T.O.P, the former BIGBANG member, has announced that he is preparing a new solo album for 2026.
The news came on January 1, 2026, via his social media, where he posted the message “A NEW ALBUM IS ON THE WAY” along with the project title “TOP SPOT – Another Dimension.” The post included a short video of him writing the album title by hand.
This announcement is a major step in his career. The 38-year-old idol-actor took a period away from public life after completing his mandatory military service and drug use controversy.
In 2017, he was convicted for marijuana use and received a suspended prison sentence. The incident led to his departure from BIGBANG in 2023, and T.O.P felt “immense guilt” and went through a “hellish period of darkness” after the scandal.
He returned to the spotlight in 2025 through his participation in the global Netflix hit Squid Game, including international promotions. Around the same time, he offered public apologies for past controversies. He played a character whose story mirrored his own past struggles. T.O.P admitted filming drug-use scenes was “psychologically challenging,” but he saw it as a way to face his past.
Until now, T.O.P had expressed that he had no plans to resume his entertainment career in South Korea. The New Year teaser shows a renewed desire to connect with the public through music.
T.O.P’s solo comeback comes during a landmark year for veteran K-pop artists. 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of her former group BIGBANG, which now includes only three members. While T.O.P is no longer active with the group, the remaining members—G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung—have hinted at celebratory activities.
G-Dragon mentioned the group would “start warming up from April,” with a Coachella 2026 performance in the United States.
T.O.P’s announcement also adds to a wave of major comebacks in 2026. BTS is set to return with a full-group comeback on March 20 and a world tour following the completion of all members’ military service. BLACKPINK is preparing a new album, their first as a complete group since 2022. EXO is also set to release their eighth full-length album, REVERXE, in January.
Details about “TOP SPOT – Another Dimension”—including the release date, tracklist, and musical style—have not yet been revealed.
By choosing to announce his solo comeback on the first day of 2026, T.O.P is set for a fresh start.
