ILLIT returns with a new album 'MAMIHLAPINATAPAI' on April 30, following a successful Seoul concert that thrilled fans.
March/16/2026 13:16
ILLIT is returning with a new album after about 10 months. Their agency BELIFT LAB revealed today (16th) that ILLIT will release their new album 'MAMIHLAPINATAPAI' on April 30. The title track is 'It's Me.' They successfully concluded their first tour 'ILLIT LIVE 'PRESS START♥︎' in SEOUL' (hereafter 'PRESS START') on the 14th and 15th at the Tick Link Live Arena in Songpa District, Seoul. ILLIT thrilled the audience with their unwavering live skills, excellent performance abilities, and confident stage manners, announcing this news at the end of the final day’s performance, exciting their fans. The album name is unique. 'MAMIHLAPINATAPAI' is a word derived from the language of the Yaghan people of South America. This word, listed in the Guinness Book as 'the longest word with a difficult translation,' means 'a subtle gaze exchanged between two people who mutually need something but wish for the other to do it voluntarily.' Fans are curious about what kind of music and concept ILLIT will showcase through the new album. Following the Seoul concert, they will continue their tour in Aichi on June 13-14, Osaka on June 20-21, Fukuoka on June 29-30, Hyogo on July 18-19, Tokyo on July 23 and 25-26, and Hong Kong on August 22, raising expectations for their diverse performances. During the Seoul concert, they showcased about 120 minutes of music from their 1st to 3rd mini-albums and their latest 1st single, creating a solid musical world. The structure, unfolding like solving game levels, and the cute pixel art production highlighted their unique sensibility and aesthetics. The members' special stages drew attention, with Yuna, Minju, and Iroha performing the mission song 'Desperate' from the audition program 'R U Next?' and Mocha and Wony performing 'Scrum' in a unit stage, proving their wide musical spectrum. The members expressed, 'Thinking of the time we’ve run towards our dreams filled our hearts.' They also premiered the performance of 'NOT ME' from their hip 1st single and left a strong impression with 'oops!' during the encore stage. As the concert progressed, they raised the atmosphere to its peak, interacting closely with fans during the 'oops!' stage, passionately singing the song for about 10 minutes. ILLIT shared, 'Thanks to GLLIT (the name of their fans) who were with us, we were able to successfully press our start button. With our 2nd debut anniversary approaching, 'PRESS START' has become a motivation for us to work hard again.' They continued, 'We were happy to create a stage where GLLIT and ILLIT became one. We will strive to become proud artists,' receiving cheers from fans. All performances of 'ILLIT LIVE 'PRESS START♥︎' in SEOUL sold out on the first day of advance sales. Additional seats were opened for both days, even for restricted view seats, demonstrating the intense enthusiasm for them.
Related Articles
Kim Hae-yoon has made a striking transformation with her new blonde hair, showcasing her unique visuals in a recent photoshoot for 'COSMOPOLITAN.' She expressed joy in her creative challenges during the shoot and shared her love for fans at her recent fan meeting. With upcoming roles in the horror film 'Salmok Pond' and other projects, she reflects on her acting journey and personal growth, emphasizing the importance of self-encouragement amidst her busy career.
ILLIT has been awarded Best 3 New Artist (Asia) at the 40th Japan Gold Disc Awards. This follows their previous achievements, including three awards for 'Magnetic'. They gained popularity with their original song 'Almond Chocolate' and are set to embark on their first live tour, starting in Seoul and continuing in Japan.
HYBE has announced the first lineup for the 2026 Weverse Con Festival, set for June 6-7 in Seoul. The lineup includes 10 artists, such as &TEAM, CORTIS, and PLAVE, showcasing a variety of genres and generations in the music scene. The festival promises exciting performances and new music from these artists.
On the morning of the 6th, a collaboration event between fashion brand Rockfish Weatherwear and ILLIT took place in Seoul's Seongdong District, attended by ILLIT members Iroha and Wonhee. Additionally, Wonhee's collaboration with the cosmetics brand 'rom&nd' was announced, and Hikorohee will appear as a studio cast member on the new audition show 'WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE', with comments from LE SSERAFIM and others.
On the afternoon of the 26th, a photo wall event for the launch of ESTEE LAUDER's new products was held at Central City in Gangnam, Seoul. Celebrities such as IU, GOT7's Jinyoung, ILLIT's Mocha, Moon Sang-min, and Lee Sa-be attended. The event featured sweet moments from IU and Byung Woosuk's new drama and the main poster for GOT7's Jinyoung and Kim Min-ju's new drama 'Shining.'
The judges for the audition show 'WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE' have been revealed, featuring notable figures from HYBE and Geffen Records. They aim to discover a single star through rigorous evaluations of candidates. The show will air weekly starting February 24, 2026, on ABEMA SPECIAL.
ILLIT greets fans for the Lunar New Year, expressing gratitude for their support over the years. They hope fans enjoy time with loved ones and wish for their health and happiness. The group is set to embark on their first tour, 'ILLIT LIVE『PRESS START♥』', starting March 14 in Seoul and covering seven cities including Hong Kong.
The audition show 'WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE' by HYBE x Geffen Records aims to discover a global star by 2026, featuring talents like Hikorohee and others. The show promises intense competition and emotional stories of the contestants, as they strive to become the final member of a new girl group.
ILLIT's first Japanese single 'Toki yo Tomare' has achieved gold certification from the Japan Record Association, marking a major milestone for the group. The single features four tracks, including 'Topping' and 'Almond Chocolate,' and has topped various Japanese music charts. Their new songs continue to gain attention, including 'Bubee,' the opening theme for the upcoming anime 'Mahou no Shimai Lulut Lily.'
ABEMA will launch 'WORLD SCOUT: THE FINAL PIECE' on February 24, 2026, an audition show by HYBE and Geffen Records to discover talent for a new girl group. The show features notable cast members and aims to find one standout artist from Japan, showcasing the intersection of top talent and production.
