All The Up-and-Coming K-Pop Groups To Know
The groups that are going to be heavy on your song rotation.
By Jolin Lam - published
Fresh sounds, concepts and catchy beats, that’s K-pop for you. In a single year, as many as a hundred groups can enter the industry, yet only the top one percent make it to the big stages.
So here begs the question: who are the It-groups of our generation now? Who should we be watching out for? From former child prodigies to the highly-anticipated sister group of KATSEYE, we’ve compiled a list of all the must-know rising K-pop groups you should know.
Related article: Upcoming K-Pop Concerts In Singapore 2026 And 2027: Dates and Tickets
1. CORTIS
Cool boys CORTIS debuted with members James, Juhoon, Martin, Seonghyeon and Keonho. They’re best known for their sick choreographies and infectious rhythm, with songs like “REDRED”, “GO!” and “FAshIOn” taking over social media when they were first released. Their second EP, GREENGREEN, sold 2.3 million copies in its first week and debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart.
2. ALPHA DRIVE ONE
Formed through Mnet’s Boys II Planet, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, also known as AD1, brings together Junseo, Arno, Leo, Geonwoo, Sangwon, Xinlong, Anxin and Sanghyeon. Longtime fans may recognise Leo and Sangwon from their pre-debut days under BigHit’s Trainee A project. On top of the boy group’s latest two-track single “OMG!” and “Good Life”, they also recently released “GO! GO!” for the soundtrack of the new K-drama, Agent Kim Reactivated.
3. UNCHILD
Another rising group to keep on your radar is UNCHILD, featuring members Yeeun, Heekie, Tina, Ako, Evon and Haeun. Fans may remember Haeun as “Awesomehaeeun” on YouTube, the child dance prodigy who covered performances by prominent groups like TWICE, BTS and EXO. The girl group recently released their single, We are UNCHILD, with tracks “UNCHILD” and “Energy”, showcasing a vibrant candycore and Japanese Y2K aesthetic that perfectly aligns with the girls’ lively charm.
Related article: The A-Z of Korean Brand Ambassadors
4. OURBIRTHDAY
JYP dropped an introduction film to its newest seven-member girl group, OURBIRTHDAY, accompanied by a new digital single, HUNGRY (Side A), by members Cho Hye Jin, Baby and Achiraya. The girl group is under INIT Entertainment, a subsidiary label under JYP, with the remaining four girls yet to be revealed.
5. SAINT SATINE
Remember the HYBE x Geffen project in 2023 that formed the sensation known as KATSYE? Well, it’s time for a refresher on some of the past contestants because a few lucky girls are coming back as SAINT SATINE. The lineup features finalists Emily, Samara and former member Lexie, together with Sakura who joined after standing out amongst the 14,000 applicants in the Japan audition series, World Scout: The Final Piece. To tease their upcoming concept, the group has performed two original tracks available to stream on Spotify, “Party b4 the Party” and “We Ride”.
Related article: All The Upcoming K-Pop Comebacks To Keep An Eye Out For
6. TUIDE
HYBE’s on a roll this year, with the recent launch of its new label A Bold Dream, or “ABD” for short, specifically for girl groups. The label will be led by Han Sung Soo, the music producer behind SEVENTEEN, IZ*ONE and TWS. Its newest group, TUIDE, is set to debut in late 2026 with a lineup of seven girls—Seohee, Yi Hani, Elena, Jia, Saki, Seah and Seoyeon, who is also the sister of TWICE’s JIHYO. Their concept videos so far reveal a super fresh and youthful vibe—think debut ILLIT and NewJeans.
7. NEXT MONSTER
You’ll want to keep your eyes on this one. Last year, YG Entertainment officially announced its upcoming girl group, NEXT MONSTER—a four-member team consisting of Evelli, Chanya, Kayci and a final unannounced member, with the youngest born in 2012. Their cover performances alone have brought in over 20 million views on YouTube, each showcasing the girls’ unique talents.