New K-Pop in September 2026: Every Comeback Worth Knowing (CHUNG HA, MONSTA X, MINHO & More)
August went out with a bang — literally, with BIGBANG's 20th-anniversary single — and September keeps the momentum going. It's a month heavy on soloists and veteran groups: SHINee members going solo, a CHUNG HA return, MONSTA X, &TEAM, and a BOYNEXTDOOR repackage to close things out. Here's the full September 2026 roadmap, with confirmed dates (KST) and what to actually expect from each one.
Bookmark this one — we update it through the month as titles, teasers, and reactions land.
At a glance: September 2026's headliners
- CHUNG HA — digital single "México" (Sep 1)
- MONSTA X — EP "The Phase," title "MAGIC" (Sep 4)
- MINHO (SHINee) — 2nd mini "Make it hot" (Sep 7)
- &TEAM (KR) — 2nd mini "Mark on Me" (Sep 8)
- BOYNEXTDOOR — repackaged album "HOME" (Sep 28)
The comebacks worth circling
CHUNG HA — "México" (Sep 1)
One of K-pop's most reliable soloists opens the month. Originally lined up for August and pushed to September, CHUNG HA returns with the digital single "México" — the title alone signals the kind of high-tempo, dance-forward track she built her name on. If you want a September starter, this is it.
MONSTA X — "The Phase" / "MAGIC" (Sep 4)
The veterans are back with the EP "The Phase," led by "MAGIC." MONSTA X have spent a decade perfecting hard-hitting, performance-driven title tracks, and a comeback this deep into their career is exactly the kind of thing that keeps a longtime fandom (Monbebe) locked in.
MINHO (SHINee) — "Make it hot" (Sep 7)
September is quietly a SHINee solo month. Minho drops his 2nd mini album "Make it hot" on the 7th, while bandmate ONEW releases a Japanese single ("KAKERA") on the 16th. For a group that helped define the 2nd-to-3rd generation bridge, seeing the members carry their own eras is its own kind of milestone.
&TEAM (KR) — "Mark on Me" (Sep 8)
HYBE's Japan-born group returns to Korean promotions with their 2nd mini "Mark on Me." &TEAM have been steadily converting a strong Japanese base into wider K-pop reach, and a Korean comeback is where that momentum gets tested.
BOYNEXTDOOR — "HOME" repackage (Sep 28)
Closing the month, one of KOZ/HYBE's fastest-rising boy groups drops a repackaged album, "HOME." Repackages usually mean a fresh title track plus added tracks — a second wind for an album cycle that's already been doing numbers.
The full September 2026 calendar
Every confirmed release we're tracking, in date order (times are KST unless noted). We'll keep adding as more get announced.
| Date | Artist | Release |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 1 | CHUNG HA | Digital single — "México" |
| Sep 1 | 82MAJOR | 2nd single album — "HEAT" |
| Sep 2 | izna (JP) | Japan 1st mini — "HANDLE WITH CARE" |
| Sep 2 | TUNEXX | 2nd mini — "BLUE MODE" |
| Sep 4 | MONSTA X | EP — "The Phase" ("MAGIC") |
| Sep 7 | MINHO (SHINee) | 2nd mini — "Make it hot" |
| Sep 7 | VERIVERY | 8th mini — "CONFETTI" |
| Sep 7 | EVAN | 1st mini — "DEATH OF ME" |
| Sep 8 | &TEAM (KR) | 2nd mini — "Mark on Me" |
| Sep 9 | In A Minute | 1st album — "When the sun goes down: Midnight" |
| Sep 16 | ONEW (JP) | Japan 4th single — "KAKERA" |
| Sep 28 | BOYNEXTDOOR | Repackaged album — "HOME" |
| Late Sep | CLOSE YOUR EYES | Comeback (TBA) |
Dates are subject to label changes; we update this page as teasers and confirmations drop.
🇰🇷 The Korean read: a "soloist & senior" month
If you follow the Korean side, September 2026 has a clear shape to it: it's a veterans-and-soloists stretch, not a rookie-title-track battle. Two SHINee members (Minho, Onew) out in the same month, MONSTA X and VERIVERY deep into their careers, CHUNG HA back after a delay — Korean coverage frames this as the "숫가로운" (steady, dependable) side of comeback season, the artists who don't need a viral gimmick to move charts. For international fans, that's actually a great on-ramp: these are acts with deep back catalogs you can binge while you wait.
The other quiet story is Japan. izna, ONEW, and &TEAM all have Japanese releases this month — a reminder that for established K-pop acts, the Japanese market isn't a side quest; it's a second home base.
New here? Start with these
If you're building a September playlist from scratch: CHUNG HA for polished solo pop, MONSTA X for high-octane performance, and MINHO if you want to understand why SHINee is called the "idol's idol" group. Then circle back on the 28th for BOYNEXTDOOR.
FAQ
Who has the biggest September 2026 comeback?
By name recognition, CHUNG HA, MONSTA X, and BOYNEXTDOOR are the marquee ones — though the SHINee solo double (Minho + Onew) is the story longtime fans care about most.
Are there any debuts?
Yes — rookie acts like In A Minute (1st album) and EVAN (1st mini) make their fuller-length arrivals this month.
Is BIGBANG's comeback part of September?
No — BIGBANG's "BiiiG" dropped August 19 for their 20th anniversary. We broke it down separately (linked below).
Will more dates be added?
Almost certainly. Labels announce comebacks on short notice, so we update this roadmap through the month.
• Opens: CHUNG HA "México" — Sep 1
• Veteran EPs: MONSTA X (Sep 4), VERIVERY (Sep 7)
• SHINee solo: Minho (Sep 7), Onew/JP (Sep 16)
• Group comebacks: &TEAM (Sep 8), BOYNEXTDOOR repackage (Sep 28)
• Debuts: In A Minute (Sep 9), EVAN (Sep 7)
💬 Jamie's Take
I have a soft spot for months like this. No single mega-comeback sucking up all the oxygen — just a steady run of artists who've been doing this for years and still show up with something to prove. The SHINee solo double is the one I'll be watching: there's something moving about a group's members each carrying their own sound a decade-plus in. Do yourself a favor and don't sleep on CHUNG HA on the 1st. She rarely misses.
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