: MAMA 2021 introduced a major change in how winners were selected. To better reflect professional artistry and global impact, the major Daesang categories—Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year—removed fan voting from their criteria, relying instead on data and a panel of expert judges.
: After three years, the group reunited for a special performance, a major highlight for long-term fans. Dinamika M.A.M.A. 2021
: For the first time in the ceremony's history, a female artist took the lead as the host. K-pop veteran Lee Hyori broke the glass ceiling, bringing a legendary presence to the stage and performing a grand finale with the crews of Street Woman Fighter . : MAMA 2021 introduced a major change in
: Performances by aespa and NCT Dream utilized advanced Augmented Reality (AR) and avatars to create immersive stages. Major Winners at a Glance Best New Male Artist Best New Female Artist Best Male Group Best Female Group Best Male Artist BAEKHYUN (EXO) Best Female Artist Best Dance Performance (Female) aespa ("Next Level") Best Band Performance : For the first time in the ceremony's
The , themed " MAKE SOME NOISE ," was a landmark event in K-pop history, held on December 11, 2021, at CJ ENM Contents World in Paju, South Korea. This edition was characterized by significant structural changes, a historic first in hosting, and a dominant sweep by BTS despite their physical absence. Key Dynamics of MAMA 2021
: British superstar Ed Sheeran performed a special mash-up of "Bad Habits" and "Shivers," emphasizing the awards' global reach.
For a deeper dive into the full list of winners and legendary stages, you can explore the recap by CJ ENM or detailed performance highlights from k-popped! .