- ADOR has announced the 2026 ADOR Boys Global Audition to select its first male idol group.
- Male applicants born in 2007 or later are eligible to apply in the drive, which includes a variety of creative fields.
- The auditions will take place around the world, beginning with South Korea and ending in Australia.
It's the move the entire K-pop industry has been waiting for since the "NewJeans phenomenon" initially shook the charts in 2022. ADOR, the HYBE subsidiary, is now officially looking for its next big act.
The label has launched the "2026 ADOR Boys Global Audition," an ambitious global recruitment campaign aimed at forming their first male idol group. This represents a watershed moment for the agency as it seeks to showcase that it can replicate its success outside of the girl group segment.
ADOR Looking for More Than Just Idols
By tossing a hook far deep into the talent pool, ADOR has introduced some unconventional categories this year, in an industry that often seeks a "triple threat" (singer, dancer, and rapper). Online applications for the project can be made through ADOR's official portal. The audition's application process, including the pre-application period, began in early March 2026.
ADOR Boy Group Auditions Eligibility & Categories
The label is looking for male applicants born in 2007 or later, irrespective of where they live or what passports they have. While applicants may apply as a group, ADOR asks that each member submit an individual entry.
The label has no category limits, which allows it to broaden its search beyond traditional stage artists such as singers, rappers, and dancers. By inviting actors, songwriters/composers, vloggers, and photographers, the audition drive reflects a purposeful shift toward a diverse roster of multi-platform creative assets.
The Global Road Map of ADOR’s Latest Boy Group Audition
The audition tour includes 11 hubs worldwide, and participants must register online no later than three days before their city's planned date. The circuit begins in South Korea, with stops in Seoul (March 21) and Busan (March 22), before expanding to Singapore on March 28. The April leg heats up with back-to-back dates in Japan with Osaka and Tokyo auditions set for April 4 and April 5, respectively. Concurrently, North American auditions will be held in Vancouver and New York (April 10) and Toronto and Los Angeles (April 12). The drive will ultimately wrap up in Australia, with stops in Sydney (April 18) and Melbourne (April 19).
Essential On-ground Requirements for South Korean Participants
ADOR is enforcing rigorous rules during domestic stops in Seoul and Busan. Pre-registered participants will receive an email with their specific arrival time one day in advance. Walk-in applicants must arrive by 15:00, and the registration window is strictly limited to 15:00 to 16:00.
All participants must have proper identification and the audition guide email. Vocalists and rappers will perform a cappella, while dancers must have a playable music file or a YouTube link.
The Strategic Chessboard: HYBE’s ADOR vs. Min Hee-jin’s OOAK
ADOR's audition drive is more than just a talent search; it's a war for its visual identity. By forming a boy band, ADOR hopes to expand its roster inside HYBE's multi-label environment, growing beyond its lone affiliation with NewJeans.
However, the shadow of the past lingers big. Min Hee-jin, the former CEO of ADOR, is currently pursuing a parallel strategy. Following her high-profile 2024 departure, which was caused by a severe battle with HYBE about governance and creative liberty regarding ADOR and NewJeans, she has announced ambitions to launch a new boy band through her own agency, OOAK Records. The industry is waiting to see if Min's "artist-driven" mindset will outperform the corporate might of her former company.
By the Numbers: K-pop’s Growing Market
This global talent search is supported by a surge in fiscal impetus, as K-pop evolves from a niche export to a $301.7 million USD global business juggernaut. This depicts a steady climb from 2024’s physical export baseline of $291.8M.
Additionally, HYBE's record 2025 revenue of ₩2.65 trillion (~ $1.8 billion) reflects the macroeconomic development of the genre, which is being reinvested aggressively in the global talent pipeline.
While the outcome of this particular campaign remains to be seen, the sheer scope of the investment suggests that ADOR is doing more than merely identifying talent; it is creating a universal cultural paradigm.
