KiiiKiii's '404 (New Era)' Tops Billboard's Best K-Pop Songs of 2026 So Far

KiiiKiii is building even more momentum ahead of its August comeback after earning the No. 1 spot on Billboard's "The 25 Best K-Pop Songs of 2026 (So Far): Staff Picks." The Gen Z inspired girl group claimed the top position with "404 (New Era)," further cementing its growing global presence.

Released in January as the title track from the group's second mini album Delulu Pack, "404 (New Era)" combines UK house and garage influences with catchy beats, distinctive vocals and rap. The song cleverly reimagines the familiar "404 Not Found" error code as a symbol of freedom beyond fixed coordinates, while its memorable choreography helped make it one of the group's biggest hits.

Billboard praised the track for turning one of the internet's most recognizable error codes into something entirely new. The publication noted that KiiiKiii declares they cannot be found by the system because they have already moved into a new era, adding that the group does not simply imagine a new future but confidently invites listeners into it through the song's lyrics, performance and concept.

The recognition adds to an impressive rise since KiiiKiii's debut in March last year. The group made a strong first impression with "I DO ME," earning its first terrestrial music show win on MBC's Show! Music Core just 13 days after debut. They continued to expand their unique identity with "DANCING ALONE," before collecting 13 trophies during their rookie year, including Music Video of the Year. Their growing influence also attracted attention from international media including Billboard, NME, DAZED and Stardust.

Earlier this year, Delulu Pack became another milestone for the group. "404 (New Era)" reached No. 1 on the Melon Top 100 and topped the Circle Chart Monthly Digital and Streaming charts, marking KiiiKiii's first monthly chart No. 1.

Internationally, the album entered the iTunes K-Pop Top Albums charts in 19 countries and regions. The group also spent eight consecutive weeks on Billboard's Global Excl. U.S. chart, made its first appearance on the Billboard Global 200, and charted on Billboard Japan, Oricon and QQ Music.

With Billboard recognizing "404 (New Era)" as the best K-pop song of 2026 so far, anticipation continues to grow for KiiiKiii's return in mid August. The group's comeback schedule will be revealed through its official social media channels at a later date.