Why KPop Demon Hunters’ Golden Trio Will Perform At BAFTA 2026 Despite Being Ineligible for Awards

Netflix’s

animated sensation KPop Demon Hunters may be absent from the BAFTA nominations list, but its music is still set to shine on one of cinema’s biggest stages. EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, the powerhouse vocalists behind the film’s breakout hit Golden, have been confirmed as performers at the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards. Their inclusion has sparked curiosity, especially since the film itself was ruled ineligible for awards consideration. However, the decision shows the crazy global impact of Golden and its role in pushing K-pop further into mainstream Western award spaces.

EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami to perform Golden at BAFTAs

The Golden Trio will perform Golden, the film’s chart-topping anthem, during the BAFTA ceremony. In a joint statement, EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami expressed their excitement, calling the opportunity "a golden moment that our younger selves could never have imagined", as per a Deadline report. They added that they are proud to represent Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters and share the film’s positive message with fans around the world.

Why was KPop Demon Hunters ineligible for nominations?

The performance comes despite KPop Demon Hunters being declared ineligible for BAFTA awards following an appeal by Netflix. While the film had a qualifying theatrical run in the United States before its Netflix release, its original UK debut took place exclusively on the streaming platform on June 20. This technicality made it ineligible under BAFTA’s current theatrical exhibition rules. In contrast, the film remained Oscar-eligible and even secured a Best Song nomination in the US awards circuit.What makes the BAFTA performance significant is the overwhelming success of Golden. The song dominated the Billboard Hot 100 for eight consecutive weeks and made history as the first K-pop track to win a Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media. The win, announced during the 68th Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony in Los Angeles, marked a watershed moment for K-pop songwriters and producers on the global stage.

Golden is performed in the film by the fictional girl group HUNTR/X, with EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami lending their voices. The Grammy was awarded to its songwriting team, including EJAE, Park Hong Jun, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Mark Sonnenblick. EJAE was also the composer-writer of the track.

More about BAFTA Film Awards 2026

The 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards will take place on Sunday, 22 February, at London’s Southbank Centre. This year’s ceremony is led by One Battle After Another with 14 nominations, followed closely by Sinners with 13 nods. Other strong contenders include Hamnet and Marty Supreme, each earning 11 nominations.While KPop Demon Hunters may be absent from the awards race, the inclusion of the Golden Trio on the BAFTA stage underscores how cultural impact can transcend eligibility rules. Their performance is set to be a celebration of music’s power to cross borders, genres, and institutions.