The cultural and musical juggernaut that is the Netflix animated phenomenon KPop Demon Hunters added another prestigious accolade to its unprecedented collection over the weekend, capturing the Best Original Song prize at the 2026 World Soundtrack Awards. Held on Saturday, October 10, the ceremony served as the triumphant grand finale of the annual Film Fest Gent in Ghent, Belgium—the nation’s largest and most internationally renowned film festival. While the global anthem "Golden" continued its historic run of dominance, the evening also celebrated visionary contributions from prominent composers such as Daniel Pemberton, Jeff Russo, and veteran artist Trevor Jones, who received a heartfelt lifetime achievement honor.
A Historic Gathering for Global Film Composers
For three intensive days leading up to the gala, the historic heart of Ghent transformed into a global nexus for film music professionals, orchestration enthusiasts, and world-class composers. Centered primarily around the historic Music Centre De Bijloke, the event hosted a series of rigorous panel discussions, hands-on workshops, and intimate masterclasses dedicated to dissecting the intricate art of scoring for visual media. These sessions provided emerging artists and seasoned veterans alike with a platform to explore the evolving technical and emotional landscapes of cinematic composition.
The summit culminated in Saturday night’s glittering awards ceremony, immediately followed by a breathtaking live concert event. The evening’s musical performances featured curated highlights from the work of guest of honor Hildur Guðnadóttir and lifetime achievement recipient Trevor Jones. Brought to vibrant life by the internationally acclaimed Brussels Philharmonic under the masterful baton of conductor Dirk Brossé, the orchestra delivered sweeping renditions of contemporary masterpieces and classic cinematic themes, reinforcing Ghent’s status as a premier global destination for film music appreciation.
KPop Demon Hunters and the Phenomenon of Golden
The undisputed highlight of the competitive music categories was the triumph of "Golden," the global chart-topping anthem from KPop Demon Hunters. Written by a powerhouse collective comprising Kim Eun-jae, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Teddy Park, and performed by the fictional-turned-viral supergroup HUNTR/X—featuring vocalists EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI—the track bested a formidable field of nominees that included contributions from Charli xcx, John Cale, Stephen Schwartz, and Nick Cave.
The victory at the World Soundtrack Awards further cements an extraordinary awards season for the song. Earlier in the year, "Golden" achieved the rare and prestigious trifecta of winning a Golden Globe, a Grammy, and an Academy Award. Its cultural footprint extended far beyond the screen, maintaining a staggering eight-week reign at the summit of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Industry analysts note that the song’s cross-platform success has permanently shifted the paradigm for how animated media, K-pop production styles, and Western cinematic distribution intersect, proving that multilingual, culturally hybrid tracks can achieve absolute global supremacy.
Major Wins for Pemberton, Russo, and Emerging Talent
In the top composing categories, British composer Daniel Pemberton secured the coveted Film Composer of the Year title. Pemberton’s victory recognized an exceptionally prolific and diverse body of work over the past year, encompassing his scores for Project Hail Mary, The Drama, The Bad Guys 2, and Masters of the Universe. Pemberton’s win highlights his remarkable versatility, effortlessly pivoting from intricate science fiction soundscapes to animated family adventures and sweeping fantasy epics.
On the television side, Jeff Russo claimed the Television Composer of the Year award. Russo’s win was driven by his stellar work on a trio of high-profile, genre-defining television projects: Alien: Earth, Cape Fear, and the second season of Citadel. Russo’s ability to build tension, establish distinct atmospheric identities, and honor established cinematic universes while bringing fresh sonic perspectives earned high praise from the international voting academy.
Other notable winners included Hannah Peel, who was awarded Discovery of the Year for her evocative score for Midwinter Break, and Kevin Smithers, whose haunting and whimsical compositions for Soy Frankelda captured the Public Choice Award. In the gaming category, Nicolas Garcia took home the Game Music Award for Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss, underscoring the increasing sophistication and artistic parity of interactive media soundtracks alongside traditional cinema.
Broader Implications for the Film Music Industry
The 2026 World Soundtrack Awards underscored several defining trends within the modern entertainment scoring landscape. Most notably, the continued blurring of lines between traditional orchestral film scoring, contemporary pop songwriting, and interactive gaming media reflects an industry in the midst of rapid expansion.
As streaming platforms and globalized distribution models demand increasingly diverse sonic palettes, awards platforms like the World Soundtrack Awards play a crucial role in validating boundary-pushing compositions. The success of international collaborations—exemplified by the multi-writer team behind KPop Demon Hunters and the transnational appeal of Pemberton and Russo’s work—demonstrates that contemporary audiences increasingly crave authenticity, hybridity, and emotional resonance across all forms of screen entertainment.
Complete List of Winners at the 2026 World Soundtrack Awards
Film Composer of the Year
- WINNER: Daniel Pemberton – Project Hail Mary; The Drama; The Bad Guys 2; Masters of the Universe
- Alexandre Desplat – Frankenstein; Eagles of the Republic; Jurassic World Rebirth; L’homme qui rétrécit (The Shrinking Man)
- Jonny Greenwood – One Battle After Another
- Hildur Guðnadóttir – The Bride!; Hedda; 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
- Max Richter – Hamnet
Television Composer of the Year
- WINNER: Jeff Russo – Alien: Earth; Cape Fear; Citadel (season two)
- David Fleming – Widow’s Bay
- Finneas O’Connell – Beef (season two)
- Martin Phipps, Benji Merrison – Steal
- Dave Porter – Pluribus
Best Original Song
- WINNER: “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters – Written by Kim Eun-jae, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, Teddy Park | Performed by HUNTR/X
- “House” from Wuthering Heights – Written by Charli xcx, John Cale, Nathan Klein, Finn Keane | Performed by Charli xcx, John Cale
- “No Place Like Home” from Wicked: For Good – Written by Stephen Schwartz | Performed by Cynthia Erivo
- “Stolen Tale” from Hedda – Written by Hildur Guðnadóttir, Nia DaCosta | Performed by Mariam Wallentin
- “Train Dreams” from Train Dreams – Written by Nick Cave, Bryce Dessner | Performed by Nick Cave
Best Original Composition by a Young Composer
- WINNER: Xabier Doural García
- Lidia Pozo Perez
- Yeakun Yoo
Discovery of the Year
- WINNER: Hannah Peel – Midwinter Break
- Mari Fukuhara – Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
- Paris Hurley – The Chronology of Water
- Kangding Ray – SIRĀT
- Sam Slater – 2000 Meters to Andriivka
Public Choice Award
- WINNER: Soy Frankelda – Kevin Smithers
- Avatar: Fire and Ash – Simon Franglen
- Project Hail Mary – Daniel Pemberton
- Starbright – Ludek Drizhal
- KPop Demon Hunters – Marcelo Zarvos
Game Music Award
- WINNER: Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss – Nicolas Garcia
- Crimson Desert – Hwiman Ryu, Inro Joo, Hyoung Woo Roh, Jiyoon Kim, Dongjune Oh
- Dispatch – Andrew Arcadi
- Marathon – Ryan Lott
- UNBEATABLE – rj lake, Vasily Nikolaev, Rachel Lake, Clara Maddux (D-CELL SOUND TEAM)
Belgian Film Composer of the Year
- WINNER: Margaret Hermant – A la cara (Nothing Personal); Mallorca Confidencial
- Frederik Van de Moortel – De Pupil
- Frédéric Vercheval – Les Tourmentés
Lifetime Achievement Award
- RECIPIENT: Trevor Jones
