spotify users in Japan and worldwide vote to determine the best international song.
Selection process: Eligible works consist of entries for MAJ’s Best Song Asia combined with the top 10 entries each from the Best International Pop Song in Japan, Best International Rock Song in Japan, Best International Hip-Hop/Rap Song in Japan, Best International R&B/Contemporary Song in Japan, Best International Alternative Song in Japan, and Best K-Pop Song in Japan categories, for a total of 81 tracks. The winner is determined by a public vote from Spotify listeners in Japan and abroad.
First vote: Thursday, Mar. 19 – Wednesday, Apr. 8
Final vote: Thursday, Apr. 30 – Wednesday, May 20
Best Global Hit From Japan
One of MAJ’s principal categories, honoring domestic songs that have achieved international success.
Selection process: Tracks from Japan are extracted from global listening data (streaming, downloads, and music videos) compiled by Luminate, and the top 100 songs on a global chart constructed by excluding Japan-based plays are selected as eligible works. International Spotify users then vote to determine five nominees.
First vote: Thursday, Mar. 19 – Wednesday, Apr. 8
CO-CREATION CATEGORIES
Special Award: Karaoke
Karaoke of the Year: J-Pop powered by DAM & JOYSOUND
A co-created category with XING Inc. and DAIICHIKOSHO Co., Ltd., honoring the most-sung J-Pop song at karaoke.
Karaoke of the Year: Enka/Kayōkyoku powered by DAM & JOYSOUND
A co-created category with Xing Inc. and Daiichi Kosho Co., Ltd., honoring the most-sung enka/kayōkyoku song at karaoke.
Special Award:
Oshi-Katsu Request Artist of the Year powered by USEN
A co-created category with USEN Corporation (U-NEXT HD), honoring the artist who received the most requests via USEN’s Oshi-Katsu Request service.
Special Award: Family Song
Best Song Chosen by Families 2025 powered by Mitene FamilyAlbum [New]
A co-created category with MIXI, Inc. honoring a song to be cherished alongside family memories (rolling out from Apr. 2, 2026). This category celebrates songs played again and again with children, hummed along to on family outings and trips, and songs that were simply always there throughout the everyday moments of family life.
Special Award: Fandom powered by LINE MUSIC & Yahoo! Search [New]
A co-created category with LINE MUSIC Corporation, honoring the artist supported by the most passionate fandom.
MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026
Saturday, June 13, 2026 / TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO
Awards week: Friday, June 5 – Saturday, June 13, 2026
