TWICE doing their part in maintaining the Honmoon. Credit to Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times.
Los Angeles, California (August 4, 2025)- The global music phenomenon of K-pop reached a new peak at Lollapalooza Chicago as a diverse mix of artists—from historic headliners to promising rookies—commanded the stage. The festival became a powerful showcase for the genre’s expanding global influence, affirming its position as a major force in the music industry.
Headlining the Bud Light Stage on Saturday, the acclaimed girl group TWICE made history as the first K-pop girl group to lead the festival. The nine members—Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu—delivered a performance that was a powerful celebration of their 10th anniversary. Their set list, which included fan favorites like “Talk That Talk” and “Moonlight Sunrise,” had the crowd of ONCE light sticks waving in unison. Adding to the spectacle was a dazzling drone show that displayed the message “The honmoon is sealed,” a nod to their roles in the popular animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters, in which members Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung also made a surprise live debut of their song “Takedown” from the film’s soundtrack.
Beyond the headliner, the festival spotlighted the next generation of K-pop, proving the genre’s depth and diversity. Rookie labelmates of TWICE, KickFlip, made their U.S. debut on the same stage, delivering a high-energy set that won over a growing crowd. Introducing themselves as “TWICE’s little brother,” the seven-member boy group performed their own tracks and surprised the audience with covers of TWICE hits, a move that was met with cheers and warm applause.
Meanwhile, HYBE Labels’ rising stars also commanded attention. The multinational girl group KATSEYE, formed through the “Dream Academy” program, made their first major festival appearance on the main T-Mobile Stage. They brought a theatrical flair, performing songs from their project Beautiful Chaos and a surprise tango-inspired dance break. On the adjacent Lakeshore Stage, the boy band BOYNEXTDOOR delivered an impactful 11-song set, effortlessly mixing high-energy tracks with polished live vocals.
From TWICE’s monumental headlining performance to the impactful debuts of rookie groups, Lollapalooza 2025 solidified its role as a key stage for K-pop’s global expansion. The festival was a vibrant testament to the passion of the fandom and the genre’s ability to evolve while connecting artists with a worldwide audience.
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