Each year brings new artists to any scene, and this year was no exception. After a busy year, 2026 has a new crew of rising teams that bring a sense of freshness to the wide-ranging world of K-pop.
Within this new wave, there are K-pop acts who are experiencing long-awaited recognition, while groups who debuted just a couple months ago are finally performing in front of live audiences. Meanwhile, rookies like CORTIS are raising their hands with a desire to conquer, and yet-to-debut acts are hotly anticipated. Either way, these groups are about to completely take over your playlists.
CORTIS
Even before their debut in August this year, the hype was clearly there for CORTIS. Launched under HYBE’s BigHit Music (home to BTS and TXT), the reveal of the five-member lineup – James, Juhoon, Martin, Seonghyeon, and Keonho – instantly intrigued fans with their diverse cultural backgrounds and creative skills, raising expectations for something fresh in the crowded K-pop scene. Their name, extracted from “Color outside the lines,” says it all: freedom from convention. The momentum kept building with their first EP, “Color Outside the Lines”.
Alpha Drive One
Alpha Drive One, or ALD1 for short, is already on everyone’s radar, especially to those who watched the Mnet reality survival show, “Boys II Planet”, which saw a whopping 160 Korean and Chinese contestants compete for a chance to debut under WakeOne. 11 episodes of challenges, eliminations, and heartbreak later, the eight-member group was formed. The line-up, consisting of Leo, Junseo, Geonwoo, Arno, Sangwon, Xinlong, Anxin, and Sanghyeon, is set to debut early next year.
KiiiKiii
Comprising five talents: Jiyu, Leesol, Sui, Haum, and Kya, KiiiKiii is the latest girl group from Starship Entertainment. The group’s concept, and the girls themselves, are an aesthetic reminiscent of Tumblr blogs from the late ’00s. Their first EP, “Uncut Gems”, has been dubbed “weirdcore” and “internet brain rot” through unconventional videos and seemingly eclectic imagery on their Instagram feed – high praise for pop stars just making their way in the world.
KickFlip
With a name inspired by a dynamic skateboarding trick, a rebellious concept, and a debut mini-album titled “Flip it, Kick it!”, the seven-member group will soon be making significant impacts in the K-pop industry. KickFlip were once a part of JYP Entertainment’s 2021 survival show, “LOUD”. The line-up includes Kyehoon, Amaroo, Keiju, and Donghyeon, along with three new faces, Donghwa, Juwang, and Minje. The group marks JYP’s first boy group debut since Stray Kids in 2018.
AllDay Project
The Black Label, helmed by renowned producers Teddy Park, unveiled AllDay Project, the label’s first-ever co-ed group, in June this year. The quintet consists of members Annie, Tarzzan, Bailey, Woochan, and Youngseo. Amongst them are former pre-debut idols, world-class choreographers, and models. Though they are not the first co-ed group in K-pop (think KARD), the concept of co-ed idol groups in Korean entertainment still feels special and largely untouched, hence they’re set to offer something fresh in the ever-evolving K-pop world.
LNGSHOT
Rapper and singer-songwriter Jay Park is officially stepping into the idol game with his latest boy group named LNGSHOT (pronounced as Longshot). Ahead of their debut in January next year, Jay Park took to Instagram to introduce the four members – Ohyul, Ryul, Woojin, and Louis – giving fans their first glimpse of the line-up. Already, the announcement, alongside a pre-debut mixtape that was released, is causing waves in the K-pop world, with fans praising the members’ visuals, vocals, and energy.
Hearts2Hearts
Rising eight-member girl group, Hearts2Hearts, is a powerhouse in the making, blending fresh energy with a nostalgic twist. Debuted under SM Entertainment earlier this year, their first mini album, “FOCUS”, sees the girls – Jiwoo, Carmen, Yuha, Stella, Juun, A-na, Ian, and Ye-on – showcasing their sweet, distinctive charms with deep emotions and captivating storytelling. The unveiling of the group comes nearly five years after the debut of aespa.
