New Landscape for K-POP in 2026···Multiple New Groups from HYBE, SM, and YG Set to Debut

The K-POP industry has begun intensive preparations for new groups heading into 2026. Major agencies such as HYBE, SM Entertainment, and YG Entertainment are competing to introduce new artists, raising expectations among K-POP fans. HYBE and Geffen Records are collaborating on a survival show titled “World Scout: The Final Piece” aimed at forming a global girl group. Scheduled to air on AbeMA TV in Japan in the spring of 2026, the program plans to select one final member to join Emily, Samara, Lexi, and others through an international audition. The existing global girl group KATSEYE under HYBE America currently consists of six members: Sophia Raportza, Manon Banerman, Danielle Avanzini, Lara Raghogopalan, Megan Mayouk Skindiel, and Yoonchae. SM Entertainment is advancing the debut of a new boy group known as “SMNBG (SM New Boy Group),” with a formal debut expected between 2025 and 2026. Trainees from the SMTR25 program, including Hanbi, Songha, Nicholas, Daniel, Justin, and Hyunjun, are reportedly joining the lineup. SM currently has groups that represent K-POP such as EXO, NCT, SUPER JUNIOR, TVXQ!, Red Velvet, and aespa. Source Music, the parent company of LE SSERAFIM, is said to be preparing for the debut of a new girl group, but no official announcement has been made yet. Pledis Entertainment is also reported to be preparing for the debut of a new girl group in 2026, though detailed information is limited. YG Entertainment has not yet officially confirmed any new group debuts for 2026, but rumors about the debut of new boy and girl groups continue to circulate among fans. Currently, YG is regarded as the top K-POP agency, owning groups like BIGBANG and BLACKPINK. Meanwhile, the new boy group NouerA, born from KBS’s reality show “MakeMate1,” officially debuted in January 2025. NouerA is composed of seven members selected from 34 international trainees through competition, including No Yu-jin, Jeon Jun-pyo, Jang Hyun-jun, Han Yu-seop, Lin, Bingpan, and Miraku. The group name “NouerA” means “a boundaryless group” and is a combination of “nuer (to connect together)” and “era (generation),” reflecting the intention to connect generations through music. According to a 2025 analysis of the K-POP global market, there is a notable rise in new generation groups. Per the “2025 K-Pop World Map” by K-Pop Radar, operated by music startup SpaceAudity, new girl groups that debuted after 2023 are expanding their market share due to rapid growth. Three girl groups that debuted in 2024—BABYMONSTER, KATSEYE, and ILLIT—are emerging as key players of the next generation of K-POP, bringing changes to the market structure dominated by large agencies. Among new artists in 2025, Hearts2Hearts topped the list with approximately 310 million views, followed by All Day Project and CORTIS. This indicates a growing trend where small and medium-sized agencies and groups with diverse concepts coexist and compete rather than being dominated by large agencies. 2026 is expected to be a year when a new era of competition unfolds in the K-POP industry. With the debuts of new groups from major agencies and the rise of new generation artists, the global K-POP market is likely to become even more diverse.