K-pop Season's Greetings Explained: What Is a Season's Greetings?
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K-pop Season's Greetings Explained: What Is a Season's Greetings?
As the end of the year approaches, K-pop fans start seeing a familiar type of release from their favourite artists: Season's Greetings.
Every year, K-pop groups and solo artists release new Season's Greetings packages featuring exclusive photos, calendars, diaries and collectible merchandise designed for the upcoming year.
But if you've never bought one before, you might wonder:
What exactly is a K-pop Season's Greetings, and how is it different from an album?
Here's a simple guide to everything you need to know before starting your Season's Greetings collection.
What Is a K-pop Season's Greetings?
A Season's Greetings is an annual merchandise package released by a K-pop artist for the upcoming year.
While a K-pop album is primarily a music release, Season's Greetings are designed around the artist's photoshoot, yearly calendar and fan merchandise.
They are usually released toward the end of the year, with the contents created specifically for the following year.
For example, a 2027 Season's Greetings is generally released in late 2026 and contains items designed for fans to use or collect throughout 2027.
This is why Season's Greetings releases usually begin appearing several months before the new year.
What Usually Comes Inside a Season's Greetings?
The exact contents vary from artist to artist, but most Season's Greetings packages include a combination of practical items and collectibles.
1. Calendar
A calendar is one of the most common Season's Greetings items.
Depending on the artist, it may be a:
Desk calendar
Wall calendar
Poster calendar
Fold-out calendar
Monthly calendar
The calendar usually features exclusive photos from the Season's Greetings photoshoot.
2. Diary or Planner
Many Season's Greetings include a diary, planner or scheduler.
These are designed for everyday use and may contain:
Monthly pages
Weekly pages
Notes pages
Artist photographs
Special illustrations
Stickers or decorative pages
For fans who enjoy stationery, the diary can be one of the most useful parts of the package.
3. Photocards
Photocards are another major reason collectors purchase Season's Greetings.
The package may include:
Member photocards
Group photocards
Concept photocards
Special photocards
Multiple photocard sets
The number of photocards depends on the release.
Some Season's Greetings include a complete member set, while others may include random photocards.
Always check the official contents before purchasing, especially if you are collecting specific members.
4. Posters
Posters are commonly included in larger Season's Greetings packages.
They may feature:
Group photos
Individual member photos
Calendar designs
Concept artwork
Poster sizes vary, but A3 is a common format.
5. Stickers
Stickers are often included as part of the stationery items.
They can feature the members, logos, illustrations, dates or designs related to that year's concept.
Some releases include standard sticker sheets, while others use special formats such as transparent or dimensional stickers.
6. Postcards and Photo Items
Season's Greetings may also include postcards, mini prints, photo sets or other paper goods.
These items are often created using the same exclusive photoshoot as the calendar and photocards.
7. Bookmarks
Bookmarks are another common stationery item.
Some artists create themed bookmarks that match the concept of the Season's Greetings, making them both collectible and practical.
8. Behind-the-Scenes or Digital Content
Some Season's Greetings packages also include access to digital content.
This can include:
Making-of videos
Behind-the-scenes footage
Photoshoot videos
Special artist messages
Digital-exclusive content
Depending on the release, access may be provided through a digital code card or another online platform.
Why Do K-pop Fans Buy Season's Greetings?
Season's Greetings are different from regular albums because they focus heavily on visual content and collectibles.
For collectors, they can be appealing because the photoshoot is usually exclusive to that year's Season's Greetings.
This means fans may receive photographs and merchandise that are not available in the artist's albums.
They are also a way to start the new year with something from your favourite artist.
A Season's Greetings can be displayed, used as stationery, or simply kept as part of a K-pop collection.
Season's Greetings vs K-pop Albums
One of the easiest ways to understand the difference is to look at what each release is designed for.
| K-pop Album | Season's Greetings | |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Music release | Annual fan merchandise |
| Release timing | Throughout the year | Usually toward the end of the year |
| Music | CD or digital music | Usually no new album |
| Calendar | Usually not included | Commonly included |
| Diary/Planner | Rare | Common |
| Photocards | Common | Common |
| Exclusive photoshoot | Sometimes | Usually central to the package |
| Year-specific | No | Yes |
| Designed for daily use | Not usually | Often |
A Season's Greetings is therefore not a replacement for an album. It is a separate annual release created primarily for fans and collectors.
If you're looking for regular K-pop music releases, you can browse our K-pop Albums separately.
When Are Season's Greetings Released?
Season's Greetings are usually announced and released toward the end of the year.
A typical release cycle looks something like this:
September–October
Initial announcements and teasers may begin.
October–November
Pre-orders open for many artists.
November–December
Production and shipping take place.
December–January
Fans receive their Season's Greetings for the upcoming year.
The exact schedule varies by artist, company and retailer.
Because Season's Greetings are often pre-order items, ordering early can be important if you want to receive the package as close to the release date as possible.
You can find upcoming releases and available items in our K-pop Pre-Order collection.
Why Are They Released Before the New Year?
The timing is intentional.
A 2027 Season's Greetings needs to arrive before or around the beginning of 2027 so fans can start using the calendar and diary from January.
This means companies usually announce and sell the packages several months before the new year.
It's also why the end of the year can become a very busy period for K-pop collectors.
Multiple artists may announce their Season's Greetings around the same time, giving fans plenty of new releases to choose from.
Are Season's Greetings Worth Buying?
That depends on what you enjoy collecting.
A Season's Greetings may be a good choice if you:
Enjoy collecting photocards
Like exclusive artist photoshoots
Use physical calendars or diaries
Collect official merchandise
Like displaying K-pop items
Want yearly merchandise from your favourite artist
If you mainly collect albums and aren't interested in stationery or photo merchandise, you may prefer to skip some Season's Greetings.
There is no need to collect every release. Many fans simply choose the artists or concepts they like the most.
What Should You Check Before Ordering?
Before purchasing a Season's Greetings, it's worth checking the product details carefully.
Check the Contents
Look at exactly what is included in the package.
The number of photocards, posters, postcards and other items can vary significantly between artists.
Check Whether Items Are Random
Some items may be included as a complete set, while others can be random.
For example, a package might contain a complete member set of one item but only one random photocard from a larger selection.
Check the Release Date
Season's Greetings are often pre-order products, so check the expected release date before ordering.
The release date is not necessarily the same as the date your order will arrive.
Check the Shipping Conditions
If you're ordering from overseas, remember that international shipping can take additional time after the official release.
For New Zealand collectors, buying from a local K-pop retailer can make the process simpler because the stock is shipped locally once it arrives in New Zealand.
Why Season's Greetings Are Popular With Collectors
One of the biggest attractions of Season's Greetings is that every year brings a completely new concept.
An artist might choose a:
School concept
Travel concept
Retro concept
Fantasy concept
Office concept
Winter concept
Cute or playful concept
Elegant or sophisticated concept
Because the concept changes every year, Season's Greetings can become a yearly snapshot of an artist's era.
For long-term collectors, having several years together can also make the collection especially meaningful.
Starting Your 2027 Season's Greetings Collection
With the 2027 Season's Greetings season now beginning, more K-pop artists will announce their annual packages over the coming weeks.
For fans, this is a great time to start deciding which artists you want to collect before pre-orders open.
Rather than choosing based only on the number of inclusions, consider the things you'll actually enjoy using or collecting.
A Season's Greetings is ultimately a combination of exclusive artist photography, yearly stationery and official collectibles — making it one of the most anticipated annual merchandise releases for many K-pop fans.
Explore K-pop Season's Greetings in New Zealand
Looking for the latest Season's Greetings releases from your favourite K-pop artists?
Browse our K-pop Season's Greetings collection to see currently available and upcoming Season's Greetings.
As new 2027 releases are announced, we'll continue adding them to our collection so New Zealand K-pop fans can easily find their favourite artists in one place.