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NCT
- Agency
- SM Entertainment
- Fandom
- NCTzen
- Debut
- 2016
- Generation
- 3rd gen
- Members
- 14
NCT, short for Neo Culture Technology, is SM Entertainment's expandable boy group, built from several units that each have their own base and identity. The collective has included Seoul-based NCT 127, the teen-rooted NCT DREAM, China-focused WayV and the rotating NCT U. Their sound ranges from noisy, experimental hip-hop and dance tracks to bright summer pop and retro disco-funk. U.S. fans care because NCT 127 landed a top-five debut on the Billboard 200 with NeoZone, and the units have toured the Americas, including Los Angeles and Newark.
How they formed
SM Entertainment created NCT as a group with no fixed size, where members can join different units. It debuted on April 9, 2016 with "The 7th Sense," which introduced this ever-expanding concept. Over time the project grew into separate teams, each with its own identity and sound.
Personnel
Timeline
- 2016NCT U and NCT 127 debut
NCT U debuted in April with the single "The 7th Sense." NCT 127 arrived on July 6 with NCT #127 and the trap-leaning lead single "Fire Truck." Johnny and Doyoung joined NCT 127 that December.
- 2017First music show win for NCT 127
NCT 127 earned a music show win with "Cherry Bomb" after pushing into unusual sounds on "Limitless."
- 2018Regular-Irregular and the first NCT full album
NCT 127 released its first full-length album, Regular-Irregular, and Jungwoo joined the group. The whole NCT collective released NCT 2018 Empathy.
- 2020NeoZone and a Billboard 200 top five
NCT 127 released NeoZone, led by "Kick It," which debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200. Their Japanese EP Loveholic put the Japanese "Kick It" at No. 1 on Oricon's daily albums chart. The full collective released NCT 2020 Resonance.
- 2021Sticker, Favorite and a Daesang
- 2022Grand Prize at the Seoul Music Awards
In January, NCT 127 won its first Artist Daesang and a Bonsang at the 31st Seoul Music Awards. Sticker had spent 17 straight weeks on the Billboard 200, the longest run for a K-pop album released in 2021. The group also toured Japan's domes, including two Tokyo Dome shows, and headed to the Americas.
- 2023Golden Age and the end of expansion
NCT DREAM and NCT 127 wrapped their first post-pandemic world tours, WayV made its first moves outside Asia, NCT DoJaeJung formed, and Taeyong became the first official NCT soloist. The fourth NCT album, Golden Age, came out Aug. 28, and SM announced NCT Tokyo would be the final subgroup.
- 2025NCT DREAM releases Go Back To The Future
- 2026NCT DREAM renews with SM and releases Dream After Dream
Latest
- NCT DREAM releases Dream After Dream
NCT DREAM's sixth studio album arrived Nov. 9 with the lead track "Boogie Woogie" and a music video with a retro, nostalgic look. Jaemin co-wrote the song, and the opening track is "The Sun."
kjwl.com - NCT DREAM members renew with SM Entertainment
Reports say the six NCT DREAM members renewed their contracts with SM, and the new album marks the start of a new chapter.
kjwl.com - November 2026 comeback lineup includes NCT DREAM
A comeback roundup lists NCT DREAM's Dream After Dream among the biggest K-pop releases of the month.
dojeonmedia.com - Taeyong shares his playlist with The Hollywood Reporter
Taeyong talked about his musical inspirations, songs from his youth and his feelings about NCT in a playlist feature.
hollywoodreporter.com
Our coverage
NCT 127 and NCT DREAM Confirmed for Coachella 2027, With a Joint Stage
SM Entertainment says both units will play Indio on April 10 and 17, each with a solo set and one stage together under the NCT name.
NCT DREAM Release Sixth Album 'DREAM AFTER DREAM' at 10-Year Mark
The 10-track release leads with "Boogie Woogie," a disco-funk title track whose lyrics Jaemin helped write.
ILLIT Take Music Bank Trophy as 'You're Under Arrest' Scores 9,803 Points
The first trophy for the single came over IVE's "Looks Can Kill," with TWS, RIIZE, P1Harmony and NCT's Xiaojun also on the November 6 bill.
Why Every K-pop Group Gives Its Fans a Name, From ARMY to FOHA
Our Lexicon entry on the fandom name: what it means, who picks it, and the wordplay behind CARAT, MOA, ONCE and hundreds more.
Sasaeng: The K-pop Word for Fans Who Cross Into Idols' Private Lives
From hired taxis tailing Kim Jae-joong to a break-in on NCT's U.S. tour: what the word means, where it comes from and how agencies fight back.
A2O LITE Beats NCT WISH for 'SHOW K-POP' Crown, a Fifth Win for Debut Track 'NEON'
The group topped the second-ever episode of Arirang TV's Monday music show, hosted by ZEROBASEONE's Seok Matthew, with 5,388 points.
NCT WISH's 'I SPY' Ends ALLDAY PROJECT's Run Atop Soompi's K-Pop Chart
"CRASH" slips to No. 2 as A2O LITE, MEOVV and PLAVE join NCT WISH among four new arrivals in the top 10.
A2O LITE Beats NCT WISH and i-dle's Soyeon for a Fourth 'NEON' Trophy
The debut single scored 6,060 points on SBS's music show, on a crowded bill that also featured IVE, BABYMONSTER and NMIXX.
PLAVE Claims First 'Star Trace' Trophy, Topping NCT WISH and A2O LITE on 'Music Core'
The new title track scored 8,299 points on MBC's show, on a bill that also featured IVE, BABYMONSTER, NMIXX and SEVENTEEN's JxJ.
NCT 127 Turn 10 With 'Blingy,' Their First Album in Two Years
Five members made the seventh album while Doyoung and Jungwoo serve in the military, but the pair still show up in the group chat, the practice room and the tracklist.
NCT 127, Zerobaseone and Tomorrow x Together Were Set to Headline KCon LA 2026
Three nights of M Countdown at Crypto.com Arena were planned to stream on Mnet Plus, but U.S. viewers needed a VPN to watch from home.
A2O LITE Beats NCT WISH For Third 'NEON' Trophy As IVE, JxJ Unveil New Stages
The debut track topped episode 950 with 6,866 points, while SEVENTEEN's JxJ, IVE and NMIXX gave new songs their first public performances.
- scmp.com: Meet the 7 members of Riize, SM’s first new K-pop idol group in 7 years
- kjwl.com: NCT DREAM Takes a Nostalgic Trip With ‘Boogie Woogie’ Video: Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Photos
- hollywoodreporter.com: NCT's Taeyong Shares His Playlist
- koreatimes.co.kr: From BLACKPINK, TWICE to NCT, TXT: Big names lead K-pop's July jam session
- dojeonmedia.com: November 2026 K-Pop Comebacks: Dates & New Releases
- koreaherald.com: Making irregular the regular: NCT 127 on crafting own ...
- grammy.com: Breaking Down The NCT System, From The Rotational NCT U To The Upcoming NCT Tokyo
- billboard.com: NCT DREAM | Biography, Music & News
- nolae.eu: Red Velvet - How it all began (and how it continued).
- kprofiles.com: NCT DREAM Discography (Updated!)
- unitedbypop.com: NCT 127 win a Daesang at the 31st Seoul Music Awards
- tuko.co.ke: The youngest K-pop idols at debut and how their careers have evolved since
- koreaboo.com: Min Reveals She Joined Miss A When They Were Already Formed—Here's How The Members Reacted
Fan sites
- Kprofiles NCT ProfileFan-run profile site with member details
- Kprofiles NCT DREAM DiscographyFan-run discography reference
- Kprofiles NCT 127 Members ProfileFan-run profile site
- Kprofiles NCT DREAM Members ProfileFan-run profile site
Last researched Nov. 11, 2026