Born to Glow: Star Awards 2026 celebrates the journey from grit to glory

Singapore, 26 February 2026 – On 19 April at The Theatre at Mediacorp, Star Awards 红星大奖 2026 (SA2026) invites audiences to peel back the layers of stardom and witness the evolution – from solo grind to collective triumph – behind their favourite stars and stories. Themed "Born to Glow" (零起风华 微光成炬), the latest edition of Singapore’s biggest celebration of content and talent in the local Chinese entertainment industry turns the spotlight to the making of magic itself.

The extravaganza opens with the Walk of Fame, where Singapore’s finest talents and personalities will gather in a glittering showcase of star power. Inside the theatre, the main ceremony unfolds as an immersive journey with a stage design that pulses with evolving light and form. As individual beams converge into a dazzling brilliance, the visual narrative affirms that no star rises alone, paying tribute to the collaborative hustle that fuels the industry. To ensure fans don’t miss a beat, the seven-hour Backstage LIVE commentary marathon will also offer a parallel stream of excitement as it captures the night’s raw adrenaline.

For viewing details, please refer to Annex A.

In its 31st edition, Star Awards continues to be the definitive platform to honour the cream of the crop across domains. In celebrating the talents who have made the greatest impact on screen, on air, and in the hearts of audiences, SA2026 will see 19 awards presented across the following categories:

PROGRAMME AWARDS

1. Best Drama Serial 最佳戏剧
2. Best Entertainment Programme 最佳综艺节目
3. Best Infotainment Programme 最佳资讯节目
4. Best Short-form Entertainment Programme 最佳短篇综艺节目
5. Best Microdrama 最佳微短剧
6. Best Original Song 最佳原创曲
7. Best Radio Programme 最佳电台节目

PERFORMANCE AWARDS

8. Best Actor 最佳男主角
9. Best Actress 最佳女主角
10. Best Supporting Actor 最佳男配角
11. Best Supporting Actress 最佳女配角
12. Best Rising Star 最佳潜力星
13. Best Programme Host 最佳综艺及资讯节目主持人
14. Young Talent Award 青苹果奖
15. Best Audio Personality 最佳主持人（广播/播客类)

POPULARITY AWARDS

16. Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes 十大最受欢迎男艺人
17. Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes 十大最受欢迎女艺人
18. Most Popular Rising Stars 最受欢迎潜力星
19. All-time Favourite Artiste Award 超级红星奖

Marking a milestone in Mediacorp’s evolving content slate, SA2026 will introduce “Best Microdrama”, a Programme Award that caps the company’s first year in the bite-sized, mobile-first format. Recognising the growing momentum of microdramas and the craft it demands, this new category honours creative teams who build character and emotional payoff in a fraction of the time – proving that powerful storytelling is not defined by duration, but mastery of the format.

The “Best Theme Song” category will also evolve into “Best Original Song”, making space for original sub-theme songs to be recognised alongside main theme songs. This category expansion recognises that a drama’s tonal backdrop is shaped by a full suite of music, from opening numbers to recurring motifs that underscore pivotal scenes. Together, these updates reaffirm Mediacorp’s commitment to celebrating the full spectrum of creativity as the ecosystem continues to innovate – in every format and every note.

The nomination and judging process for SA2026 remains unchanged, in keeping with the rigorous standards of previous editions. Nominees of Programme and Performance Awards are determined by an expert panel and judged by a group of industry veterans and established media practitioners^[1], while that for Popularity Awards are qualification-based, with all artistes who meet the relevant criteria included in the race for public votes. Results of these polls, as verified by professional auditors, will make up 80% of the final results for the awards, while the remaining 20% is determined by the Popularity Survey, which is conducted by an accredited market research company and reflects the views of various age groups across Singapore.

Please refer to Annex B for the nominees of Programme and Performance Awards. Voting for “Best Original Song” and Popularity Awards will commence in March, with details on nominees for the latter to follow.

Angeline Poh, Chief Customer & Corporate Development Officer, Mediacorp, said: “Star Awards 2026 is a tribute to the collective passion that fuels our industry, and an affirmation of our commitment to nurturing an ecosystem where every creative spark can grow into a masterpiece. Congratulations to all nominees – we are thrilled to celebrate your grit and talent. Fans, your support is what fuels every spark, so do join us by voting, tuning in and cheering your favourites on!”

For more information, please refer to www.mediacorp.sg/starawards.

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[1] Results for all Programme and Professional awards are based solely on professional judging except for “Best Original Song”, which continues to be determined by an equal split between professional judging (50%) and public voting (50%).

Annex A - Viewing details for Star Awards 2026

 

Annex B - Star Awards 2026 Nominees List

 

 

 

 

 

Performance Category

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Media contacts

Lim Zi Ai
Communications Specialist
ziai.lim@mediacorp.com.sg

About Mediacorp
Mediacorp is Singapore’s national media network and largest content creator, engaging 99 percent of the population weekly across four languages on its digital, TV, radio, and social media platforms. The company prides itself on creating compelling and trusted content that connects communities and inspires people.

Beyond Singapore, Mediacorp reaches a global audience through its award-winning news service, CNA, and globally distributed content that has won numerous industry accolades, including from the New York Festivals, World Media Festivals, PromaxBDA (World and Asia), and the Asian Academy Creative Awards.

As the nation’s media network, Mediacorp champions the diverse pool of local talent and the growth of the creative and media industry, through co-creation, partnerships and providing learning opportunities to groom the next generation of creators and media professionals.

For more information, please visit mediacorp.sg.