K-pop's new rookie wave: ALPHA DRIVE ONE, LNGSHOT, and Hats Wave are reshaping the class of 2026
A survival show group, a hip-hop crew, and a live band walk into 2026. Three very different K-pop rookies are rewriting what the newest generation sounds like.
The K-pop rookie landscape in 2026 looks nothing like it did a few years ago, and three groups are making that case loudest.
ALPHA DRIVE ONE came out of Mnet's Boys Planet 2 and debuted in January with mini album Euphoria. The real momentum started earlier—the Formula stage went public before the official launch even happened. Since then they've hit MAMA Awards and Melon Music Awards, two of the biggest stages a new act can touch.
LNGSHOT is four members: Oh Yul, Ryul, Woojin, and Louis. More Vision, Park Jae Beom's label, introduced them first. Their debut EP SHOT CALLERS landed in January too, with pre-release Saucin' and title track Moonwalkin'. Hip-hop label, hip-hop sound—the math checks out.
Then Hats Wave. Five members. Yoon Youngjun, Rian, Dane, Kaiten, and Hagiwha each won their position on Mnet's band program Still Heart Club. One member per instrument: guitar, drums, bass, keyboard, vocals. They debuted officially in April with first mini album The First Wave.
Survival show group. Hip-hop crew. Live band. One crowded rookie season.
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