BIGBANG·BTS·RIIZE·CORTIS, the Top 4 Most Anticipated Boy Groups for the Second Half of This Year [★Report ①]

*This content was translated by AI.

The K-pop market in the second half of 2026 is expected to heat up once again with a series of activities by representative girl groups and boy groups from both domestic and international scenes. While girl groups that have firmly secured global mainstream appeal continue to assert their strong presence, boy groups featuring distinct charms and powerful fandom mobilization are increasingly releasing their statements for the second half, making the chart competition even more diverse.

In this context, where global fans' attention is focused on the key players driving K-pop's explosive growth, who will be the main force leading trends in the second half of this year? AI has selected the 'Top 4 Male and Female Idol Groups Leading K-pop in the Second Half of 2026'.

BIGBANG (BIGBANG) casts a heavy charisma onto the market in the second half of 2026 as K-pop history itself.

Despite long periods of members changing agencies and intermittent activities, the reason BIGBANG remains one of the top expectations is not due to simple nostalgia. The overwhelming music streaming power proven by data serves as the foundation.

The digital single 'Spring Summer Autumn Winter (Still Life)', released in 2022, dominated major global charts without any significant broadcast activities or promotions, proving that fans worldwide still have an unquenched thirst for BIGBANG. In particular, the view counts on their official YouTube channel and reactions in music video comments demonstrate that BIGBANG holds a global influence that extends beyond specific generations.

In the second half of 2026, if BIGBANG presents a new musical project alongside the symbolism of their 20th debut anniversary, it will become an opportunity to reaffirm not only chart dominance but also the identity and unique artistry of K-pop. BIGBANG's return holds incomparable value in terms of the depth of influence rather than frequency.

The first step of the 20th-anniversary event is a world tour. BIGBANG will kick off their world tour with three days of performances at Goyang Stadium from August 21 to 23. Starting in Korea, they are scheduled to meet global fans across 18 cities in North America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia, totaling 31 stadium and dome-level concerts. Regarding this, YG Entertainment, their agency, stated, "We are concentrating all our capabilities to deliver a performance befitting BIGBANG's status," raising expectations.

BTS (BTS) is the most powerful seismic force set to shake up the global music market in the second half of 2026.

The return of the complete seven-member group after their military service carries economic and symbolic impacts far beyond a simple comeback in the music industry. During their hiatus, each member individually reached the top of Billboard's main single chart, 'Hot 100', proving that all seven possess competitiveness as global top-tier solo IPs, which supports this claim.

Most importantly, the ticket power proven by data is beyond comparison. Even under pandemic restrictions in the past, their 'BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE' tour mobilized over 4 million cumulative audiences online and offline, and they easily surpassed 400,000 attendees with just eight face-to-face performances across two North American cities (LA and Las Vegas). This explosive power is expected to be unleashed without limits in this full-group tour.

Already, since the Goyang Stadium concert in April and the Busan Asiad Main Stadium concert held on their debut anniversary in June, the largest-scale world tour in history has been set in motion. In the second half of 2026, schedules targeting major cities in North America's SoFi Stadium, South America, and Asia are densely arranged, suggesting that BTS will once again expand the paradigm of the global pop industry.

RIIZE (RIIZE) is a reliable 'trendsetter' who will firmly lead the K-pop boy group market in the second half of 2026.

The background for RIIZE establishing itself as a top-tier next-generation group without simply relying on the halo effect of senior groups lies in the substantial data generated by their unique genre, 'Emotional Pop'. Beyond the solid album power that achieved million-seller status immediately upon debut, they have consistently demonstrated strong 'long-run indicators' that keep their music at the very top of major domestic streaming charts like Melon for extended periods.

In addition, global Spotify streaming figures have shown a steep upward curve with each release, successfully capturing both fandom and mainstream appeal simultaneously.

Especially, their solid live performance skills and high-quality performances proven through various music shows and large stages have instilled a firm sense of trust in the public and critics, earning them the reputation as 'RIIZE you can rely on'.

In the second half of 2026, RIIZE's activities will go beyond mere popularity maintenance. As they proceed with global arena tours and performances, the combination of their members' more matured skills and strengthened global fandom power will mark a decisive period for firmly establishing their position as the number one boy group of the next generation.

CORTIS (CORTIS) is the most formidable emerging force leading a generational shift in boy groups.

Expectations for CORTIS, representing the fifth generation, stem not from vague potential but from overwhelming indicators that easily surpass the established growth patterns of existing K-pop boy groups. Upon album release, they demonstrated astonishing fandom power by breaking 2.3 million copies in first-day sales and entered the upper ranks of Billboard's main album chart, 'Billboard 200', directly striking at the core of the Western mainstream music market.

Surpassing millions of monthly Spotify listeners in the shortest time possible, along with challenge viral metrics dominating short-form platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels, clearly prove that CORTIS's music is recognized as 'the trendiest' among Gen Z worldwide.

Having already secured a report card at the global top level beyond the freshness of a newcomer, CORTIS is expected to reach its peak in the second half of 2026 through major global music projects and entry into global stages. Their unconventional trendy sound and bold performances are key points to watch closely in the K-pop market this second half.

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*This content was translated by AI.