Velvet Summer is the seventh special extended play and sixteenth overall by South Korean girl group Red Velvet. It was released by SM Entertainment on August 3, 2026, and contains five tracks, including the lead single "Surfin' Boy". Marketed as a "summer" release, Velvet Summer is Red Velvet's third seasonal extended play following The Red Summer (2017) and Summer Magic (2018).
Background and release
On June 15, 2026, SM Entertainment announced that Red Velvet would be releasing a new album in August 2026. On July 6, it was announced that the group would be releasing an extended play titled Velvet Summer on August 3. On July 27, the highlight medley video was released. Four days later, the music video teaser for "Surfin' Boy" was released. The extended play was released alongside the music video for "Surfin' Boy" on August 3.
Composition
Velvet Summer contains five tracks. The lead single, "Surfin' Boy", is a dance song characterized by "bossanova guitar, reggae rhythms, and house groove" with lyrics that "reminisce about the hottest summer spent with a loved one and the creation of a brilliant memory". The second track, "Hot Girls Cold Vibe", is a pop dance track characterized by "bass rhythm, guitar sounds, and beat progression" with lyrics about the "cool and confident energy of hot girls enjoying a summer night drive". The third track, "Orchestra", samples "Lujon", a composition by American film music composer Henry Mancini, with lyrics about the "unfolding emotional changes of two characters falling in love on a deepening summer night, akin to an orchestral performance".
The fourth track, "Hula Hoop", is a medium-tempo pop song with "fairy tale" lyrics about the "precious bond that eventually comes full circle and a reunion brought about by fate". The last track, "Hawaii", is an acoustic pop song with lyrics "calmly depict setting aside the weight of a weary reality and heavy worries for a moment and rediscovering the pure freedom dreamed of as a child, as if one were actually in Hawaii".
↑When combined with Korean-language and Japanese-language EPs
References
↑Lee, Jae-hoon (September 26, 2026). "Velvet Summer". IZM. Archived from the original on September 26, 2026. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
↑Kim, Na-ra (June 15, 2026). 레드벨벳 완전체, 8월 전격 컴백 [공식][Red Velvet to Make Surprise Comeback as Full Group in August [Official]]. MT Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 31, 2026. Retrieved July 5, 2026– via Naver.
↑Kim, Myung-mi (July 27, 2026). 레드벨벳 'Velvet Summer' 하이라이트 메들리...신비로운 일러스트까지[Red Velvet 'Velvet Summer' Highlight Medley...even mysterious illustrations]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 31, 2026. Retrieved July 31, 2026– via Naver.
↑Kim, Chae-yeon (July 31, 2026). 레드벨벳, 돌아온 서머퀸..'Velvet Summer' 기대포인트 셋[Red Velvet, the Returned Summer Queen..Three Key Points to Look Forward to in 'Velvet Summer']. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 31, 2026. Retrieved July 31, 2026– via Naver.
↑Jung, Ha-eun (August 4, 2026). [피플] 여름엔 레드벨벳, 2년만 완전체 귀환[[People] Red Velvet for Summer, Full Group Return After 2 Years]. JTBC (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 13, 2026. Retrieved August 12, 2026– via Naver.
↑Lee, Seung-hoon (July 22, 2026). 쿨하고 당당한 핫걸..레드벨벳, 몽환美 폭발 티저 오픈[Cool and confident hot girls..Red Velvet releases teaser exploding with dreamy beauty]. MT Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 31, 2026. Retrieved July 31, 2026– via Naver.
↑Hwang, Mi-hyun (July 21, 2026). 레드벨벳, 여름향 물씬 나는 신보로 컴백...'벨벳 서머' 8월 발표[Red Velvet Makes Comeback with New Album Exuding Summer Vibes...'Velvet Summer' to be Released in August]. News1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 31, 2026. Retrieved July 31, 2026– via Naver.
