I haven’t performed this earlier than, however now that 2026 is midway over I assumed it will 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 provide up to date ideas on every of my high ten rookies from final 12 months after which I’ll re-rank them in response to their standing at this very second. I’ll take my honorable mentions into consideration as nicely. And if I had written about Cortis final 12 months, I’d must eat only a little bit of crow as we speak as their REDRED is a deserved mega-hit (even when every little thing else stays varied shades of unhealthy).
AM8IC – Seemingly inactive. Exhausting to make any type of judgment.
AxMxP – A severe dip in high quality after a stable debut.
idntt – An actual combined bag. I’ve loved various their tracks however nothing has bowled me over but.
Kiii Kiii – A giant success. I nonetheless fear they’re too “type over substance” on the subject of the precise songs, however they’re definitely on the forefront of the sport.
KIIRAS – I don’t even bear in mind their Might comeback, to be trustworthy.
NEWBEAT – Seemingly inactive. Exhausting to make any type of judgment.
RE:WIND – Seemingly inactive. Exhausting to make any type 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 stated lately, they’ve obtained extra controversies and cancellations than songs at this second. Personally, my pleasure round them has utterly fizzled.
9. BABY DONT CRY
It seems like they’re on the upswing. I’ve loved Yihyun’s stint as Inkigayo host and their two March singles had been fairly stable. They should constantly launch new music, although. Competitors is fierce.
8. IFEYE
Ifeye seem to be a giant query mark. A swap in artistic 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 available in the market are shortly dimming. I hope I’m mistaken.
7. ALLDAY PROJECT
After a really profitable 2025, ALLDAY PROJECT have been fairly quiet this 12 months. Weren’t they purported to launch one thing this month or am I simply misremembering? It’s onerous to inform whether or not their breakout success will probably be a flash within the pan or a sustaining profession. Ok-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 record, however I’m a bit apprehensive 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 a giant approach and it did such an excellent job on the charts. Lemon Tang was extra polarizing, however its mini album stays one in every of my favorites from this (admittedly underwhelming) summer time. With SM’s backing, they appear to have a really vibrant 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 artistic enter, suggesting their music will stay sturdy within the coming years. They really feel like a really secure rookie group whose music I can belief to be high quality, and that’s saying one thing in Ok-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 monitor of theirs after All My Poetry. They’ve proven a capability to adapt to totally different sounds whereas retaining the standard excessive, which could be very promising.
2. NOUERA
NouerA have been my largest disappointment on this record. That they had such a robust discography final 12 months however have switched producers and ideas to their detriment in 2026. I discovered nothing value 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 saved working with producer e.one for a least a couple of extra comebacks. Because it stands, it seems like their discography will probably 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 greatest materials however they actually stumbled when switching ideas for final month’s Sugar Excessive. They’re nonetheless one in every of Ok-pop’s vibrant spots in 2026, however I’m rather less positive 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