Billboard 2026 Best K-Pop: Kiki’404′ Claims #1 Spot; Hearts2Hearts, AKMU Rank #2, #3 [K-EYES]

Girl group KiiiKiii’s ‘404 (New Era)’ has claimed the top spot on Billboard’s “25 Best K-Pop Songs of 2026” list. Curated by Billboard’s Jeff Benjamin and editors from Billboard Korea, this highly anticipated list draws attention for its diverse representation of K-pop, featuring artists ranging from promising rookies to groups celebrating their 10th anniversary.

On the 15th (local time), Billboard officially unveiled its “25 Best K-Pop Songs of 2026 (So Far): Staff Picks” on its website. The list prominently features new releases from major groups like BLACKPINK, BTS, and EXO, who made their comebacks this year, alongside numerous tracks from rookie and emerging groups such as NMIXX, CORTIS, KiiiKiii, NCT WISH, 82MAJOR, and Hearts2Hearts.

KiiiKiii’s ‘404 (New Era)’ secured the coveted No. 1 spot. Billboard praised the track, stating, “‘404’ is the most common error code on the internet, but KiiiKiii completely flipped its meaning, embedding a new interpretation: ‘not found in the system.'” Following closely, Hearts2Hearts’ ‘RUDE!’ landed at No. 2, and AKMU’s ‘Paradise of Rumors’ secured the No. 3 position, completing the Top 3.

The list continued with CORTIS’s ‘RedRed’ at No. 4, NMIXX’s ‘Crescendo’ at No. 5, and moyo, George, Sol, and Tama’s ‘Who went to the toilet?’ at No. 6. NCT WISH’s ‘Sticky’ placed at No. 7, followed by wave to earth’s ‘heaven and hell’ at No. 8, 82MAJOR’s ‘Sign’ at No. 9, and BTS’s ‘Body to Body’ rounding out the Top 10.

From No. 11 to No. 20, the list includes aespa’s ‘LEMONADE’, Rakoonellama & Sumin’s ‘Hit the Bang’, Choi Yena’s ‘Catch Catch’, CLOSE YOUR EYES’ ‘POSE’, Taeyong’s ‘WYLD’, 4shyrd’s ‘Sitting pretty’, WOODZ’s ‘Cinema’, P1Harmony’s ‘UNIQUE’, Sueun’s ‘Heart Emojis’, and EXO’s ‘CROWN’.

The final spots, from No. 21 to No. 25, were taken by Kim Jaehwan’s ‘I’ll Be There’, BTS’s ‘SWIM’, BLACKPINK’s ‘GO’, RIIZE’s ‘SOAR’, and idntt’s ‘Pretty Boy Swag’.

Billboard offered specific praise, describing BTS’s ‘SWIM’ as demonstrating “masterfully restrained confidence” and ‘Body to Body’ as “the most Korean moment, integrating an ‘Arirang’ arrangement.” BLACKPINK’s ‘GO’ was highlighted as a high-quality track celebrating their 10th debut anniversary. Additionally, new songs from artists who recently completed their military service, such as Kim Jaehwan (discharged last December) and WOODZ (discharged last July), also garnered attention by appearing on the prestigious list.