Kakao Entertainment artists, including MONSTA X and IVE, plan extensive global activities in 2026, enhancing their K-POP influence.
February/18/2026 18:16
Artists under Kakao Entertainment's label will accelerate the expansion of global fandom in 2026. They are planning diverse activities in the world, including album releases and tours, to further strengthen their global influence as representatives of K-POP. MONSTA X, which resumed full group activities last year to celebrate their 10th anniversary under STARSHIP Entertainment, has begun their global journey with the start of 2026. Following member Jooheon’s solo mini-album release on January 5, MONSTA X will kick off their world tour 'THE X: NEXUS' with performances at Seoul's KSPO Dome from January 30 to February 1. This world tour, their first in about four years since September 2022, is confirmed to take place in major regions including Seoul, Asia, and Latin America, aiming to expand connections with fans worldwide. MONSTA X updated their personal best first-week sales record with the mini-album 'THE X' released last year to commemorate their 10th anniversary, and they have also appeared on major global charts including Billboard. Additionally, they participated in the '2025 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour' in the U.S. at the end of the year, solidifying their status as competitive performance artists in the global pop market. They have also confirmed performances in Japan for '2026 MONSTA X WORLD TOUR [THE X: NEXUS] IN JAPAN' in Chiba and Osaka. This year, they plan to further expand their influence through a large-scale world tour and various activities. Similarly, IVE, also under STARSHIP Entertainment, will enter full-scale global activities starting with a new album release in late February. Notably, the new song 'BANG BANG', released on February 9 ahead of the album, has already ranked high on the charts, generating buzz. After their comeback activities, they plan to launch their second world tour 'Show What I Am'. IVE, which started their world tour at Seoul's KSPO Dome last October, will meet global fans in various locations including Japan's Kyocera Dome Osaka in April, as well as in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Oceania. With seven consecutive million-seller albums, 20 music show wins, and dominating various music award ceremonies, IVE is expected to reaffirm their presence as a top girl group through this new release and world tour. They will continue large-scale tours with evolved musical strength and performances, further strengthening their status as global artists representing K-POP. KiiiKiii, a group that debuted successfully last year under STARSHIP Entertainment, will release their second mini-album 'Delulu Pack' on the 26th, embarking on the expansion of their global fandom. This album includes six new songs across a wide range of genres, from a fantastical mood to energetic sounds, maximizing the group's appeal with an expanded musical spectrum. Particularly, KiiiKiii showcases a confident and free energy unique to them, presenting a high-quality trendy sound and visual concept, proving their competitiveness as a next-generation K-POP girl group. KiiiKiii captivated fans both domestically and internationally with their debut song 'I DO ME', winning seven rookie awards at various K-POP award ceremonies. They also expanded their presence on the global stage by being the only K-POP girl group to perform at the 'MUSIC EXPO LIVE 2025' held at Tokyo Dome last September. WOODZ, under EDAM Entertainment, is also raising expectations with a full album release planned for 2026. Jo Seung-youn (WOODZ) recorded the number one spot on MelOn's annual chart with 'Drowning' last year and established his presence as an all-rounder artist with production skills through the single 'I'll Never Love Again' released after his military discharge. With this background, attention is focused on his full-scale global activities centered around the full album this year. It has also been confirmed that he will hold '2026 WOODZ WORLD TOUR 'Archive. 1' IN JAPAN' in three cities: Osaka, Tokyo, and Nagoya. Notably, ahead of the full album, he will challenge acting through the film 'SLIDE STRUM MUTE' alongside director Park Se-young and Justin Min, showcasing a new attempt that crosses the boundaries of music and film. 'SLIDE STRUM MUTE' is a 59-minute short film in which Jo Seung-youn plays the protagonist Woo-jin, driven by deep desires in the face of irresistible opportunities and choices, and is set to meet audiences in theaters. There is also growing anticipation for the activities of artists under Antenna, which has many talented musicians. Solo artists like Kyuhyun from SUPER JUNIOR and Jung Seung-hwan continue their activities while the band Dragon Pony, which expands exchanges with fans both domestically and internationally through various stages such as festivals, is expected to grow as a representative of K-bands in the global music market. Furthermore, Kakao Entertainment's global band hrtz.wav has confirmed their debut in the first half of the year, heading towards the world stage. hrtz.wav is a five-member band born through Mnet's global band-making survival 'STEAL HEART CLUB'. Their musicality, performance skills, and the individuality and charm of each member were recognized during the survival process, and there is interest in their activities after their official debut. hrtz.wav is preparing for their debut with the goal of 'a new wave of band music illuminating youth', and even before their official debut, they are sequentially releasing various content such as challenge videos and behind-the-scenes footage while preparing their album, expanding their presence and communication with fans. Kakao Entertainment plans multifaceted activities to help hrtz.wav grow into a rookie that will inherit the K-band boom on the global stage, based on the music production, distribution, and marketing know-how they have cultivated so far.
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