aespa's 'KISS N TELL': Everything to Know About Their First Japanese Mini Album (July 24, 2026)

aespa are releasing their first Japanese mini album 'KISS N TELL' on July 24, 2026 — six new tracks, four physical versions, and the most sharply positioned Japan-market move of SM Entertainment's 2026 K-pop calendar. The aespa KISS N TELL Japan mini album arrives within one of the group's most compressed release schedules to date: following pre-release 'WDA (Whole Different Animal)' featuring G-Dragon on May 11, and their second full Korean album 'LEMONADE' on May 29, the group now pivots to Japan in the third quarter — a three-release arc across four months that makes Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning the most commercially active SM act of this year.

The 'KISS N TELL' mini album contains six tracks, with the title track 'KISS N TELL' leading the release alongside confirmed inclusions 'ATTITUDE' and 'In Halo.' The physical editions arrive in four distinct configurations — Limited, Poster, KISS N TELL, and a Warner Music Store exclusive — each with differing photobook specifications and trading card arrangements. The Limited Edition includes an 80-page photobook, individual and group trading cards, and postcards; standard editions contain 12-page lyric photobooks and single trading cards from a set of four. All physical versions include a Japan-only serial code and logo sticker.

The four-version release structure mirrors how SM Entertainment has consistently positioned its major act Japan rollouts — building physical collector value into each edition through differentiated packaging rather than varying the audio content itself. For aespa's fanbase in Japan, the KISS N TELL versions represent a complete collecting cycle built around the group's current visual identity, rather than a single generic physical product.

SM Entertainment announced aespa's Q3 2026 Japan comeback on May 6 — the same month 'LEMONADE' was dropping in Korea, with 'WDA (Whole Different Animal)' already charting across 17 countries. The announcement confirmed what the timeline suggested: 'KISS N TELL' is positioned as the Japanese-market extension of the 'LEMONADE' era rather than a standalone project. Where 'LEMONADE' established aespa's 2026 sonic territory in their home market — reaching No. 1 on Melon Global K Chart on launch day — 'KISS N TELL' carries that momentum into Japan with a dedicated domestic product tailored to Japanese streaming and physical purchasing behaviour.

aespa's Japan presence has been building steadily since their 2021 Japanese debut. Their Japan tours have sold out across multiple venue tiers, and 'LEMONADE' charted strongly on Oricon's international album charts — indicating an audience that has moved well beyond casual K-pop crossover listener into committed fandom territory. 'KISS N TELL' arrives at a moment when that Japanese audience is both larger and more commercially engaged than at any prior point in the group's career.

aespa's first dedicated Japanese mini album is significant not just as a product but as a structural signal. Most SM acts begin their Japan careers with translated versions of Korean singles — localized singles rather than original configurations. A first mini album, arriving in the group's fourth year of activity, signals that aespa's Japanese presence has developed to the point where the market warrants a dedicated format rather than supplementary content. The mix of confirmed tracks including Japanese-market material alongside LEMONADE-era compositions indicates SM's approach is hybrid: serving existing fans while building a distinct Japanese product identity that stands on its own terms.