NOL UNIVERSE has successfully concluded the “2026 Amazing HyeGong Awards,” reaffirming the value of small- and mid-sized theater musicals and contributing to the revitalization of Korea’s performing arts creation ecosystem.

On March 30, the awards ceremony was held at NOL Theater Daehangno in Jongno-gu, Seoul, co-hosted by NOL UNIVERSE and Hyehwaroun Performance Life, a YouTube channel specializing in musicals and theater. The channel is widely recognized for bridging the gap between productions and audiences through in-depth communication with performers and diverse video content. This marks the third consecutive year of collaboration between the two organizations, further strengthening their partnership to expand performing arts content and audience engagement.

The awards recognized musicals performed in theaters with fewer than 700 seats in Seoul during 2025. In addition to titles available through NOL and NOL Ticket, productions sold through other ticketing platforms were also included in the nominee pool. Winners were selected based primarily on audience surveys and voting, ensuring both popularity and fairness.

The ceremony, attended by leading actors and creative teams, was livestreamed via NOL, NOL Ticket, and the Hyehwaroun Performance Life YouTube channel, enabling real-time interaction with performing arts fans.

This year’s awards covered a wide range of categories, including performers, productions, creative staff, and special recognitions. The Best Actor awards were presented to Kyungsoo Kim and Wooyeon Jung, while the Rookie Awards went to Seheon Lee and Younghwa Cho. The Music Award was awarded to composer Chan-hong Min and music director Eun-kyung Shin for Rimbaud. The Stage Design Award went to In My Noisy Forest, and Night on the Galactic Railroad received the Best House Manager Award.

Notably, MAD HATTER emerged as the biggest winner, taking home four awards: Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Theater, and Best Props Design. Inspired by the Mad Hatter from the classic Alice in Wonderland, the production was praised for its imaginative storytelling and sophisticated direction, expanding the aesthetic boundaries of small-scale musicals.

Baek Saemi, Head of Entertainment Business at NOL UNIVERSE, stated:

“The HyeGong Awards, which we have co-hosted with Hyehwaroun Performance Life for three consecutive years, highlight the creativity and potential of small- and mid-sized theater musicals. We will continue to foster a performing arts ecosystem where high-quality productions can reach broader audiences through diverse initiatives that connect creators and audiences.”