Asia’s largest K-pop awards ceremony will proceed in a reduced format this weekend after the devastating fire at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court estate prompted organisers to scale back festivities.

The 2025 MAMA Awards, scheduled for two nights at the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium, will go ahead without the planned red-carpet event and with a programme adjusted to acknowledge the city’s deep mourning.

Mirror, Hong Kong’s leading boy band, announced their withdrawal on Friday through their management company, confirming earlier speculation that prominent performers and international guests might step back in the aftermath of the tragedy.

Their decision follows reports that other high-profile names had also reconsidered appearances as the scale of the disaster became clear.

The fire, which erupted on Wednesday at Wang Cheong House before rapidly spreading across seven additional towers, has resulted in significant loss of life and hundreds of injuries.

Rescue operations have entered their third day, and the city remains shaken by what has become its worst fire in decades.

Authorities continue to conduct building searches and provide updates as displaced families await news about missing loved ones.

A spokesman for the awards show said the event would include a moment of mourning, noting that the organisers wished to balance respect for those affected with their commitment to proceed with the long-planned ceremony.

The downsized format marks the first time in seven years that the MAMA Awards return to Hong Kong, and officials emphasised that the focus would be on solidarity rather than spectacle.

As the city confronts the aftermath of the disaster, the adjustments to the awards programme reflect a broader effort to maintain sensitivity while allowing the event to continue in a manner befitting the solemn mood.