- Four K-pop giants—BIGBANG, BTS, BLACKPINK, and EXO—are all making comebacks in 2026, creating a rare industry convergence driven by military service completions and contract cycles.
- BIGBANG headlines Coachella in April while BTS prepares a spring album release, with both groups returning after extended hiatuses that saw members pursue successful solo careers.
- The simultaneous comebacks could boost tourism, streaming, and merchandise sales across the industry.
For the first time in years, the biggest names in K-pop are preparing to return to the stage at nearly the same time, creating what industry experts describe as a once-in-a-decade moment for the global music business.
BIGBANG, BTS, BLACKPINK and EXO, four acts that have collectively defined K-pop's rise on the world stage, are all planning major comebacks in 2026. The timing is unusual: In an industry where releases are typically spaced to avoid competition, overlapping military service requirements, contract cycles and anniversary milestones have brought these groups back into the spotlight simultaneously.
The convergence could have significant ripple effects. Analysts say the combined force of these comebacks may boost tourism to South Korea, drive streaming numbers and energize merchandise sales in ways the industry hasn't seen in years.
Top 4 K-pop Full Group Comebacks in 2026
A Coachella Return for BIGBANG
BIGBANG, the group often credited with paving the way for K-pop's global expansion, will perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 12 and 19. It will be the group's first major appearance since 2022, featuring members G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung.
The trio released "HOME SWEET HOME" in 2025, a single that dominated South Korean charts for months. G-Dragon's solo tour, Übermensch, drew 825,000 fans across 39 shows this year, proving that the 19-year-old group, which debuted under YG Entertainment in 2006, still commands a devoted audience.
BTS Reunites After Military Service
BTS, the seven-member supergroup that became a cultural phenomenon beyond music, is set to release its first album as a full group since 2022. All seven members completed South Korea's mandatory military service by mid-2025, clearing the way for new music expected this spring.
During their hiatus, the members pursued solo careers. Jin and j-hope embarked on successful solo tours that ranked among the year's top-grossing K-pop concerts, according to Billboard. Jimin and Jungkook maintained the group's streaming presence, racking up numbers that rivaled Western pop stars.
In a livestream earlier this month, the group's leader, RM, hinted at what he called "a real big thing," sparking widespread speculation about tour plans. A full BTS comeback, likely followed by a global tour, could provide a significant economic boost, affecting everything from concert ticket sales to the Korean tourism sector.
@bts.bighitofficial (Instagram)
BLACKPINK's Album and Grammy Buzz
BLACKPINK is preparing to release its first full-length studio album since "Born Pink," released in September 2022, with the new project slated for January 2026. The four-member group spent much of 2025 on its DEADLINE world tour, which began in July and continues through January 2026.
In August 2025, BLACKPINK became the first K-pop girl group to headline London's Wembley Stadium, a milestone that underscored the group's crossover appeal. Meanwhile, the members have built impressive solo careers. Rosé earned three Grammy nominations for the 2026 ceremony, including nods in the prestigious Record of the Year and Song of the Year categories for her collaboration with Bruno Mars, "APT." She is the first K-pop solo artist to receive nominations in the Grammys' general field.
The group has also expanded into merchandise and brand partnerships, diversifying its revenue beyond music.
EXO Returns, but Not Entirely
EXO will release "REVERXE," its eighth studio album, on Jan. 19. The group will promote the album with six members (Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun and Lay), while three members—Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin—remain in contract discussions with their label, SM Entertainment, and will not participate in this comeback cycle.
The album follows the group's 2023 release "EXIST." That album sold 2.3 million copies worldwide, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). Despite the lineup changes, EXO's recent performance at the 2025 Melon Music Awards drew enthusiastic fan response, suggesting the group retains significant commercial appeal.
Exo Official Instagram
2026: A Pivotal Year for K-Pop’s Global Narrative
K-pop groups typically stagger their comebacks to maximize attention and avoid cannibalizing each other's sales. But 2026 is shaping up differently, driven by factors largely beyond the industry's control.
Military service requirements in South Korea have kept many male idols off the stage for extended periods, and several groups are emerging from those obligations at the same time. Contract renewals and group anniversaries have added to the convergence.
The result is a year that could test whether the K-pop market can sustain multiple major releases at once, or whether the combined star power will simply lift the entire industry.
For fans, it's a rare opportunity to see the genre's biggest acts return to form. For the industry, it's a high-stakes experiment in just how much the global appetite for K-pop has grown.
