2016 in AKB48 Group

The following is a list of events and releases that occurred in 2016 from the AKB48 Group.

Due to SNH48's departure from the AKB48 Group in June, only events prior to the split are featured.

Members

• January 10: Team NIII is formed for the first time with 16 members.
• January 18: Bi MengYuan, Chen HuiJing, Chen JiaoHe, Cheng Jue, Chen NanXi, Chen QianNan, Cheng WenLu, Chen XinYu, Deng YanQiuFei, Feng JiaXi, Feng SiJia, Hong JingWen, Hu BoWen, Hu YiYing, Huang TongYang, Liu LiFei, Lin Kun, Liu QianQian, Liu ShengNan, Liu ShuXian, Lin XiHe, Lin YiNing, Li JiaEn, Li ShiYan, Li Xiang, Li YuanYuan, Li Zi, Luo HanYue, Lv MengYing, Luo XueLi, Lu Jing, Ma YuLing, Niu CongCong, Qian Yi, Qing YuWen, Su ShanShan, Sun Shan, Sun Xin, Sun ZhenNi, Tang LiJia, Wang JinMing, Wang XinYue, Wen Yan, Xian ShenNan, Xia Yue, Xiao WenLing, Xiong XinYao, Xu SiYang, Yi YanQian, Zheng DanNi, Zhang JiaYu, Zhang MengHui, Zhang QiongYu, Zhang XiaoYing, Zheng YiFan, Zuo JiaXin, Zuo JingYuan, and Zhou QianYu join SNH48 as 6th generation Trainees.
• March 30: Team TII is formed for the first time with 10 members.
• April 20: SNH48 announces BEJ48 (based in Beijing) and GNZ48 (based in Guangzhou) as two new sister groups in China.
• May 28: Adhisty Zara, Anggita Destiana Dewi, Citra Ayu Pranajaya Wibrado, Chintya Hanindhitakirana Wirawan, Diani Amalia Ramadhani, Elizabeth Gloria Setiawan, Eve Antoinette Ichwan, Gabryela Marcelina, Hasyakyla Utami Kusumawardhani, Helma Sonya, Nurhayati, Puti Nadhira Azalia, Regina Angelina, Rissanda Putri Tuarissa, Ruth Damayanti Sitanggang, Sania Julia Montolalu, and Violeta Burhan join JKT48 as 5th generation Trainee.
• June 9: SNH48 leaves the AKB48 Group due to management and contract violations.
• June 28: Iwata Momoka, Umeyama Cocona, Kojima Karin, Shimizu Rika, Jonishi Rei, Nakagawa Mion, Mizuta Shiori, Mizokawa Mirai, Yamada Suzu, and Yamamoto Ayaka join NMB48 as 5th Generation Kenkyuusei.
• July 12: Unjo Hirona, Oda Ayaka, Otoshima Risa, Sakai Moeka, Shimizu Rio, Takeda Tomoka, Jitoe Nene, Tsukiashi Amane, Toyonaga Aki, Matsumoto Hinata, and Miyazaki Sono join HKT48 as 4th Generation Kenkyuusei.
• October 18: NMB48 holds their first team shuffle NMB48 Team Shuffle.
• November 19: Atsumi Ayaha, Ishikawa Saki, Ishiguro Yuzuki, Inoue Ruka, Oshiba Rinka, Okada Miku, Kawai Anna, Kitagawa Yoshino, Kurashima Ami, Kobayashi Kano, Sakamoto Marin, Sato Kaho, Shirayuki Kohaku, Nakamura Izumi, Nonogaki Miki, Nomura Miyo, Fukai Negai, Morihira Riko, and Yahagi Yukina join SKE48 as 8th Generation Kenkyuusei.
• December 8: Asai Nanami, Inagaki Kaori, Umemoto Izumi, Kurosu Haruka, Sato Minami, Shoji Nagisa, Suzuki Kurumi, Taguchi Manaka, Taya Misaki, Nagatomo Ayami, Noguchi Nanami, Harima Nanami, Homma Mai, Maeda Ayaka, Michieda Saki, Muto Orin, Yasuda Kana, Yamauchi Mizuki, and Yamane Suzuha join AKB48 as 16th Generation Kenkyuusei.

Auditions

• February 9: NMB48 announces 5th Generation auditions.
• August 10: SKE48 announces 8th Generation auditions.
• December 3: MNL48 announces 1st Generation auditions.

Kenkyuusei promotions

• February 10: Hiwatashi Yui is promoted to Team A.
• March 26:
  • Cheng Jue is promoted to Team SII.
  • Deng YanQiuFei, Huang TongYang, and Qian Yi are promoted to Team NII.
  • Sun ZhenNi and Wang JinMing are promoted to Team HII.
  • Lin YiNing is promoted to Team X.
  • Cheng WenLu, Li JiaEn, and Lu MengYing are promoted to Team XII.
• March 30: Aramaki Misaki, Imamura Maria, Kurihara Sae, Sakamoto Erena, Tsutsui Riko, Hokazono Hazuki, Matsuoka Hana, Murakawa Bibian, Yamauchi Yuna, and Yamashita Emiri are promoted to Team TII.
• August 25: Hori Shion is promoted to Team M.
• November 20:
  • Isshiki Rena, Kamimura Ayuka, and Machi Otoha are promoted to Team S.
  • Ota Ayaka and Mizuno Airi are promoted to Team KII.
  • Asai Yuka, Suenaga Oka, and Takahata Yuki are promoted to Team E.

Notable departures

• March 31: Umeda Ayaka, Kobayashi Kana, and Miyazawa Sae graduate from their respective groups. They were the last AKB48 2nd Generation and original Team K members to leave the AKB48 Group.
• April 8: Takahashi Minami graduates from AKB48.
• May 1: Takajo Aki and Nagao Mariya graduate from AKB48. Takajo was the last 6th Generation member to leave the group.
• July 21: Otoshima Risa is dismissed from HKT48. Until January 2019, she had the shortest tenure in the AKB48 Group.
• July 31: Anai Chihiro graduates from HKT48.
• August 9: Watanabe Miyuki graduates from NMB48.
• August 31: Shibata Aya graduates from SKE48.
• December 31: Shimazaki Haruka graduates from AKB48.

Releases

Albums

• March 23: JKT48 - Mahagita

Singles

• January 1: JKT48 - Beginner
• March 9: AKB48 - Kimi wa Melody
• March 30: SKE48 - Chicken LINE
• March 31: SNH48 - Engine of Youth
• April 13: HKT48 - 74 Okubun no 1 no Kimi e
• April 27: NMB48 - Amagami Hime
• May 20: SNH48 - Dream Land
• June 1:
  • AKB48 - Tsubasa wa Iranai
  • JKT48 - Mae Shika Mukanee
• August 3: NMB48 - Boku wa Inai
• August 17: SKE48 - Kin no Ai, Gin no Ai
• August 31: AKB48 - LOVE TRIP / Shiawase wo Wakenasai
• September 7: HKT48 - Saikou ka yo
• September 21: JKT48 - LOVE TRIP
• November 16: AKB48 - High Tension
• December 21:
  • Jankenmin - Sakasazaka
  • JKT48 - Saikou ka yo
• December 28: NMB48 - Boku Igai no Dareka

Digital

• December 1: JKT48 - Christmas

Concert

• March 26: Shuku Takahashi Minami Graduation "148.5cm no Mita Yume" in Yokohama Stadium

Other

• March 26: Announcement of three upcoming international sister groups: TPE48, MNL48, and BNK48.