TIMA 2026 Kicks Off at Kai Tak with MC Cheung as Sole HK Representative
AM730 · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
The 2026 TIMA International Music Awards officially opened on August 22 at Hong Kong's Kai Tak Main Venue, marking a major two-day celebration of global music. The red carpet ceremony was hosted by Chan Yee Tak, setting the stage for an impressive lineup of performers. Hong Kong's own MC Cheung Tin Fuk stood as the city's only representative on the bill, expressing excitement about meeting aespa despite not crossing paths backstage yet. The event brings together over 30 acts including Super Junior, BABYMONSTER, aespa, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, RIIZE, and Hearts2Hearts for what organizers call a non-stop music party.
Key Points
- The 2026 TIMA International Music Awards runs August 22-23 at the Kai Tak Main Venue in Hong Kong, with the red carpet hosted by Chan Yee Tak
- MC Cheung Tin Fuk delivered a six-song set covering "Ain't No Fool," "The Liar," "Old-Fashioned Date Necessity," "Memory Foam," "Witness," and "How Many Times"
- TAEYONG opened the event with a dance performance, famously addressing fans in Mandarin with phrases like "baby," "I miss you so much," and "darling"
- Award winners included TAEYONG for Artist of the Year, aespa for Best Overseas Girl Group and Best Digital EP, TXT for Best Overseas Boy Group, BABYMONSTER for International Trend Overseas Group, and RIIZE for Hot Overseas Group
- MC Cheung prepared Korean greetings for the audience, revealing he had memorized the lines carefully in advance backstage
Why It Matters
The event positions Hong Kong as a regional entertainment hub capable of attracting top-tier K-pop talent alongside local artists, with the Kai Tak venue emerging as a flagship venue for international music events . The showcase of MC Cheung as Hong Kong's sole representative highlights both the growing dominance of Korean acts in the market and the opportunities available for local artists to gain exposure on a global stage .
The event positions Hong Kong as a regional entertainment hub capable of attracting top-tier K-pop talent alongside local artists, with the Kai Tak venue emerging as a flagship venue for international music events . The showcase of MC Cheung as Hong Kong's sole representative highlights both the growing dominance of Korean acts in the market and the opportunities available for local artists to gain exposure on a global stage .