Stray Kids Part 3: Their 2026 Comeback, World Tour, and Full Record Book
Stray Kids wrap up our series with their brand-new 2026 comeback, a look at their ongoing world tour, the military question fans are watching, and a full rundown of their biggest records.
In Part 1 and Part 2, we traced Stray Kids from nine hopeful trainees to a Billboard-dominating global act. For our final part, the timing could not be better: today, August 7, 2026, is the exact release day of their newest album.
Today’s Comeback: THIS & THAT
Stray Kids just released their tenth Korean mini album, THIS & THAT, at 1 p.m. KST today, their first major Korean comeback since their record-breaking release “DO IT” late last year. The eight-track EP was once again fully self-produced by 3RACHA, and it takes the group in a noticeably calmer direction than some of their past title tracks.
At the album’s press conference the day before release, member Changbin explained the shift: this time, the group wanted to sound “a little more chill and relaxed,” trading some of their usual rougher edges for a more approachable sound while keeping their confidence intact. Member Seungmin added that despite years of success, the group still feels hungry to reach fans they have not met yet.
The comeback lands in the middle of an already busy year on the road, with the group performing new material for massive crowds even before finishing their current world tour.
Nine years in, and still finding new ground to cover.
Still on the Road: The RUN IT World Tour
Stray Kids launched the RUN IT World Tour in Seoul on July 25, 2026, following the June 24 release of the pre-release single “Run It.” Later this month, they are scheduled to bring the tour to MUFG Stadium (Japan National Stadium) in Tokyo on August 29–30, becoming the first foreign male act to headline the venue. Separately from the tour, the group is also set to appear at SBS Gayo Daejeon Summer at KINTEX and the TMElive International Music Awards (TIMA) at Kai Tak Main Stadium in Hong Kong. In September, they are also scheduled to appear at Rock in Rio in Brazil, one of the largest music festivals in the world.
It is a packed schedule for a group already holding some of the biggest touring records in K-pop history, and it shows no sign of slowing down.
The Question Every Fan Is Asking: What About the Military?
Every male South Korean citizen is required to complete mandatory military service, and Stray Kids is not exempt from that reality. Bang Chan and Felix, who hold Australian citizenship, are not subject to Korea’s mandatory service. But for the group’s other six Korean members, military-service obligations are expected to become relevant in the coming years; their individual service classifications and dates have not been announced.
At this week’s press conference, Lee Know, the oldest Korean member of the group, addressed the topic directly, saying he sees fulfilling military service as a natural responsibility and that he will carry out his duty faithfully when called. The members have not announced specific enlistment dates for anyone, but when asked about the group’s future, they were clear on one point: Stray Kids will come back together after their service is complete.
No official enlistment dates have been confirmed for any member as of this post. We will update this series if that changes.
For fans outside Korea, it is worth understanding why this question gets asked so seriously here, rather than as idle speculation. Mandatory service is not a controversial policy in Korea, it is treated as a shared civic duty that touches nearly every family, and idols who fulfill it without complaint or special treatment tend to earn real respect for it domestically, sometimes more than for any chart record. Groups that have navigated staggered enlistments before, like BTS, have shown that a well-managed hiatus does not have to mean the end of a group. It is a pause Korean fans generally understand and plan for, even when it is not something international fans are used to seeing from other pop acts.
The Full Record Book
Here is a quick-reference summary of the milestones we have covered across this series:
| Category | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Formed | 2017, through JYP’s Stray Kids survival show |
| Debut | March 25, 2018 (official debut date); debut EP I Am NOT and “District 9” released March 26, 2018 |
| Lineup change | Woojin departed in October 2019; group has performed as eight members since |
| Major show win | Kingdom: Legendary War, 2021 |
| First Billboard 200 No. 1 | ODDINARY, 2022 |
| Billboard 200 streak | Eight consecutive No. 1 debuts through DO IT (2025), a record for any act’s first eight chart entries |
| Major tours | District 9: Unlock, MANIAC World Tour, 5-Star Dome Tour, dominATE World Tour, and the ongoing RUN IT World Tour |
| Latest release | THIS & THAT, released August 7, 2026 |
Thanks for Following Along
That wraps up our three-part look at Stray Kids, from nine nervous trainees to one of the most successful acts in modern music. If you enjoyed tracing this group’s journey, our BTS and TWICE series cover similarly remarkable rises from two of K-pop’s other defining acts.
— The Editor