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Rakuten Viki is expanding its annual K-Drama Day into a multi-stage fan event ahead of the main celebration on September 25, 2026. The fourth edition will combine free viewing, prizes and exclusive material with a new audience vote whose winning drama is scheduled to appear on billboards around the world.
The currently published campaign calendar begins before K-Drama Day itself, giving viewers a series of dated activities rather than concentrating every feature on one day. However, Viki has not yet publicly identified the participating talent, prizes or free-drama lineup on its campaign page.
K-Drama Day returns on September 25
Viki’s fourth K-Drama Day is set for September 25. The platform describes the celebration as a collection of exclusive experiences and surprises, with new content and prizes scheduled to appear throughout the lead-up.
The announcement promises free shows, special prizes and talent exclusives. Title availability will vary by region, an important limitation for international viewers deciding which parts of the campaign they can access.
Viki’s published schedule starts with a contest on September 18. Interviews are listed for September 19, 20 and 21, followed by an Ask Me Anything event on September 22. Two more interviews are scheduled for September 23 and 24 before the main K-Drama Day program on September 25.
The names attached to those interviews and the AMA have not yet been disclosed on the campaign page. Viki is directing fans to register for a free account, opt in to emails and follow its social channels for subsequent announcements.
Fans will choose a drama for an international billboard campaign
A central addition for 2026 is the Global Fan Favorite K-Drama vote. Fans will be permitted to vote once per day from September 14 through September 21, with the winner due to be announced on K-Drama Day.
Viki says the selected drama will be featured on billboards around the world. The campaign page does not yet specify the shortlisted dramas or the billboard locations.
Before the final ballot opens, Viki and the r/KDRAMA community invited fans to suggest eligible 2026 series available on Viki. That preliminary request allowed participants to nominate between one and three dramas, adding a community-selection stage ahead of the daily voting period.
Curated drama collections are also scheduled to arrive on September 14, September 21 and September 25. Their themes and included series remain unannounced.
Background: K-Drama Day has changed dates and formats
Rakuten Viki introduced the first International K-Drama Day on November 29, 2023. That launch paired streaming promotions with giveaways and partner activities intended for an international audience.
The second edition retained the November 29 date in 2024 and expanded the event into a two-week program. Ten premium dramas were made available without a paid subscription, alongside interviews, live content and promotions involving entertainment and technology partners.
For the third edition, Viki moved K-Drama Day to September 26, 2025. That campaign ran through September 30 and provided free access to ten dramas in select regions. Its program also included director interviews, an r/KDRAMA AMA, a podcast episode and other talent appearances.
The 2026 edition moves the central date forward by one day, to September 25, while spreading announced activities across at least eight calendar days. Unlike the 2025 rollout, which publicized its ten free titles and several guests in advance, the current campaign is initially withholding most names and program details.
Why it matters for international K-drama viewers
The global fan vote changes the audience’s role from receiving a promotional lineup to influencing which 2026 drama receives international advertising. Viewers can participate daily, while the winning title gains exposure beyond Viki’s app and website through the planned billboards.
The staggered schedule also means international fans will need to follow several different dates. Voting closes four days before K-Drama Day, while interviews, a contest and the AMA begin before the final winner is revealed.
Regional licensing remains the practical constraint. Although the campaign is presented internationally, Viki expressly notes that title availability can differ by market. The final free-show list and its regional terms will therefore determine how much of the streaming promotion individual viewers can use.
What is still to be announced
As of September 10, Viki’s campaign page has not named the interview guests, AMA participant, prizes, free shows, voting finalists or billboard cities. Those details should not be inferred from earlier editions, whose guests and promotional partners were specific to their respective years.
The next confirmed step is September 14, when voting for the 2026 Global Fan Favorite K-Drama is scheduled to open and the first of three curated collections is due to be released.
Sources: Rakuten Viki — 2026 K-Drama Day campaign; Viki and r/KDRAMA — 2026 Global Fan Favorite nomination post; PR Newswire — Third annual K-Drama Day announcement.
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