At 30, YG Entertainment looks ahead with BIGBANG return, new debuts

K-pop girl group BLACKPINK under YG Entertainment performs at Tokyo Dome in Japan, during its "DEADLINE" world tour, on Jan. 18. Courtesy of YG

YG Entertainment is preparing a slate of major projects as it marks its 30th anniversary in 2026, signaling both a return to legacy acts and a push toward the next generation of K-pop.

In a video titled “2026 YG PLAN | YG ANNOUNCEMENT” released through the company’s official social media channel Wednesday, executive producer Yang Hyun-suk outlined the label’s upcoming activities.

The most notable reveal was the return of K-pop boy band BIGBANG. Marking its 20th debut anniversary this year, the group has agreed to hold concerts with YG, according to Yang. Although the three remaining members — G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung — are currently signed to different agencies, they plan to reunite under the BIGBANG name for the performances.

YG also confirmed plans for intensified activities from its current roster.

Rookie girl group BABYMONSTER is set to release two albums this year alongside a large-scale world tour, while boy band TREASURE will launch the next phase of its career with a mini album in June. Yang said the group would return with a sound rooted in what he described as "YG-style hip-hop," noting that the members themselves requested a stronger hip-hop direction.

Looking ahead, the company is preparing additional debuts. A new boy group is scheduled for launch later this year, while the remaining members of a four-member girl group, tentatively titled "Next Monster," are expected to be revealed soon.

K-pop rookie girl group BABYMONSTER performs during the Taiwanese leg of its "BABYMONSTER 'LOVE MONSTERS' ASIA FAN CONCERT 2025-26" at the Taipei Arena, Jan. 2-3. Courtesy of YG Entertainment

YG at 30

The announcements come as YG Entertainment marks three decades since its founding in 1996 by Yang, a former member of the influential group Seo Taiji and Boys. Over the years, the label has grown from a hip-hop-focused boutique company into one of the defining forces in K-pop.

YG’s early years were shaped by acts such as Jinusean and 1TYM, which helped popularize hip-hop within the Korean mainstream. The company’s rise to global prominence accelerated in the late 2000s with BIGBANG, whose self-produced music and fashion-forward image reshaped expectations for K-pop idols and helped expand the genre’s international reach.

The following decade cemented the company’s influence through acts including 2NE1, WINNER, iKON and AKMU. The debut of BLACKPINK in 2016 marked another turning point, with the quartet becoming one of the most globally visible K-pop groups, alongside BTS.

YG’s history has also included periods of turbulence.

A series of controversies in 2019, including the Burning Sun scandal involving former BIGBANG member Seungri and drug-related allegations surrounding iKON’s former leader B.I, led to leadership changes and a period of corporate restructuring.

Yet the label has gradually rebuilt its momentum in recent years through new acts like TREASURE and BABYMONSTER while maintaining the enduring global presence of BLACKPINK.