I haven’t completed this earlier than, however now that 2026 is midway over I assumed it could be attention-grabbing to see how my “high ten” rookies of final 12 months are doing. Any best-of countdown is tied closely to the time it was written, however the rookie countdown is especially malleable as a result of these acts can simply explode or implode of their second 12 months.

So… right here’s the way it’s going to work. First, I’ll supply up to date ideas on every of my high ten rookies from final 12 months after which I’ll re-rank them in keeping with their standing at this very second. I’ll take my honorable mentions under consideration as nicely. And if I had written about Cortis final 12 months, I’d must eat only a little bit of crow in the present day as their REDRED is a deserved mega-hit (even when all the things else stays numerous shades of dangerous).

AM8IC – Seemingly inactive. Exhausting to make any kind of judgment.
AxMxP – A critical dip in high quality after a strong debut.
idntt – An actual combined bag. I’ve loved quite a lot of their tracks however nothing has bowled me over but.
Kiii Kiii – A giant success. I nonetheless fear they’re too “model over substance” with regards to the precise songs, however they’re definitely on the forefront of the sport.
KIIRAS – I don’t even keep in mind their Could comeback, to be sincere.
NEWBEAT – Seemingly inactive. Exhausting to make any kind of judgment.
RE:WIND – Seemingly inactive. Exhausting to make any kind of judgment.
XLOV – The fabric’s getting higher, however their music has but to match their potential.

10. 1VERSE

Sadly, I believe it’d over earlier than it even started for this group. As somebody on twitter mentioned just lately, they’ve acquired extra controversies and cancellations than songs at this second. Personally, my pleasure round them has fully fizzled.

9. BABY DONT CRY

It appears like they’re on the upswing. I’ve loved Yihyun’s stint as Inkigayo host and their two March singles had been fairly strong. They should constantly launch new music, although. Competitors is fierce.

8. IFEYE

Ifeye appear to be an enormous query mark. A change in inventive groups resulted in a really bland comeback and their live shows appear to maintain getting cancelled or postponed. I concern their hopes of gaining a foothold out there are rapidly dimming. I hope I’m incorrect.

7. ALLDAY PROJECT

After a really profitable 2025, ALLDAY PROJECT have been fairly quiet this 12 months. Weren’t they speculated to launch one thing this month or am I simply misremembering? It’s exhausting to inform whether or not their breakout success might be a flash within the pan or a sustaining profession. Okay-pop historical past suggests the previous, however I believe they nonetheless have some juice left in them in the event that they discover the appropriate materials.

6. IDID

I’ve been actually having fun with IDID’s materials and discover the members extremely charming, however they’re simply not releasing sufficient music. Their discography continues to be very small for a boy group of their second 12 months and promotion has been overly hesitant. They’re fairly excessive on my private listing, however I’m a bit anxious about their future — particularly with new teams coming down the road.

5. HEARTS2HEARTS

They’ve had a extremely sturdy 2026 thus far. I got here round to RUDE! in an enormous method and it did such a fantastic job on the charts. Lemon Tang was extra polarizing, however its mini album stays certainly one of my favorites from this (admittedly underwhelming) summer time. With SM’s backing, they appear to have a really vivid path forward of them.

4. KICKFLIP

KickFlip have been constantly releasing nice music each few months or so and I’ve actually fallen for his or her sound. What makes it all of the extra thrilling is that the members have a considerable amount of inventive enter, suggesting their music will stay sturdy within the coming years. They really feel like a really steady rookie group whose music I can belief to be high quality, and that’s saying one thing in Okay-pop’s ultra-trendy panorama.

3. CLOSE YOUR EYES

Much like my ideas on IDID, I’ve been having fun with Shut Your Eyes’s music very a lot however they haven’t launched a lot of it thus far this 12 months. I actually anticipated one other mini album (or perhaps a full) by this time. On the plus facet, Pose is my second favourite title observe of theirs after All My Poetry. They’ve proven a capability to adapt to totally different sounds whereas protecting the standard excessive, which may be very promising.

2. NOUERA

NouerA have been my largest disappointment on this listing. They’d such a robust discography final 12 months however have switched producers and ideas to their detriment in 2026. I discovered nothing price saving on March’s Pop It Like mini. Their upcoming album sounds a lot better, however nonetheless not close to the thrill of their debut period. I actually want they’d have stored working with producer e.one for a least just a few extra comebacks. Because it stands, it appears like their discography might be very hit and miss going ahead.

1. AHOF

AHOF are nonetheless chugging alongside very nicely, although I’m not fairly as enamored as I used to be final 12 months. Their work with EL CAPITXN stays their finest materials however they actually stumbled when switching ideas for final month’s Sugar Excessive. They’re nonetheless certainly one of Okay-pop’s vivid spots in 2026, however I’m rather less certain of the place they’ll head sooner or later and that offers me pause.

10. Child DONT Cry
9. idntt
8. ALLDAY PROJECT
7. Kiii Kiii
6. NouerA
5. IDID
4. Hearts2Hearts
3. Shut Your Eyes
2. AHOF
1. KickFlip