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Stray Kids
- Agency
- JYP Entertainment
- Fandom
- STAY
- Debut
- 2018
- Generation
- 4th gen
- Members
- 7
Stray Kids is an eight-member group from JYP Entertainment whose members write and produce much of their own music. U.S. fans care because the group has put album after album at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, sold out arenas across America, and is headlining major American festivals like Governors Ball in 2026.
How they formed
Stray Kids came together through a 2017 JYP Entertainment reality show of the same name, which was used to form the group. They began as nine members, and one member left in 2019 for personal reasons, leaving the current eight. Leader Bang Chan spent about seven years as a JYP trainee after passing an audition in Australia in 2015, according to fan profile pages. Their first Billboard chart appearance came in 2017 with "Hellevator." One page gives a debut date of March 25, 2018 with "District 9," while another fan page lists a different year, so the debut date is best treated as reported by one source.
Personnel
In their own words
- Jason Mraz Bang Chan led the live band in a cover of "I'm Yours" at the Newark tour stop, a sign of their musical tastes, though not stated as an influence. teenvogue.com
- Drake Named as a role model of Bang Chan on a fan profile page. straykids-members.carrd.co
Timeline
- 2017First Billboard chart appearance
"Hellevator" made the group's Billboard chart debut, peaking at No. 6 on World Digital Song Sales and starting a long run of top 10 hits on that chart.
- 2018Debut with District 9
- 2019Roster drops to eight
One of the original nine members left for personal reasons, leaving the eight-member lineup.
- 2021Win on Kingdom: Legendary War
- 2022Billboard 200 streak begins
ODDINARY and Maxident both debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. "Maniac" and "Case 143" also reached No. 1 on World Digital Song Sales.
- 2022Maniac U.S. tour
- 2023Rock-Star and 5-Star
Both albums debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, making four of four charting albums to open at the top, a feat last managed by Alicia Keys. "Lalalala" gave them their first Hot 100 entry (No. 90) and a Global 200 top 10 peak at No. 10.
- 2024HOP and a record sixth No. 1
HOP debuted at No. 1, making Stray Kids the first act to open its first six Billboard 200 entries at the top. They also released the Charlie Puth collaboration "Lose My Breath" in May, their third single of the year.
- 2024Met Gala appearance
The group attended the 2024 Met Gala in New York City.
- 2025Mixtape: dominATE and later 2025 releases
Releases listed for 2025 include Mixtape : dominATE (March), Hollow (June), KARMA (August) and DO IT (November).
- 2026THIS & THAT earns ninth No. 1
THIS & THAT arrived August 7 and debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 369,000 units, their biggest week ever and best sales week. All nine of their entries have opened at No. 1, extending their record for most No. 1s by a group this century and tying the Rolling Stones for second-most among groups.
- 2026World Tour RUN IT
The official site lists an additional show announcement for the World Tour RUN IT.
Latest
- SUIATSU release
A new album titled SUIATSU is listed with a November 25, 2026 date on Genius (the official site lists 2026-11-09).
genius.com - 11월 11일 release
A release titled 11월 11일 is listed on the official discography.
straykids.jype.com - THIS & THAT tops Billboard 200
The album debuted at No. 1 with 369,000 units, the group's ninth chart-topper.
billboard.com - THIS & THAT remix releases
This & That (This Remixes) and This & That (That Remixes) followed the main album on August 10 and 12.
straykids.jype.com - THIS & THAT album release
The seven-track album was released with CD, vinyl, cassette and digital variants.
straykids.jype.com - SKZ-REPLAY 2026 Pt.1
A replay release came out on August 1, 2026.
straykids.jype.com - JYP announces comeback and tour in one post
JYP Entertainment announced the RUN IT single, the THIS & THAT album and a matching world tour together, with a teaser showing all eight members.
en.koreaportal.com - JYP bets on live entertainment with Stray Kids
Coverage says the agency is leaning harder on live shows and festivals, planning a bigger world tour after the group's strong recent run.
respawn.outlookindia.com
Our coverage
Stray Kids' Lee Know Prepares First Solo Album, Due Early Next Year
Newsen reports the Stray Kids member has finished his album jacket shoot and part of his video, with his first solo album set for early next year.
Lisa Lands Second Solo Top 40 Album as 'PRESS PLAY' Opens at No. 35
The EP lands at No. 6 on Top Album Sales in the same week Jennie's Tame Impala collaboration returns to No. 5 on the Hot 100.
Stray Kids Book Seattle, Chicago and Toronto on 25-Date 'Run It' Expansion
The 25 new nights push the "Run It" tour to 46 performances across 31 regions, with three North American stops on the list.
Stray Kids' 'SUIATSU' Pre-Teaser Divides Fans Over a Suggestive Reading
More than 8 million views later, the replies under the Stray Kids Japan clip are split between fans who found it funny and fans who did not.
Jennie and Tame Impala's 'Dracula' Ties Hot 100 Peak at No. 5
Lisa's Press Play opens at No. 35 on the Billboard 200, while Katseye, BTS, Cortis and Stray Kids also hold places on the albums chart.
AND2BLE Notches a Career First as 'French Kissing' Tops 'The Show' Scoreboard
The group beat out JUST B's "Party Time" and XLOV's 'Hush' with 11,005 points, then watched a TikTok challenge tagged with Stray Kids' Hyunjin cross 3.6 million plays.
JYP Says No Proposal Has Arrived as NEXROC Weighs a 50% Stake
The would-be buyers floated a 30% premium and a Nov. 20 start date, but a $50 million SEC filing listing zero investors has Korean analysts asking who is actually paying.
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.
'Visual,' Explained: K-pop's Word for Looks, From Felix's Poll Win to the Lookism Critique
A fan vote crowned Stray Kids' Felix for the "most AI-like visual," and the word now covers faces, full styling and music videos.
Photocard: The Debit-Card-Size K-pop Collectible Fans Pull, Swap and Price
From a 2010 Girls' Generation album to $13 Lucky Draw cards and tea-lounge swap meets, here is how the photocard works for U.S. fans.
What a K-pop Group Leader Actually Does, From Award Show Speeches to Agency Talks
This week's Lexicon word: who hands out the leader title, why it so often goes to the oldest member, and where the word turned up this year.
Gen, Explained: How K-Pop Sorts Its Idols Into Five Generations
From Seo Taiji and Boys in 1992 to RIIZE and ILLIT, the fan-made label that files K-pop into eras, and why the 5th gen line is still contested.
- kprofiles.com: Stray Kids Members Profile (Updated!)
- straykids.jype.com: Stray Kids - JYP Entertainment
- teenvogue.com: Stray Kids Profile: SKZ on Touring, Connection, and ...
- straykids-members.carrd.co: Stray Kids Profile
- straykids.jype.com: Stray Kids : Schedule - JYP Entertainment
- billboard.com: Stray Kids Have Become Global Stars By Giving 'Strength ...
- bu.edu: Stray Kids
- straykids.jype.com: Discography - Stray Kids
- billboard.com: Stray Kids | Biography, Music & News
- genius.com: Stray Kids Albums and Discography
- billboard.com: Stray Kids Score Ninth No. 1 on Billboard 200 With 'THIS & ...
- kprofiles.com: Stray Kids Discography (Updated!)
- billboard.com: Billboard Explains: Stray Kids' Chart Success
Fan sites
- Stray Kids Profile (Carrd)Fan-run member profile with facts on each member.
- Kprofiles: Stray Kids Members ProfileFan-run reference profile.
- Kprofiles: Stray Kids DiscographyFan-run discography reference.
Official channels verified on straykidsshop.com
Last researched Nov. 11, 2026