SM Entertainment Unveils “SM NEXT 3.0” And Confirms New Boy Group For 2026

SM Entertainment has officially opened its post–30th anniversary chapter with the launch of “SM NEXT 3.0”—a mid- to long-term strategy that reshapes how the company creates music, manages artists, and expands globally. At the center of this new blueprint is a headline announcement fans have been waiting for: a brand-new boy group is set to debut in 2026.

In a detailed presentation released on SM’s official YouTube channel, co-CEOs Jang Cheol-hyuk and Tak Young-jun, along with Chief A&R Officer Lee Sung-soo, laid out how the company will move from the existing SM 3.0 framework into the NEXT 3.0 era—while introducing the next generation of SM idols.

From SM 3.0 To “SM NEXT 3.0”: What’s Actually Changing?

Under SM 3.0, the company has been using a multi-production center and label system, where different internal teams handle artists like Girls’ Generation, aespa, SHINee, TVXQ, Red Velvet, and more. Each center has largely operated as its own mini-label. 

SM NEXT 3.0 takes that idea one step further by introducing a “Multi-Creative system”:

• Creative work will be project-centered, not locked to one fixed production team.

• For each album, comeback, or debut, SM will build a custom creative lineup around what that specific artist needs. 

• Authority inside projects is meant to go to the person best suited creatively, not just the most senior title holder.

The goal is to give artists more tailored concepts and music, while keeping SM’s signature polish. Instead of forcing every act into a single “house style,” the company is promising greater flexibility in sound, visuals, and storytelling—and that philosophy will directly shape the upcoming boy group.

New Boy Group Confirmed For 2026

Alongside the strategy reveal, SM finally confirmed that a new boy group will debut in 2026, their first since RIIZE. 

Key points fans know so far:

• Debut timing: Scheduled for 2026, with pre-debut content beginning earlier in the year. 

• Trainee pool: Members will be drawn from SMTR25, the male trainee team introduced previously. SMTR25 reportedly includes 11 trainees from Korea, the United States, Japan, and Thailand, underscoring SM’s global mindset. 

• First boy group since RIIZE: This raises expectations about how the new act will distinguish itself from EXO, NCT, RIIZE, and the rest of SM’s stacked male lineup. 

Rather than suddenly dropping a teaser with no context, SM intends to let the public meet the trainees over time. That’s where the next part of the plan comes in.

“Reply High School”: Pre-Debut Variety Show Strategy

To introduce the new team, SM will use a pre-debut variety format tentatively titled “Reply High School.” 

According to the company’s 2026 strategy briefing:

• The show is scheduled to air early 2026.

• Trainees (especially from SMTR25) will appear as “students,” allowing viewers to see their personalities, friendships, and growth before a final lineup is officially revealed.

It’s a slightly nostalgic, old-school K-pop approach—reminiscent of earlier generations where reality programs heavily shaped fan attachment—but updated for the NEXT 3.0 framework. Fans will essentially be invited to follow the journey from trainee to debut in real time, something that can build both emotional investment and massive pre-debut hype.

How This Fits Into SM’s Current Roster

The new boy group will debut after SM’s latest girl group, Hearts2Hearts, who officially entered the scene in 2025 with their single album The Chase. 

That means the rookie team will join a very crowded SM male lineup that already includes:

• EXO, who just returned with their eighth studio album Reverxe

• NCT and its multiple units, including NCT Wish

• RIIZE, the most recent boy group prior to this new team

Because of this, industry watchers are already asking:

• Will the new group lean more performance-heavy like NCT, or go for RIIZE-style band-meets-boy-group energy?

• Will they debut as a Korean-focused team first, or as a hybrid “global group” reflecting their multinational trainee pool?

SM seems well aware of the comparisons. The emphasis on project-specific creative teams suggests the company wants this group to have a clearly defined sonic and visual identity from day one, rather than feeling like a remix of existing acts.

Global Expansion: Local Groups in China, Thailand, and Japan

SM NEXT 3.0 isn’t just about one boy group. The presentation also outlined a wider global strategy:

• SM will work with Tencent Music Entertainment in China and True Corporation in Thailand, while negotiating with partners in Japan to develop locally produced idol groups in each market.

• These acts are meant to feel authentically local in story and style, but still carry an SM-branded musical and visual identity. 

A key player here is Kreation Music Rights (KMR), SM’s publishing arm:

• SM plans to grow KMR into one of Asia’s largest music publishers within five years, expanding its catalog and influence beyond albums into dramas, games, and other media.

For the upcoming boy group, this infrastructure could mean:

• Access to a wider, more international songwriting pool

• Greater chances for OSTs, brand collaborations, and cross-media storytelling right from debut

AI, Data, And The “Multi-Creative” Future

One of the most talked-about elements of SM NEXT 3.0 is the company’s plan to actively integrate AI into A&R and music strategy, leveraging its relationship with parent company Kakao. 

According to the presentation:

• AI tools will be used to analyze SM’s decades-long catalog and match songs or demos to each artist’s vocal tone, history, and brand. 

• Kakao’s AI capabilities will support global trend analysis, recommendation systems, and language services, especially for overseas fans. 

Crucially, SM insists this doesn’t mean AI will “replace” creators. Instead, it will:

• Filter huge amounts of data

• Suggest options that human producers, writers, and artists then refine

For the 2026 boy group, that could lead to:

• Highly curated tracklists designed from the start to fit their concept and target regions

• More agile adjustments between comebacks, based on real-time fandom data and global listening trends

Artist Protection, Concerts, and Fan-Facing Changes

SM NEXT 3.0 also addresses how the company interacts with artists and fans beyond music releases.

Some notable points from the roadmap:

• KWANGYA 119, SM’s reporting system for malicious posts and defamation, has handled around 300,000 reports in the past two years. Starting 2026, SM will share quarterly updates on legal responses and outcomes, increasing transparency for fans worried about their faves’ safety. 

• The company plans to expand concerts, merchandise (MD), and platform businesses, leaning into large-scale tours and improved fan platforms as key revenue drivers. 

For the new boy group, that likely means:

• A debut strategy that treats touring and fan platforms as core parts of their identity from the beginning

• More structured protection and communication around issues like harassment, rumors, and online hate

Fan Reactions: Excitement, Curiosity, and a Little Anxiety

Online, responses from SM fans (“Pink Bloods”) have been a mix of:

• Excitement at the idea of a fresh boy group and the chance to follow SMTR25 from trainee days to debut

• Curiosity about how the new Multi-Creative system will actually look in practice

• Concern over whether existing artists—like EXO, NCT units, and RIIZE—will still receive consistent promotions and support while SM pushes new groups and global projects

Because NEXT 3.0 is so tied to post–Lee Soo-man SM, many long-time fans are also watching closely to see whether the company can maintain its famous “SM magic” while leaning harder into data, AI, and corporate synergy.

What To Watch Next

Over the coming months, a few things will be especially important for fans and observers:

1. SMTR25 Visibility

   • How prominently will SMTR25 appear in pre-debut content and “Reply High School”?

   • Will the company openly confirm which trainees are locked for debut, or keep the final lineup a mystery until later?

2. Concept Teasers and Sound Direction

   • Will the new group carry a classic SM performance focus, or lean into band elements, hybrid units, or something completely different?

3. Global Integration

   • With local groups planned in China, Thailand, and Japan, fans are curious whether the 2026 boy group will act as a bridge between these markets and SM’s Korean roster.

4. Impact on Existing Acts

   • How SM balances comeback schedules, tours, and creative resources across EXO, NCT, RIIZE, Hearts2Hearts, and now a fresh rookie team will shape fan trust in the NEXT 3.0 era.

For now, “SM NEXT 3.0” feels less like a simple corporate slogan and more like a public reset: a promise to center artists, experiment with new structures, and build the next big boy group under a more flexible, data-aware system.

If SM can deliver a debut that feels both distinctly SM and genuinely new, the 2026 boy group might end up defining not just the company’s next generation—but a new phase of K-pop itself.