YG to Hold 2026 Global Audition to Find Next BLACKPINK or BABYMONSTER

YG launches large-scale global audition to find the next BLACKPINK or BABYMONSTER

YG Entertainment is set to launch a large-scale global audition from July through December, its first in about two years, as the company looks to discover its next wave of stars.

Touring Asia, the Americas and Oceania — YG begins the "2026 YG GLOBAL AUDITION"

YG said on the 22nd that it will hold the "2026 YG GLOBAL AUDITION" from July through December throughout the second half of the year. The event follows the "2026 YG Special Audition," which wrapped up earlier this year, and will bring the company face-to-face with applicants in markets around the world.

The audition opened in Beijing, China, on the 19th and will continue as an extensive tour of major cities worldwide.

• China and Japan (underway): Chengdu, Shanghai, Shenzhen; Tokyo and Osaka

• October: U.S., Taiwan, Hong Kong

• November: Thailand, Canada

• December: Australia, New Zealand

YG adds acting and special-talent categories; anyone born from 2008 to 2015 can apply

The most notable change is the expansion of application categories. Anyone born between 2008 and 2015 may apply regardless of nationality or gender. In addition to the core evaluation areas of singing, rap, dance and visuals, "acting" and "special talents" have been newly added. The move signals YG's strategy of developing versatile global entertainers who can work across multiple fields, not just as idol group members.

YG, a proven incubator of global pop stars, raises expectations for its next class of talent

Applications will be accepted through pre-registration and on-site registration, depending on each host city. Specific locations and detailed schedules will be announced on the YG audition official website and social media channels, and applicants can pre-register by scanning the QR code on the official poster.

YG is a celebrated K-pop powerhouse that has produced numerous world stars—BIGBANG and 2NE1 among them—as well as WINNER, iKON, BLACKPINK, TREASURE and, most recently, BABYMONSTER, which has established itself in the global music market. As BLACKPINK's global phenomenon and BABYMONSTER's successful debut have shown, the audition is fueling expectations among music fans and industry figures for YG's next breakout act.