MONSTA X’s Hyungwon and IVE’s Rei announced as hosts for Day 1 of 'Asia Star Entertainer Awards 2026'

17 Mar 2026, 09:24 by Demian09 · allkpop

MONSTA X’s Hyungwon and IVE’s Rei announced as the hosts for the first day of the '3rd Asia Star Entertainer Awards 2026' (ASEA 2026), which will take place on May 16 and 17 at the Belluna Dome in Saitama, Japan, organizers confirmed on March 17.

The 'Asia Star Entertainer Awards' is a premier music festival that brings together top-tier artists representing Asia. Hyungwon and Rei previously demonstrated their hosting skills at last year’s ASEA, appearing on different days, and will now share the stage together for the first day of 'ASEA 2026.'

Following his military discharge last year, Hyungwon resumed his role as an ASEA MC and has maintained his prominence as a member of MONSTA X. The group celebrated its 10th anniversary last year with the release of the commemorative album 'THE X,' which achieved record-breaking first-week sales and appeared on multiple charts, including the US Billboard 200.

IVE’s Rei also made a strong impression during her first ASEA MC appearance last year. She enjoyed a highly successful year both with IVE and individually, serving as a model for beauty and fashion brands, a luxury brand ambassador, a special MC on music shows, and participating in various variety programs.

'ASEA 2026' will gradually announce its full artist lineup, award categories, and judging criteria on its official website. Ticket sales opened on March 16, with more details available through the Japanese official 'ASEA 2026' website.

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