As anticipation builds for the 77th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen on New Year's Eve 2026, a reader poll published on October 31, 2026, revealed which artists fans most hope to see make their first appearance on Japan's most-watched annual music program. HANA won by a decisive margin, followed by EBiDAN in second place and MONAKI in third. While these results reflect reader preferences rather than official NHK announcements, they offer a fascinating window into which rising acts have captured the public's imagination.
We know the anticipation for Kōhaku debut announcements creates its own special excitement each year—the program has been a cultural institution for decades, and a first appearance can mark a career-defining milestone. Here's what the poll revealed about which artists fans are championing for that honor.
The Quick Version
- HANA topped the reader poll with a wide margin, making them the most-requested act for a Kōhaku debut
- EBiDAN, a collective of male dance-and-vocal groups, secured second place in the rankings
- MONAKI came in third, after leading in earlier interim results published on October 25, 2026
- ZUTOMAYO placed fourth after selling 65,000 tickets across two October concerts at Heijō Palace Site Historical Park
- The official lineup for the 77th Kōhaku Uta Gassen, scheduled for December 31, 2026, has not yet been announced by NHK
Why This Poll Matters for Kōhaku Season
We're in that particular season when Japanese music fans begin speculating about who will earn a coveted spot on Kōhaku Uta Gassen, the New Year's Eve broadcast that regularly draws tens of millions of viewers. For artists, an invitation to perform represents recognition that you've achieved a certain level of cultural impact—it's not just about chart positions or streaming numbers, though those certainly factor in. The program traditionally balances established legends with breakthrough acts, and the debut slots are among the most closely watched.
The reader poll conducted by AERA's editorial office taps into this collective anticipation. While it doesn't predict or influence NHK's actual selection process, it does capture which rising artists have built the kind of devoted fanbase that will campaign for their inclusion. The exercise itself reflects how deeply invested fans become in seeing their favorite acts reach this milestone.
HANA's Commanding Lead
HANA's first-place finish came with what the poll described as a "commanding" or "overwhelming" margin over the competition. The group has clearly built significant momentum with readers who participated in the survey, though the poll results didn't specify exact vote totals or the size of the gap between first and second place.
What we can say is that HANA has resonated strongly enough with this particular audience to emerge as the clear consensus choice. For any artist, that kind of unified support from even a segment of the music-watching public represents valuable momentum heading into the season when NHK typically finalizes its performer roster.
The Rest of the Top Five
EBiDAN's second-place showing reflects the collective's growing profile. As an umbrella organization associated with multiple male dance-and-vocal groups, EBiDAN represents a particular style and energy that has built a loyal following. The collective structure means a Kōhaku appearance could potentially spotlight one or more of its constituent groups, depending on how such an invitation might be structured.
MONAKI's third-place finish is particularly interesting given that earlier interim results published on October 25, 2026, showed the group tied for first place. The shift in rankings between the interim and final tallies suggests the poll remained competitive and that reader enthusiasm shifted somewhat as the voting period continued. Still, a top-three finish represents strong support and suggests MONAKI has built the kind of profile that makes a debut appearance plausible.
ZUTOMAYO landed in fourth place, and the poll results noted a concrete achievement that likely fueled reader support: the artist's two-day concert run in October at the historic Heijō Palace Site Historical Park sold 65,000 tickets. That kind of drawing power—filling a major outdoor venue for multiple nights—demonstrates exactly the type of commercial and cultural impact that Kōhaku producers traditionally consider when building their lineups.
Aぇ! group rounded out the top five, adding another candidate to the list of acts that readers believe deserve debut consideration.
Understanding What the Poll Tells Us
It's worth being clear about what this poll represents and what it doesn't. The survey was conducted among AERA's editorial readership, but the available information doesn't specify how many people participated, the exact fieldwork dates beyond the October publication window, or the sampling methodology. That means we should understand these results as reflecting the preferences of this particular publication's engaged readers rather than a scientifically representative sample of all Japanese music fans.
More importantly, reader polls don't determine who actually receives an invitation from NHK. The broadcaster conducts its own selection process based on criteria that include commercial performance, cultural impact, broadcast appeal, and the overall balance of the program. What polls like this do offer, though, is a snapshot of which artists have built enough passionate support that fans actively want to see them reach this milestone.
The Context of Recent Debuts
The poll results mentioned that several artists made their first Kōhaku appearances at the 76th edition, which would have been the New Year's Eve program ending 2025. According to the survey coverage, that list reportedly included Aina the End, Lilas Ikuta, Chanmina, HANA, and M!LK.
Wait—HANA appears in both lists. If HANA performed at the 76th Kōhaku, that would mean they already made their debut, which raises questions about why they would top a poll about debut hopes for the 77th edition. This apparent contradiction likely indicates either a difference in how the group names are presented, a possible error in the reporting of previous participants, or perhaps different acts with similar names. What's clear from the poll itself is that readers responding to the survey wanted to see "HANA" make a first appearance, suggesting they understand this artist or group as not having performed on the program before.
This highlights an important reminder: we're working with information from a single poll and its accompanying coverage, and some details may need clarification when official announcements arrive.
When Will We Know the Actual Lineup?
NHK typically announces the official performer roster for Kōhaku Uta Gassen several weeks before the New Year's Eve broadcast, usually in mid-to-late November. As of October 31, 2026, that announcement remains forthcoming. The speculation, polling, and fan campaigning we're seeing now are all part of the traditional pre-announcement season when the music industry and its audiences debate who deserves inclusion.
Once the official list arrives, we'll be able to see how closely it aligns with reader preferences expressed in polls like this one—or where NHK's producers made different choices based on their own programming priorities.
What People Are Saying
The poll results themselves sparked discussion among music fans tracking the Kōhaku selection season. While specific individual reactions weren't detailed in the available coverage, the broader conversation reflects familiar themes that emerge every year around this time.
Fans of acts that placed highly express hope that strong polling will translate into actual consideration from NHK's selection team. Many recognize that while fan polls don't directly determine the lineup, they do demonstrate which artists have built the devoted followings that make for compelling television. The energy that drives people to participate in such surveys is the same energy that tunes in on New Year's Eve.
There's also recognition that Kōhaku traditionally balances multiple considerations—not just who has the loudest fan campaign, but which artists represent the year's musical story, which performances will appeal to the program's multigenerational audience, and how to create a broadcast that feels both current and timeless. Some observers note that debut slots often go to acts that have achieved a breakthrough moment during the year in question, whether through a viral hit, a landmark performance, or sustained commercial success that reached beyond their core fanbase.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 77th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen scheduled to air?
The 77th Kōhaku Uta Gassen is scheduled for New Year's Eve, December 31, 2026. The program traditionally airs in the evening hours leading up to midnight on NHK, Japan's public broadcaster.
Has NHK announced the official performer lineup yet?
As of October 31, 2026, NHK has not yet announced the official lineup for the 77th Kōhaku Uta Gassen. The broadcaster typically makes this announcement in mid-to-late November, several weeks before the New Year's Eve broadcast.
Do fan polls influence who gets selected for Kōhaku?
Fan polls like this one don't directly determine NHK's selection process, which is based on the broadcaster's own criteria including commercial performance, cultural impact, and overall program balance. However, polls do reflect which artists have built passionate fanbases, which can be one factor among many that producers consider.
What does a Kōhaku debut mean for an artist's career?
A first appearance on Kōhaku Uta Gassen is widely considered a significant career milestone in Japan. The program regularly draws tens of millions of viewers, and an invitation signals that an artist has achieved a level of cultural recognition beyond their core fanbase. For many acts, it marks their arrival as mainstream performers.
Where can international viewers watch Kōhaku Uta Gassen?
International availability varies by region and hasn't been confirmed for the upcoming 77th edition. In the past, NHK has made the program available through various international services, but specific details about how to watch from outside Japan typically become available closer to the broadcast date.
Looking Ahead to the Official Announcement
The poll results published on October 31, 2026, give us one picture of which artists have captured reader enthusiasm heading into Kōhaku season. HANA's commanding first-place finish, followed by EBiDAN, MONAKI, ZUTOMAYO, and Aぇ! group, reflects the preferences of fans who participated in this particular survey. Whether any or all of these acts ultimately receive invitations from NHK will become clear when the official lineup announcement arrives in the coming weeks.
What we know for certain is that the 77th Kōhaku Uta Gassen on December 31, 2026, will once again bring together established stars and rising talents for Japan's most-watched annual music event. The speculation, polling, and fan campaigns happening now are all part of the ritual that makes each year's announcement feel like a significant moment in itself. We'll be watching to see which artists get their moment on that historic stage.
