Billboard's Best K-pop of 2026 So Far Skips the Superstars for KiiiKiii and AKMU

KiiiKiii's "404 (New Era)" topped Billboard's list of the best K-pop songs of 2026 so far, and AKMU's "Flowering" took the top album spot, the outlet announced this week in its midyear editorial rankings.

The two picks stood out for what they weren't: neither is BTS, BLACKPINK or EXO, despite all three groups releasing major comebacks in the first half of the year. Billboard's writers instead leaned toward developing and mid-tier acts, placing Hearts2Hearts's "Rude!" at No. 2 on the songs list, followed by AKMU's "Paradise of Rumors," CORTIS's "RedRed" and NMIXX's "Crescendo."

"404 (New Era)" is the lead single from KiiiKiii's second EP, "Delulu Pack," released Jan. 26 through Starship Entertainment. Billboard's review credited the track's confidence, writing that where many songs merely gesture at a "new era," KiiiKiii's delivery makes the claim that it will lead one. The song was arranged by LDN Noise and blends U.K. garage swing with house-inflected club pop. "Delulu Pack" spent eight consecutive weeks on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart and topped multiple domestic Korean charts on release.

AKMU's "Flowering," the sibling duo's fourth full-length album, arrived April 7 through their own label, Cemter of Inspiration. Every track was written by member Lee Chan-hyuk, with lead single "Paradise of Rumors" singled out by Billboard as marking a new chapter in the group's sound. The album has held a place on real-time domestic charts since release.

The rankings arrive as both acts continue active release cycles. KiiiKiii is scheduled to return Aug. 10 with a new single, "Why KiiiKiii." AKMU has not announced a follow-up date.

Billboard's separate best-albums list credited BTS's "Arirang" with dominating the Billboard 200 for multiple weeks and setting new sales records, but the outlet's song-of-the-year pick going to a rookie group over three of the year's biggest comebacks marks a break from how midyear lists have typically shaken out. Other 2026 top-10 finishers on the songs list included entries from SHINee, ATEEZ, NMIXX and Yves, continuing Billboard's pattern this year of spreading recognition across newer labels rather than concentrating it on HYBE, SM, YG and JYP's flagship acts.

Both lists reflect Billboard's own editorial picks rather than a chart-based ranking, meaning the selections carry no direct link to sales or streaming totals for the second half of the year.

The timing sets up a contrast worth watching. Domestic Korean real-time charts have moved differently from Billboard's picks this year - CORTIS's "RedRed" has spent four separate weeks at No. 1 on the Soompi Music Chart, and aespa's "Lemonade" and ILLIT's "It's Me" have held steady inside the domestic top three for weeks at a stretch. KiiiKiii's "404 (New Era)" and AKMU's "Paradise of Rumors" have circulated further down those same domestic rankings, suggesting Billboard's editorial staff and Korea's real-time listenership are, at the midyear mark, responding to different things in the same batch of releases.

Neither KiiiKiii nor AKMU has commented publicly on the recognition. Starship Entertainment, KiiiKiii's label, has not indicated whether the Billboard placement will factor into promotion for the group's upcoming August release.