SeeYa, QWER, ILLIT, and RESCENE join the lineup for the '2026 K World Dream Awards'

The '2026 K World Dream Awards' has revealed its second lineup, adding four girl groups that span very different eras of K-pop: veteran act SeeYa, girl band QWER, rookies ILLIT, and chart-reversing RESCENE. The show, marking its 10th anniversary this year, takes place on August 27 at KINTEX in Goyang.

SeeYa arrive at the ceremony after returning to full group activity roughly 15 years on. Their fourth full album, 'First, Again', released in May, put its tracks back on major charts alongside classics such as "Shoes," "Scent of a Woman," "Love's Greetings," and "Crazy Love Song."

QWER have built a run of hits including "Discord," "T.B.H," "My Name is Clear," "Tears," and "Ceremony," establishing themselves as a leading girl band in Korea. After wrapping their first world tour, the group made their official Japanese debut with Warner Music Japan on "SHOW DOWN," the opening theme for the anime 'Tomb Raider King'.

ILLIT continue to grow overseas on the back of their fourth mini album, while RESCENE have widened their reach through an unusual chart run. Their first mini album title track, "Love Attack," topped the Melon Top 100 almost two years after release, helped along by viral content featuring member Won that carried over into chart placement, brand rankings, and broadcast bookings. B-side "Pretty Girl" has since drawn renewed attention as well.

The four join a lineup that already includes ATEEZ, P1Harmony, RIIZE, Ahop, and N.D.er. Veteran broadcasters Jeon Hyun Moo and Jang Do Yeon host the ceremony for a fourth straight year.

Fans also have a say on the night. Popularity awards across four categories, male group, female group, male solo, and female solo, are decided by votes cast through the fandom platform Fandor.