K-pop Auditions 2026: JYP and SM are looking for you!

If you’ve ever looked in the mirror while practicing choreography and thought, “I could be there,” this is your moment. The K-pop calendar for the start of 2026 is packed with opportunities because two of South Korea’s biggest agencies, JYP Entertainment and SM Entertainment, have just announced their most ambitious auditions tours yet.

Whether you sing, dance, rap, or act, the industry doors are opening. Here are all the details, dates, and requirements so you don’t miss your shot.

JYP Entertainment K-pop Auditions: In Search of the 20th Generation

JYP, home to legends like TWICE and Stray Kids, has officially opened applications for its “20th JYP Official Annual Auditions.” This is their signature audition, the very same one that discovered stars like Wooyoung (2PM), Nayeon (TWICE), Seungmin (Stray Kids), and recent rookie Gye-hoon from the group KickFlip, among others.

📅 The JYP Calendar: The tour begins in January and will visit 5 key cities in Korea:

Gwangju: January 17.
Daejeon: January 18.
Busan: January 24.
Daegu: January 25.
Seoul: January 31 and February 1.

📋 Requirements:

Age: Born between 2008 and 2016.
Categories: You must choose the one you are most confident in: Vocal, Rap, Dance, Model, or Acting.
Registration: It is already open on the official JYP website. Heads up! It closes at 11:59 a.m. on the day prior to each audition.

Insider Fact: JYP announced that this will be the last annual audition with this classic format “for now.” They plan to revamp their entire system next year, so this could be your last chance to get in the “old-fashioned way.”

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SM Entertainment Auditions: A Large-Scale Global Search

While JYP is concentrating on Korea, SM Entertainment (home to NCT, aespa, and the new stars Hearts2Hearts) is going worldwide with its “2026 SM Global Audition.”

SM has a legendary track record of discovering global talent; stars like Wendy (Red Velvet), Ten, and Mark (NCT) came from these auditions.

📅 The SM Calendar: It kicks off on January 10 in Busan and will tour Korea (Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon, Jeju, Seoul). But the interesting part comes later: they will travel to 21 international cities, including:

Japan: Fukuoka, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka.
China: Shanghai, Beijing, among others.
USA: Los Angeles and New Jersey (Registration opens: March 23).
Australia: Sydney and Brisbane (Registration opens: March 23).
Others: Bangkok.

📋 Requirements:

Age: Born between 2007 and 2015.
Registration: Pre-registration for Asian countries has already begun on their revamped website.

K-pop global auditions — Ten, NCT, SM Entertainment

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What about K-pop auditions at HYBE and YG?

To give you the full map of the “Big 4,” here is how the other two giants are moving:

HYBE (BTS, Le Sserafim, TXT): Unlike traditional fixed-date tours, HYBE usually keeps its online auditions open year-round through its website, in addition to holding specific auditions by label (like BigHit or Source Music) during specific periods. If you cannot travel to an in-person SM or JYP audition, your best bet is to prepare a flawless video for HYBE.
YG Entertainment (BLACKPINK, BABYMONSTER): YG is famous for its “Monthly Auditions” and national tours. Although they haven’t announced a simultaneous global tour for these specific dates like SM, they are usually very active in looking for talent with that characteristic “swag” through constant online calls.

Tips for K-Pop Auditions

Confidence: JYP looks for “authenticity and character,” while SM tends to prioritize “visuals and polished talent.” Choose your song and outfit according to the agency’s “vibe.”
Preparation: If you apply for dance, prepare a freestyle. If you go for vocals, have one song ready in Korean and one in English.
Dates: Set alarms! Registrations close fast.

Good luck! Who knows, maybe in a few years we’ll be writing an article about your debut. 😉

🌏 From Your House to the Stage: Foreign K-Pop Idols Who Made It

If you think it’s impossible because you aren’t Korean, look at these examples of stars who were born or raised abroad and passed K-pop auditions.

1. Lisa (BLACKPINK) – YG Entertainment

Origin: Thailand 🇹🇭
Her Story: She is the ultimate example. In 2010, YG held a global audition in Thailand. Out of 4,000 participants, Lisa was the only person who managed to qualify. She moved to Korea at 14 without knowing a single word of the language. Today she is a global superstar.

2. Rosé (BLACKPINK) – YG Entertainment

Origin: Australia / New Zealand 🇦🇺🇳🇿
Her Story: Born in New Zealand and raised in Melbourne. Her father saw an ad for YG K-pop auditions in Sydney and bought her the ticket. Rosé competed against 700 people and won first place. She entered singing and playing the guitar, proving that pure musical talent is key.

3. Hanni (NewJeans) – HYBE (ADOR)

Origin: Vietnam / Australia 🇻🇳🇦🇺
Her Story: Hanni Pham was born in Melbourne to Vietnamese parents. She passed the “Big Hit Global Audition” in 2019 held in Australia. It’s proof that HYBE’s global auditions do actively search in the West.

4. Jackson Wang (GOT7) – JYP Entertainment

Origin: Hong Kong 🇭🇰
His Story: Jackson was a youth Olympic fencer with a scholarship to none other than the prestigious Stanford University. JYP saw him at his school and invited him to audition. He passed the global audition in Hong Kong, gave up the Olympics and the scholarship to go to Korea to be a trainee. His story teaches that sometimes you have to risk it all.

5. Yunjin (LE SSERAFIM) – HYBE (Source Music)

Origin: United States 🇺🇸
Her Story: Known as Jennifer Huh, she grew up in New York and was an opera singer and musical theater actress in high school. Pledis (now part of HYBE) held a global audition in NY; she showed up, passed, and moved to Korea. Her background in musical theater was her great advantage.

6. Huening Kai (TXT) – HYBE (BigHit)

Origin: United States (Hawaii) / Germany / China 🇺🇸🇩🇪
His Story: He is BigHit’s first foreign idol. With an American father (of German descent) and a Korean mother, he lived in several countries. He auditioned with a guitar for another company, but an employee who moved to BigHit took his profile because they saw potential in him. Sometimes it’s about being in the right place!

7. Sana and Momo (TWICE) – JYP Entertainment

Origin: Japan 🇯🇵
Their Story: They are the example of “Street Casting” and video audition.
- Sana was spotted by a JYP recruiter at a shopping mall in Osaka while shopping with friends.
- Momo uploaded a dance video to YouTube with her sister. JYP saw the video and contacted them to audition. Momo passed, her sister didn’t. It’s a reminder that uploading your covers to the internet the right way can change your life.

8. NingNing (aespa) – SM Entertainment

Origin: China 🇨🇳
Her Story: Before SM, she was already participating in singing contests in China. SM recruited her for her incredible voice and integrated her into the SM Rookies project. It proves that for SM, vocal ability is the number one priority, regardless of nationality.

Lisa beat 4,000 people and Rosé beat 700. The odds are tough, but they exist. If they could do it traveling from the other side of the world, you can try too. Remember to visit the official websites to see the specific requirements for each audition, and dare to take the step toward your dreams.

🎤 FAQs: Everything You Must Know Before Your K-Pop Auditions

Resolving doubts is the first step to losing fear. Here we answer the most common questions from applicants with real industry data.

1. What exactly should I prepare for K-pop auditions?

It depends on your category, but the golden rule is less is more:

Vocal/Rap: Prepare one verse (the chorus or the strongest part) of a song. Ideally, sing without a backing track (a cappella), as judges want to hear your real vocal color. Have one song ready in Korean and one in English (pop) in case they ask for another.
Dance: Prepare a choreography of 1 minute maximum. Bring the music on your phone (downloaded, don’t rely on Wi-Fi). Sometimes, they may ask you to freestyle dance to a random song, so practice improvising.
Acting/Model: Prepare a short monologue (30-60 sec) and 3 poses that show your angles.

global kpop auditions — Jackson Wang, GOT7, JYP Entertaiment

2. Is it mandatory to speak Korean?

Not for the audition. Global agencies like SM and JYP look for potential, not immediate perfection. If you sing in Korean and your pronunciation isn’t perfect, it’s okay if you show talent. The Fact: If you manage to get in as a trainee, the company will provide intensive Korean classes as part of your training. It’s part of the investment “package” they make in you.

3. What is the real age limit for 2026 K-pop auditions?

This year’s calls are strict with ranges to fit the “next generation”:

JYP Entertainment: Born between 2008 and 2016.
SM Entertainment: Born between 2007 and 2015. If you are older than that range (e.g., born in 2005 or earlier), your chances in these specific auditions are almost nil, as they seek to train teenagers to debut in 3-5 years.

4. Should I wear makeup for K-pop auditions? No, or very little.

Casting directors want to see your natural face. They want to know what you really look like to imagine how you would look with the company’s professional styling. Tip: Avoid colored contact lenses (circle lenses), heavy makeup, or clothes that hide your silhouette. A clean and simple look (white t-shirt and jeans) is usually the agencies’ favorite. Remember that they will later work on the concept they give the group, and the best thing you can convey is that you are a blank canvas with a lot of potential to work with.

5. If I pass the audition, do I become a Trainee automatically?

No. Passing the open audition (first round) only means you move to the next stage. The process is usually:

Open/Global Audition: They see you for the first time.
Private Audition (Callback): They call you to see you more in-depth, record you on a professional camera, and interview you.
Probation Period: Sometimes they offer a short contract (1-3 months) to see how you adapt.
Trainee Contract: If you pass all this, only then do you sign as an official trainee.

6. Do companies pay my expenses if I am a Trainee?

In the big agencies (Big 4: HYBE, SM, JYP, YG), yes. Generally, the company covers your training (vocal, dance, language classes), accommodation (dorms), and food. Watch out for “Trainee Debt”: In the past, this was collected after debuting. However, in recent years, big agencies have eliminated much of the debt for their successful groups, treating it as a risk investment. But in small or medium agencies, it is common that you must pay back that money with your first earnings. Tip: Always make sure to read very well what you sign; contracts must be provided in both languages: the company’s (Korean in this case) and the future trainee’s native language.

JYP auditions — Felix, Stray Kids, JYP Entertaiment

7. What happens to my studies if I move to Korea?

Education is mandatory in Korea until a certain age. If you are a foreigner and become a trainee, the agency usually enrolls you in an International School (like Kent Foreign School) or famous arts schools (like Hanlim or SOPA) that have flexible programs for idols, where you can study while training in the afternoons/evenings.

8. Can I audition for JYP and SM at the same time?

Absolutely yes! There is no exclusivity in K-pop auditions until you sign a contract. In fact, it is recommended to attend as many auditions as possible to gain experience and lose your nerves. Many famous idols were rejected by one agency before being accepted by another, e.g., IU was rejected by JYP before succeeding in LOEN, and today she is the most successful solo singer in the country.

9. Did Felix from Stray Kids come from one of these auditions? (The real story)

The short answer is: No. Unlike his leader Bang Chan (who DID enter through a “JYP Global Audition” in Australia in 2010 competing against 800 people), Felix’s story is much more curious. How they really found him: Felix was street cast… but the digital version. A JYP casting director sent him a direct message (DM) on Facebook in Australia. Fun Fact: Felix confessed in interviews that at first, he ignored the message because he thought it was a scam. He had to consult with friends and family before responding. The Audition: Once he accepted, he did an audition that is famous for being “unusual.” While others are asked to sing, dance, and act, Felix revealed that in his initial audition, they only asked him to freestyle dance. His aura and visuals were so strong that JYP wanted him immediately, although he later had to work extremely hard on his Korean (which almost cost him his debut on the survival show).