Upcoming K-pop Releases in 2026: Everything We Know So Far About the Confirmed Comebacks of Late April and May

The K-pop calendar for the coming weeks is filling up, and the final stretch of April through the end of May will bring a series of comebacks, debuts and major returns. Among the names with confirmed releases are Cravity, BABYMONSTER, NMIXX, ITZY, Taeyang, I.O.I, LE SSERAFIM, aespa and other artists that have already begun unveiling teasers, pre-releases and pre-orders.

Cravity to release “ReDeFINE” on April 29

Cravity will release its eighth mini album, “ReDeFINE,” on April 29, marking its first Korean project in about 10 months since the full album “Dare to Crave.”

The EP will contain six tracks, with “Awake” serving as the title song, alongside “Hello-Goodbye,” “Fever,” “Adore,” “Love Me As You Do” and “Spring, with You.” Starship said “Awake” is a song about turning what seemed like an ending into a new beginning. Several members also participated in writing and composing the project.

BABYMONSTER to return with “CHOOM” on May 4

BABYMONSTER will release its third mini album, “CHOOM,” on May 4 at 6 p.m. KST, marking the group’s first comeback of 2026.

According to YG Entertainment, the first teaser showed a racing car speeding forward to the sound of an intense soundtrack before forming the word “CHOOM,” which means “dance” in Korean. The company said the album is meant to capture moments when music and dance become one, and also indicated a concept change compared with the group’s earlier releases.

Naze will also debut on May 4

On the same day, multinational boy group Naze will make its official debut with its first EP, “Naze,” on May 4. The debut was confirmed by C9 Entertainment in early April.

NMIXX to return on May 11 with “Heavy Serenade” and a pre-release track

NMIXX will return with its fifth EP, “Heavy Serenade,” on May 11, more than six months after its first full-length album, “Blue Valentine,” released in October last year.

The promotional schedule includes the tracklist on April 22, concept photos on April 24 and 25, and the music video for the pre-release track “Crescendo” on April 28 at 6 p.m., ahead of the release of both the album and the title track “Heavy Serenade” in May.

ITZY and Taeyang to release new projects on May 18

ITZY will release its 12th EP, “Motto,” on May 18. The album includes “Motto,” “Glitch,” “you And I,” as well as the solo songs “Pocket” (Yeji), “Asylum” (Lia), “Look” (Ryujin), “Undefined” (Chaeryeong) and “Tangerine” (Yuna), which were previously performed during the group’s “Tunnel Vision” tour.

JYP also confirmed a countdown live one hour before the release, a physical U.S. edition on May 22 and remixes on the same date.

On the same day, Taeyang will release his fourth full-length album, “Quintessence.” The project marks the artist’s first solo release in about three years since the EP “Down to Earth,” and his first full-length album in about nine years since “White Night.”

I.O.I to return on May 19 with “I.O.I: LOOP”

I.O.I will release its third EP, “I.O.I: LOOP,” on May 19. The project will be the group’s first new album in nine years.

The promotional rollout includes teaser photos, the tracklist, an album preview and a pre-release track on May 4. On the same day, I.O.I will also hold a YouTube live broadcast to mark the 10th anniversary of its debut. After the album release, the group will hold three concerts in Seoul on May 29, 30 and 31, with the tour continuing to cities including Bangkok and Hong Kong.

LE SSERAFIM to release “Pureflow pt.1” on May 22

LE SSERAFIM has confirmed its second studio album, “Pureflow pt.1,” for May 22. The project will be the group’s first full-length album in nearly three years, following “Unforgiven.”

Before the album, the track “Celebration” will be released on April 24. According to Source Music, the album deals with change, growth and the process of facing fear to find strength.

Yesung and H//PE Princess set for May 27

Yesung of Super Junior will release his second full-length Japanese album, “Sakihokoru Toki o Matsu no wa,” on May 27. SM described the project as an album that moves across rock, disco, country and pop, accompanied by a Japan tour under the same name.

On the same date, rookie group H//PE Princess will officially debut with the EP “17.7,” also on May 27. The album will contain five tracks, including songs previously known from the program “Unpretty Rapstar: Hip Pop Princess” and the new song “Stolen.” The project also includes participation by Gaeko of the duo Dynamic Duo.

aespa to release “Lemonade” on May 29

aespa will release its second full-length album, “Lemonade,” on May 29.

SM Entertainment confirmed that the album will contain 10 tracks and that the project will present a more mature identity for the group while continuing aespa’s fictional universe.

Other announced releases without a fixed date yet

In addition to the dates already announced, some projects have been officially confirmed but still do not have an exact release day.

Billlie confirmed its first full-length album, “the collective soul and unconscious: chapter two,” for early May, without a final date being announced so far.

i-dle also confirmed a new album for July during its “Syncopation” world tour period, but Cube has not yet revealed the exact release date.

BIGBANG confirmed that it has completed work on a new 20th anniversary album and will begin a world tour in August, but specific release plans for the album have not yet been announced.