BLACKPINK Isn't Number One In 2026's Strongest K-Pop Girl Group Ranking, These Multinational Queens Are

Which K-pop girl group actually commands the most devoted fanbase right now? A Japanese ranking site has published its latest "K-Pop Girl Group Popularity Ranking," tallying user votes and scores to produce a top 10. TWICE came out on top, with IVE, LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT close behind, while BLACKPINK, despite its global reach, landed at number seven. The full list captures a clear generational shift underway in the girl group scene.

Kep1er was formed through Mnet's survival show Girls Planet 999, and the group's sound swings between fierce and cute, with "We Fresh" showing off its tougher side and "I do! Do you?" leaning sweet. Fan comments on the ranking traced long personal histories with the group. One fan said they loved the songs, choreography and visuals equally, describing how they followed the process from Girls Planet 999 all the way through Queendom 2, first backing one contestant before being won over by Hikaru's performance on "UP!" Another fan who followed the original nine-member lineup called Kep1er "the first group I ever seriously stanned since getting into K-pop," praising the range of talent across visuals, dance, vocals and rap the members brought, while others fondly recalled members like Yeseo, Mashiro and Hikaru and said the group's promotional period ending too soon left them wanting far more.

For NMIXX, the word that comes up again and again in fan comments is "skill," particularly on the vocal front. Each current member brings a distinct strength to the stage: Lily's powerful vocals, Haewon's steady singing, Sullyoon's widely praised visuals, and Kyujin's stage presence that mixes toughness with charm all draw attention from fans.

Commenters focused heavily on the group's singing ability, with one calling Lily's vocals "incredibly strong," describing Haewon as having "an innocent look paired with real vocal skill," and praising Sullyoon's visuals as representative of the fourth generation of idols at their best. Another fan went further, calling NMIXX the strongest vocal group in K-pop outright: "If you're talking about a group built on real skill, NMIXX is the first name that comes to mind," singling out their singing for a "number one" rating. Not everyone agreed on how the group has been packaged, though, with one commenter suggesting NMIXX might find even bigger success if it leaned into a cuter concept better suited to the members' natural appeal.

MISAMO, the subunit built from TWICE's Japanese members Mina, Sana and Momo, also cracked the top 10. Fans point to each member's distinct personality, look and vocal tone, and their cover of Namie Amuro's "NEW LOOK" left a strong impression on more than a few supporters.

One longtime TWICE fan said all three members have their own charm and beautiful voices, adding that their "NEW LOOK" cover showed off everyone's strengths at once. Another fan said discovering that TWICE's Japanese members had formed their own unit made them "genuinely so happy," calling the trio "adorable angels." Others pointed to MISAMO's appearances on Japanese programs including NHK's Kohaku Uta Gassen and Tetsuko's Room as proof the group has built a real following across both Japan and Korea, and beyond.

BLACKPINK missed the top five this time around, but the group still drew one of the highest vote counts on the entire list. Its trademark girl-crush image, along with its stage presence, vocals, choreography, visuals and fashion influence, remain the qualities fans cite most often. One commenter described BLACKPINK as "everything girls dream of being," saying all four members have distinct personalities and together embody nearly every quality fans admire, especially their striking looks and physiques and their influence in the fashion world. Another called them "a girl group the whole world is watching," pointing to the global reach of their music videos and crediting the group's cute visuals, strong physiques and high-level singing and dancing with giving them the tools to succeed on a truly global stage.

Many fans see ITZY's five members as carrying their own girl-crush edge, with music that leans fierce and powerful even as the members' own looks skew cute, a contrast fans say is part of the appeal. Tracks like "Not Shy" came up often in the comments. One fan described ITZY as "the new face of girl crush," saying their past impression of JYP's girl groups had been shaped by smaller, tougher-edged acts like Miss A, and that ITZY carries a similar energy: "All five of them are actually really cute, but the songs are so fierce, I really love that contrast." Another called ITZY the most distinctive group on the list, praising the group's punchy rhythms, earworm choruses and sharp choreography, adding that the members "aren't forcing a cute concept, they're just letting their real personalities show." Others said five members felt like exactly the right number, describing the group as blending toughness, cuteness and pop appeal all at once.

aespa's four members each bring a sharply defined identity, from vocals and rap to the group's elaborate visual concept, and fans say that combination gives them one of the most distinctive identities in K-pop. Much of the fan discussion centered on aespa's built-out universe, including the "ae" digital avatars and the Black Mamba mythology, along with how the styling and stage concepts evolve with every comeback, all of which fans say sets the group apart from its peers. One supporter called the group "insane," saying each of the four members brings something different to the table, praising their vocal ability, and predicting the group has a real shot at reaching BLACKPINK-level status down the line. Another fan called aespa the strongest "girl-crush" act around, saying the ae avatars and Black Mamba concept are complicated but make the group more interesting as a result, adding that "you can hear how strong their vocals and rap are just from the audio alone, and their visuals keep getting better with every comeback." One more fan said the shock of aespa's debut track has stuck with them ever since, and that they remain excited to see where the group goes next.

ILLIT's five members, Wonhee, Minju, Moka, Iroha and Yunah, each have a clearly defined role in fans' eyes: Wonhee draws attention for her round, endearing visuals, Minju earns praise for her singing, Moka is seen as an all-rounder, Iroha stands out for her dancing, and Yunah brings a more mature, dependable presence to the group. One fan called ILLIT "a fresh, adorable girl group," describing Wonhee as the group's "overwhelming center," calling Minju "ILLIT's diva, she can genuinely sing," praising Moka as someone who "can do it all," saying Iroha's dancing is "sharp enough to look incredibly cool" despite her young age, and describing Yunah as dependable with real older-sister energy. Another fan spent an entire comment gushing over the group, calling all five members "unbelievably cute," singling out Minju's vocals as "seriously strong" and saying Iroha is "so mature it's hard to believe she's the youngest." Others traced the members' journeys back to their time on the survival show R U Next?, praising Iroha in particular for dancing since age three and calling her skills genuinely exceptional.

For LE SSERAFIM, fans point to the members' dancing, vocals, rap, individual personalities and the way they play off each other as a group. Sakura, Chaewon, Yunjin, Kazuha and Eunchae each bring their own flavor, and fans say they equally enjoy the contrast between the members' sharp on-stage image and their off-stage bond. One fan simply called LE SSERAFIM "the best," saying every member is "so cute, but also has a cool side," and singling out the group's strong vocals, solid rap and especially sharp choreography, before going through each of the five members' personalities in turn and praising how genuinely fun they seem off camera. Another fan pointed out that LE SSERAFIM appeared on NHK's Kohaku Uta Gassen before formally debuting in Japan, calling their popularity there "genuinely huge" on top of real talent. Others focused on the members' relationships with one another, saying "the most important thing is how close the members clearly are, it's comforting just to watch them," and describing LE SSERAFIM as a group that makes fans want to root for them more the more they watch.

Fans repeatedly point to IVE's visuals, height, the sheer popularity of the group's music and each member's individual charm. Wonyoung and Yujin's history in IZ*ONE has kept many of their earlier fans invested in the group's new chapter, and Japanese member Rei has picked up a substantial following of her own. First impressions of IVE run strong among the fans commenting, with one calling the group simply "godlike," saying "everyone here is talented, gorgeous and tall," and adding that the group's songs took off so fast after debut that "it wouldn't surprise me if they ranked even higher than this." Another fan who has followed K-pop since the IZ*ONE era said Wonyoung and Yujin were their favorites back then, and that IZ*ONE's disbandment was a genuinely sad moment, but IVE's formation brought that excitement right back: "Now I love every single member of IVE." Another fan, focused on how young and striking the members are, called them "everything I aspire to," closing with, "I love everything about IVE. I love them."

The top spot went to TWICE, and the group's support on this ranking is on another level entirely. The nine-member lineup spans Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese members, and that multinational makeup is central to its appeal. Fan comments cited everything from the members' visuals and vocals to the group's famously tight choreography, its evolving musical style, and the members' personalities and bond with one another, reflecting the broad, deep fanbase TWICE has built over its long career.

Many fans brought up the members' looks first. One wrote that "all nine members are absolutely gorgeous," each with a clearly defined charm, adding that "just seeing them stand together is dazzling." What impressed that same fan even more was the choreography: "For a group this size, even their fingertip movements stay perfectly in sync, it's honestly stunning to watch." Another fan said that despite having nine members, "every single one has such a distinct look and personality," and praised how the group's sound has evolved from its early cute-concept days into music with a "cooler, sexier, more mature" atmosphere, calling the range remarkable. Other fans said what they love most is the bond between the members, noting that "whenever one member is going through something, all the others show up for her," and that TWICE has always treated its fans with real care, giving off "the feeling that they're walking hand in hand with their fans the whole way."

Original Article in Chinese

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