SM Entertainment Q2 2026: Revenue Up 15.4%, Packed H2 Release Slate Ahead

SM Entertainment pulled in 349.6 billion won in Q2 2026 consolidated revenue, a 15.4% jump from the same period last year. Operating profit landed at 52.9 billion won, up 11.0%.

The gains came from live events and commercial deals, not music sales. Concert revenue jumped 23.6% to 41.6 billion won after TVXQ!, SUPER JUNIOR, EXO, aespa, and NCT WISH all toured globally that quarter. Appearance revenue—advertising and events—climbed 27.9% to 29.7 billion won. MD and licensing hit 77.9 billion won, up 22%, with help from NCT's 10th anniversary popup and release-tied popups for aespa, RIIZE, and NCT WISH.

Record and music source revenue took a hit. It fell 8.2% to 90.9 billion won because fewer albums dropped in the period.

On a standalone basis, the picture shifted. Revenue was 240.6 billion won (+9.2%), but operating profit slipped 4.6% to 43.8 billion won and net income dropped 18.1% to 24.1 billion won. The company blamed the standalone operating profit dip on shifts in the revenue mix between concerts and appearances. Operating profit margin came in at 15.1%, down 0.6 percentage points. Major subsidiaries combined for 177.7 billion won in revenue (+25.5%) and 13 billion won in operating profit (+61.2%). Dream Maker grew through expanded domestic concert production. Dear U improved via subscription price increases and web payment conversion.

The second half is packed. Q3 brings a Red Velvet mini-album, NCT 127 full-length, Minho and WayV mini-albums, and a Girls' Generation-HRS single. Q4 adds releases from Yesung, Taeyeon, Jaehyun, NCT DREAM (full-length), Choi Siwon (최강창민), Xiaojun (샤오쥔), NCT WISH (mini-album), and Hearts2Hearts (single).

aespa launches a new global tour at Seoul's Gocheok Dome on August 7–8, then heads to North America, Central America, and Europe. Yunho (유노윤호), SUPER JUNIOR-83z, Yesung, Ryeowook (려욱), NCT 127, and WayV are also touring, alongside an NCT WISH fan meeting tour.