SM Entertainment Announces ‘2026 SM Global Audition’ Across Korea and 21 International Cities

SM Entertainment (SM) has announced its large-scale global talent search, the ‘2026 SM GLOBAL AUDITION’, set to begin in Korea on January 10.

The audition will kick off in Busan before moving to Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon, Jeju, and culminating with the final Korean round in Seoul. Following the domestic schedule, SM will extend the audition to 21 international regions, including Bangkok in Thailand; Fukuoka, Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka in Japan; Shanghai, Shenzhen, Zhengzhou, Beijing, Changsha, and Chengdu in China; Los Angeles and New Jersey in the United States; and Sydney and Brisbane in Australia.

Pre-registration opens on the SM Audition website from January 1, and applicants born between 2007 and 2015 are eligible to apply. Applications for the U.S. and Australia will be accepted starting March 23 via the same website. SM’s Global Audition, a tradition since 2006, has produced several prominent K-pop stars, including Red Velvet’s Wendy and Joy, NCT members Johnny, Yuta, Ten, Mark, Renjun, Kun, Yangyang, Riku, and Hearts To Hearts’ Carmen, making it a highly anticipated event for aspiring performers worldwide.

SM recently revamped its official audition website, which won two awards at the ‘WEB AWARD KOREA 2025’, securing the ‘Best Grand Prize’ in the Mobile Web category and the ‘Grand Prize’ in the Culture/Event category. The renewed site is designed to offer optimal accessibility, showcase SM’s heritage and expertise in the digital space, and provide a seamless and positive experience for applicants.

For more details on schedules, registration, and audition guidelines, aspiring artists and fans can visit SM’s official audition website and Instagram page. The 2026 SM Global Audition continues SM Entertainment’s mission to discover and nurture the next generation of global K-pop talent.