Mark your calendars, STAY! Stray Kids have officially ignited the summer of 2026 with a massive triple announcement that has sent the K-pop world into a frenzy. On June 21 and 22, JYP Entertainment unveiled plans for a pre-release single, a brand-new full-length album, and an expansive world tour. Following the historic success of their 2025 “Dominate” tour and their continuous chart-topping achievements, the eight-member powerhouse group is ready to elevate their global presence once again with their upcoming era.

The Prelude: Pre-Release Single “RUN IT” Drops This Week

The excitement begins almost immediately. Stray Kids will release their digital single “RUN IT” on Wednesday, June 24 at 1 PM KST. The announcement came accompanied by a gripping teaser video that immediately captured fans’ attention. Clocking in at just under a minute, the visual palette leans heavily into a stripped-down, cinematic aesthetic. Set against warehouse-style backdrops and sun-bleached desert landscapes, the members are dressed entirely in stark black and white. This colder, film-like mood presents a striking contrast to their previous vibrant concepts.

According to industry insiders, the visual direction is highly symbolic. The video portrays the members as leading figures, incorporating the team’s heritage throughout the narrative. It represents a forward momentum that seamlessly connects their past achievements with their present ambitions. The track itself is anticipated to be a powerful anthem, capturing the immense, raw energy that Stray Kids have become renowned for through their self-produced discography spearheaded by 3RACHA (Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han).

“This album, which depicts the hottest and most certain moment of this moment through music, contains a total of five new songs including the double title tracks.”

— JYP Entertainment Official Statement

The Main Event: “THIS & THAT” Album Arrives in August

Following the intense appetizer of “RUN IT,” the main course will be served on August 7 at 1 PM KST with the release of their new album, “THIS & THAT.” This highly anticipated project marks Stray Kids’ first album release of 2026, arriving approximately nine months after their critically acclaimed November 2025 release, “DO IT.” The eight-track album will naturally include the pre-release single “RUN IT,” alongside a collection of new songs that promise to showcase the group’s evolving musical maturity.

The anticipation for “THIS & THAT” is already reaching fever pitch. Stray Kids have built a formidable reputation as one of the most commercially consistent and artistically autonomous acts in the K-pop industry. Having notched a record eight number-one debuts on the Billboard 200 chart following their partnership with Republic Records in the United States, expectations are incredibly high for their chart performance this August. Fans are eager to see how the group will push their boundaries and redefine their sound in this new chapter.

Taking Over the Globe: The “RUN IT” World Tour

Perhaps the most thrilling part of the announcement for international fans is the confirmation of a new world tour, also titled “RUN IT.” While specific cities and dates have yet to be revealed, JYP Entertainment has promised that this tour will surpass the scale of their previous monumental undertaking. The “RUN IT” tour has massive shoes to fill, following the unprecedented success of the 2025 “Dominate World Tour.”

To put things into perspective, the “Dominate” tour was a record-breaking phenomenon. Spanning 56 shows across 35 regions, it sold a staggering 1.3 million tickets and grossed $185.9 million overall. The North American leg alone brought in approximately $76.2 million, cementing it as the largest K-pop tour haul ever posted in that region. The accompanying concert film, “Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience,” further proved their global draw by opening at number one globally with $19.9 million, setting IMAX records for a Korean-language film. If the “RUN IT” tour aims to eclipse these numbers, fans can expect an absolute spectacle of stadium proportions.

Festival Kings: Dominating the Summer Stage

Beyond their own tour, Stray Kids are making sure their presence is felt across the global festival circuit this summer and fall. They already delivered a show-stopping headlining performance at the Governors Ball Music Festival in New York earlier this June. Looking ahead, they are scheduled to grace the highlight stage of Brazil’s massive Rock in Rio festival in September, bringing their electrifying energy to South America’s largest music event.

Furthermore, September will witness the launch of an entirely new festival concept titled “STRAYCITY.” Led by Stray Kids themselves, this unique festival will take place in three major regions across Latin America. This ambitious project not only highlights their immense popularity in the region but also demonstrates their evolving status from performers to curators of global music experiences. As Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N prepare to run it back to the top, 2026 is undeniably shaping up to be the year of Stray Kids.