YG Entertainment has not confirmed new debut dates for either of its two upcoming group projects. On April 30, 2026, the company identified September as the expected window to introduce a five-member boy group. In its October 14 statement, the focus shifted to recording demos for both groups by year-end and choosing their title tracks before setting debut schedules. The September projection should therefore no longer be treated as current.
The other project is a four-member girl group provisionally called NEXT MONSTER. The October statement places its preparations within YG's broader 2027 expansion outlook, but does not specify a day or month, or even guarantee a debut in that year. This is the confirmed picture as of October 22, 2026.
From April to October: what happened to the September target?
In April, Yang Hyun-suk said he expected to introduce the new boy group in September and that the lineup would have five members. The October update kept the project in development but replaced the reference to a launch month with music-production steps. For the girl group, NEXT MONSTER was already described as a working name, with no specific debut date.
| Project | April 30 statement | October 14 update |
|---|---|---|
| Five-member boy group | An introduction was expected in September 2026; Yang said the five-member lineup had already been finalized. | Preparations continue; demos planned by the end of 2026; debut timing depends on choosing a title track, with no replacement month announced. |
| Four-member girl group | NEXT MONSTER mentioned as the provisional name of a project in development; no debut date given. | Project described as a four-member group; demos planned by the end of 2026 and debut schedule still undecided. |
| Next company update | Gradual disclosure of new artists and projects, without a full timetable for both groups. | Yang plans another YG ANNOUNCEMENT video for late 2026; he did not promise definitive debut dates in that video. |
Where do the two rookie groups stand now?
The key distinction is between a group's planned lineup and its debut. YG has described the size of each team, but that does not amount to announcing completed music, an actual debut or a fixed date.
- Boy group: five members and a former September introduction target. As of October, its debut was still in preparation, with no officially announced replacement month.
- Girl group: four members, with NEXT MONSTER used only as a working title. The update did not provide a final group name or debut date.
- Both groups: YG outlined plans to record multiple demos before the end of 2026. That is a scheduled step, not confirmation that all tracks have already been recorded.
Why does selecting the title track now determine the schedule?
In the October 14 text, Yang tied the debut timetables to the choice of title tracks, the main songs used to introduce a K-pop release. This establishes a sequence: prepare and record demos, select the centerpiece of each debut, and then determine more specific dates. YG did not disclose the songs under consideration or when the selection would end.
In practical terms, 2027 is a planning horizon, not a reserved debut date for both acts. The official report headline refers to a 2027 roadmap, but the section on rookies sets no debut in that year. Calling the change a postponement to a specific new date would go beyond the available evidence.
BABYMONSTER and TREASURE have separate schedules
The same October communication also announced releases by already active groups. Those commitments should be kept separate from the rookies' debut calendars:
- BABYMONSTER: the digital single DESERVE was announced for October 23, 2026, with a new album planned for early 2027.
- TREASURE: the digital single SHOCK was announced for November 2, 2026; YG described the group's new phase of activities as continuing into 2027.
These are dates and windows announced for established artists. They do not indicate simultaneous debuts, participation or any confirmed timeline for the two rookie groups. As of October 22, the singles mentioned were still upcoming releases.
What remains unconfirmed, and what comes next?
Yang said he intended to return toward the end of 2026 with another YG ANNOUNCEMENT video. That is an expected company update, not an official debut event. In the documents reviewed, specific debut dates, final stage names, title tracks and formats for the groups' first releases remain publicly unconfirmed.
The soundest reading is therefore that the September 2026 target has been superseded, both projects remain active and the next stated step is musical. Any 2027 debut would depend on further decisions and announcements from YG, not simply on the year appearing in a company roadmap.
Sources and references
- YG Entertainment: April 30, 2026 announcement (English)
- YG Entertainment: original April 30, 2026 announcement (Korean)
- YG Entertainment: October 14, 2026 update (English)
- YG Entertainment: original October 14, 2026 update (Korean)
- Soompi: October update on both rookie groups
- Yonhap: new groups and BABYMONSTER and TREASURE schedules
