The 2nd TMElive International Music Awards (TIMA) just wrapped up, and honestly? It was everything a music fan could ask for.
Bringing together 34 Chinese and international acts, the ceremony turned Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong into a cross-language, cross-genre music celebration that had tens of thousands of fans on their feet. Produced by Tencent Music Entertainment Group, this year’s TIMA was bigger, bolder, and more spectacular than its debut—with major upgrades across the lineup, venue, and scale.
A lineup that delivered
This year’s roster expanded to include top acts from the Chinese-language, European and American, and Japanese, Korean, and Thai music scenes. The night unfolded across three chapters—Sparkle, Starlight, and Aurora—featuring performances from some of the biggest names in music today.
TAEYONG, NexT1DE, KiiiKiii, CIIU, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, NOWZ, Hearts2Hearts, Daniel Seavey, 82MAJOR, ALLDAY PROJECT, MC Michael Cheung Tin Fu, YEONJUN, BABYMONSTER, RIIZE, aespa, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, SUPER JUNIOR, WayV, NEXZ, UNCHILD, NuNew, MODYSSEY, KickFlip, AND2BLE, EVAN, MEOVV, William Chan, PLAVE, NMIXX, NCT WISH, IVE, TAEYEON, Charlie Puth, and Stray Kids—the list alone is enough to make any music fan’s head spin.
A venue upgrade to match the moment
This year, TIMA moved to the 50,000-capacity Kai Tak Stadium, a Hong Kong landmark designed for major sports and entertainment events. With high-spec stage production, refined visual design, and an impactful soundscape, the arena came alive as tens of thousands of fans moved to the rhythm and cheered through every performance. The energy was electric.
And the winners are…
The ceremony also handed out some well-deserved honors:
- Stray Kids – International Group of the Year
- Charlie Puth – International Artist of the Year
- SUPER JUNIOR – The Most Influential International Group of the Year
- G-DRAGON “Übermensch” – The International Digital Album of the Year
- William Chan – The Asian Crossover Artist of the Year
- MC Michael Cheung Tin Fu – The Recommended Asian Artist of the Year
What this means for the future
Industry observers have noted that TIMA, in just its second year, has already achieved a comprehensive rise in influence. With sustained enthusiasm from fans in China and overseas, it has become a highly sought-after, phenomenal music-entertainment event. At the same time, it continues to draw growing attention and active participation from the global music industry, building an important platform that connects diverse music cultures.
Looking ahead, TIMA promises to continue focusing on high-quality content and international collaboration, exploring new possibilities in musical expression while promoting exchange and development across music industries in China and around the world. The stage is set for the next chapter—and honestly? We can’t wait.
The Pop Blog general news and updates, mostly from press releases and conferences.