- South Korean entertainment firms have accelerated global audition campaigns for 2026, citing continued foreign demand for K-pop.
- The recruitment effort comes as trainee numbers fall and development costs climb for major labels.
- Companies are hunting for the next generation of idols as established acts prepare large-scale comebacks.
South Korean entertainment companies have begun their 2026 talent searches at a rapid clip, opening up new opportunities for aspiring K-pop performers as global interest in the genre remains strong. The back-to-back audition cycle reflects both industry demand for fresh talent and labels' broader efforts to scout beyond domestic borders.
SM Entertainment, one of the country's largest agencies, has reopened its "2026 SM Global Audition," with regional online pre-registration now available throughout Asia and North America. Aspirants must be born between 2007 and 2015 and can apply in categories such as singing, rap, dancing, and acting, following a long line of audition programs that produced acts like Red Velvet and NCT. The global tour of live audition visits covers 21 regions, from Seoul to Los Angeles and Sydney.
Simultaneously, Pledis Entertainment, part of HYBE's corporate umbrella and manager of SEVENTEEN, hosted an offline "2026 Pledis Audition Wonder Teens" tour across South Korea, with stops in Gwangju on Feb. 13, Busan on Feb. 14, and Seoul from Feb. 21 to 22. Registration was available one day prior to each session. The categories offered include singing, rapping, dancing, modeling, and acting.
How mid-tier K-pop labels joined the global audition push
Agencies beyond the traditional "Big Four" have also scheduled their own drives. Abyss Company, whose roster includes BamBam, has planned offline rounds in Toronto, Vancouver, and Manila. Pre-registration expires three days before each regional audition, with eligibility open to individuals born in or after 2008.
More Vision, the label founded by Jay Park, will hold a girl-group audition in Seoul on Mar. 14, inviting female applicants born between 2009 and 2012. Pre-registration expires on Mar. 8, with limited on-site registration offered on the day of the event.
Innit Entertainment, a JYP Entertainment subsidiary established in 2024, has also opened auditions. The company, which manages singers, actors, and hosts born from KBS's audition program "The Ddanddara," has scheduled an online pre-registration period from Feb. 2 to Feb. 21 ahead of an open audition on Mar. 7. It is accepting applicants born between 2007 and 2015 in singing, rap, dance, visual, and acting categories.
S2 Entertainment, the agency behind girl group KISS OF LIFE, is accepting email entries for its global "New Journey Club" audition. Male candidates must be born between 2007 and 2011, while female entrants must be born in or after 2010. D-Nation Entertainment has separately opened an online girl-group audition for females born between 2006 and 2012.
Why K-pop agencies are ramping up recruitment despite rising costs
The audition wave comes as the sector contends with a thinning talent pipeline. According to the Korea Creative Content Agency's survey on the pop culture and arts industry, the number of K-pop trainees at agencies fell to 1,170 in 2022, down from 1,895 in 2020, a 38.3% drop in two years despite the genre's increased global profitability. The Korea Times reported that trainee development costs at JYP Entertainment specifically increased by about 30% year-on-year, rising from 850 million won in 2023 to 1.12 billion won (~$765,000) in 2024. The share of trainees who voluntarily quit after joining an agency reached 34.4%, up 3.4 percentage points from 2020.
Market data supports K-pop's continued global reach. A 2025 consumption analysis found that South Korea, Japan, and Indonesia continue to dominate the genre's streaming presence, with Indonesia's adoption reflecting a growing regional fanbase.
These auditions coincide with the industry gearing up for another cycle of touring and releases from acts such as BTS, BLACKPINK, and SEVENTEEN. YG Entertainment opened its own special audition drive in January, the company's first in nearly 30 years with founder Yang Hyun-suk personally overseeing the selection process. While veteran idols continue to fill stadiums worldwide, agencies are betting that a fresh batch of trainees selected now could debut in two to three years.
