The Korea Virtual Human Industry Association (KOVHIA) has announced the inaugural VIVA (Virtual Icon Vision Awards), a ceremony honoring icons in the virtual content industry. JK Fandom has been named as the official voting partner, and fan voting will take place across 15 categories spanning three main divisions: Virtual Idol, Virtual Streamer (VTuber), and Virtual Character.

Fan Voting Awards Across 3 Divisions and 15 Categories

VIVA operates under the slogan “Beyond the world’s prejudices, so your talent can shine” and is structured as a fan-driven awards event. The Virtual Idol Awards include Grand Prize, Popularity, Rising Star, Best Performance, and Global categories. The Virtual Streamer (VTuber) Awards cover Grand Prize, Popularity, Best Live Content, Rising Star, and Global categories. The Virtual Character Awards recognize Grand Prize, Game, Webtoon, Anime, and AI Influencer categories.

Nominee selection methods differ by division. Virtual Idol nominees advance to the main vote through an online preliminary fan vote. Virtual Streamer (VTuber) nominees are selected through a combination of association recommendations and direct applications evaluated against set criteria. Virtual Character nominees are chosen by the association with input from industry experts. In all cases, final winners are determined by fan voting.

Virtual Idol Preliminary Voting Begins July 22

The Virtual Idol preliminary online fan vote runs from 12:00 on July 22 (Wed) to 23:59 on August 4 (Tue), 2026. Voting is conducted through official voting partner JK Fandom, a global fandom support platform operated by Fan Communications Global, a consolidated subsidiary of Fan Communications (TSE Prime: 2461).

For the Virtual Streamer (VTuber) division, direct nominations are being accepted on the VIVA official website. The application deadline is August 4 (Tue) at 23:59.

Looking Ahead

Final winners in each category will be determined through the main vote following the preliminary round. Details on the nominee lineup and main voting schedule will be announced on the official website. KOVHIA Chairman Seo Gukhan has positioned the event as “the first integrated awards show where virtual idols, streamers, and virtual characters come together,” making it a pioneering initiative that spans the entire virtual industry.

Analysis

The emergence of a fan-driven awards show covering the entire virtual content industry, including VTubers, is a sign of the sector’s growing maturity. The fact that it is organized by Korea’s Virtual Human Industry Association also speaks to the increasing recognition of this field as a legitimate industry across Asia. The VTuber division’s acceptance of direct applications is a notable feature that opens doors for independent creators. With fan voting directly determining results, heightened social media activity is expected during the upcoming voting period.

Source: PR TIMES