Four SM and JYP acts have kept the K-pop world tour circuit busy through 2026: WayV rolling out a new mini album built on a Chinese-language wordplay concept, RIIZE hitting Tokyo Dome and its first world tour finale, aespa opening a new global tour cycle behind its second full album, and TWICE marking a milestone decade with a Tokyo national stadium first and a career-spanning Japan release. Between them, the four groups cover a wide range of career stages, from a rising group inside SM's post-Lee Soo-man era to a nine-member group still expanding a decade in.
WayV: A Wordplay-Driven Comeback
WayV, the China-focused unit under SM's NCT label, released its 8th mini album on August 10, 2026, built around a concept that plays on Chinese homophones. The title track, presented in both Chinese and English versions, spans seven tracks total and continues WayV's pattern of using bilingual releases to bridge its Chinese-speaking fanbase with its broader international audience.
RIIZE: A Milestone Year on the Road
RIIZE, SM's first new boy group in seven years and the label's first idol act launched without founder Lee Soo-man's direct involvement, spent much of 2026 on its first-ever world tour, RIIZING LOUD, ultimately spanning 21 regions across Asia, North America, and Latin America before closing with a three-night finale in Seoul in March. Along the way, the group became the fastest K-pop boy group to reach Tokyo Dome and served as the only K-pop act invited to Samsung's global "The First Look" event ahead of CES 2026 in Las Vegas. In June 2026, the group's cumulative album sales crossed one million copies for the fourth time since debut, according to Hanteo chart data.
aespa: A New Album and a New World Tour
aespa released its second full studio album, LEMONADE, on May 29, 2026, following it with special-edition shows at Tokyo Dome in late May. The group then launched a new global tour, 2026-27 aespa LIVE TOUR - SYNK: COMPLæXITY, opening with two nights in Seoul on August 7 and 8 before continuing to Taipei and on to cities across the Americas and Europe through 2027, covering 25 regions in total.
TWICE: A Decade In and Still Expanding
TWICE marked its 10th anniversary in 2025 with a special album, TEN: The Story Goes On, and carried that momentum into 2026, becoming the first international act ever to headline Japan's National Stadium in Tokyo, drawing roughly 80,000 attendees per show across three sold-out nights in April. The group also contributed the track "TAKEDOWN," performed by members Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung, to the soundtrack of Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters, helping drive the soundtrack's global chart success. A Japan-focused best-of compilation, spanning the group's decade-long catalog, is set for release on August 26, 2026.
Four Groups at a Glance
| Group | Recent Highlight | 2026 Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| WayV | 8th mini album, August 10, 2026 | Bilingual Chinese/English wordplay concept |
| RIIZE | First world tour, RIIZING LOUD (21 regions) | Fastest K-pop boy group to reach Tokyo Dome |
| aespa | 2nd album LEMONADE + new SYNK world tour | 25-region tour launched August 2026 |
| TWICE | First international act to headline Tokyo's National Stadium | 10th anniversary Japan best-of album, August 26, 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is WayV's new album about?
WayV's 8th mini album, released August 10, 2026, is built around a concept using Chinese-language wordplay, with its title track released in both Chinese and English versions.
Why is RIIZE considered a significant group for SM Entertainment?
RIIZE is SM's first new boy group in seven years and its first idol act launched without founder Lee Soo-man's direct involvement, following the company's shift to its "SM 3.0" management structure.
What is aespa's new world tour called?
It's titled 2026-27 aespa LIVE TOUR - SYNK: COMPLæXITY, opening in Seoul in August 2026 and covering 25 regions across Asia, the Americas, and Europe through 2027.
Is TWICE still active after 10 years?
Yes, the group marked its 10th anniversary with a special album and became the first international act to headline Japan's National Stadium in 2026, alongside a new Japan-focused best-of album.
Did any of these groups contribute to KPop Demon Hunters?
Yes, TWICE members Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung performed the track "TAKEDOWN" on the film's soundtrack.
Tour schedules, album release dates, and chart figures can change after announcement — check each group's official agency channels for the most current information.