Stray Kids performs during the fifth day of the Rock in Rio 2026 festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday. (JYP Entertainment)
K-pop stars took Brazil by storm at Rock in Rio 2026. Held Friday at Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the festival featured Stray Kids, Hwasa and NexZ.
Stray Kids became the first K-pop act to headline Rock in Rio, performing before an audience of about 100,000.
Stray Kids performs during the fifth day of the Rock in Rio 2026 festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday. (EPA-Yonhap)
Stray Kids member Felix performs during the last week of the Rock in Rio music festival at the Rio 2016 Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday. (AFP-Yonhap)
Members of the South Korean group Stray Kids performs during the fifth day of the Rock in Rio 2026 festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday. (EPA-Yonhap)
Hwasa became the first K-pop female solo artist to perform on Rock in Rio’s main stage, reaching an audience of about 80,000. With her distinctive live vocals and performances, she performed 13 songs over approximately an hour.
Hwasa waves a Brazilian flag during the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday. (P Nation)
K-pop solo artist Hwasa performs during the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday. (AP-Yonhap)
Fans enjoy a performance by Hwasa during the Rock in Rio 2026 festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday. (AFP-Yonhap)
NexZ, JYP Entertainment’s rising rookie group, also performed at the festival.
NexZ performs during the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday. (AFP-Yonhap)
NexZ performs during the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday. (AP-Yonhap)
Fans watch the K-pop group NexZ perform during the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday. (AP-Yonhap)
