KBS has announced the first lineup for the 2026 MUSIC BANK GLOBAL FESTIVAL IN JAPAN, bringing some of K-pop’s biggest names to Tokyo’s MUFG Stadium for a two-day year-end celebration. The festival will take place December 12–13, with MISAMO, Nayeon, Stray Kids, aespa, IVE, BOYNEXTDOOR, NCT WISH and CORTIS confirmed for the first wave.
The 2026 edition marks another expansion for the KBS special, which has grown from its earlier indoor-dome format into one of Japan’s largest multi-act K-pop events. Last year’s festival became the first K-pop multi-act concert staged at Tokyo’s National Stadium, attracting approximately 140,000 fans across two days and featuring 25 acts.
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This year, organizers will again use the stadium, now branded MUFG Stadium. More artists are expected to be announced as the December event approaches, keeping the final lineup open beyond the eight names revealed in the first announcement.
MISAMO will bring the momentum from a major year in Japan to the festival. The TWICE unit, consisting of Mina, Sana and Momo, released its first full-length Japanese album, Play, in February, led by “Confetti,” and previously sold out a six-date dome tour that drew approximately 250,000 fans.
Nayeon will appear separately from TWICE, marking another major solo presence on the bill. Stray Kids, meanwhile, enter the festival following the launch of their Run It world tour and their August performance at Tokyo’s National Stadium, where they became the first overseas male act to headline the venue as a standalone artist.
aespa also arrive after a busy touring cycle surrounding their second studio album, LEMONADE, released in May. IVE are coming off the international run supporting Revive+, while BOYNEXTDOOR continue their first world tour after releasing their debut full-length album, HOME, in June and preparing the HOME: DELUXE edition for September 28.
NCT WISH add another rising name to the lineup after a strong 2026 that included a career-high Melon chart peak and a double-platinum certification in Japan for “YO-I-DON! / Boy Meets Girl.” CORTIS, meanwhile, represent one of the newest generations of K-pop acts, having already scored a Billboard 200 top-15 EP and surpassed two million copies with Color Outside the Lines.
Ticket sales have already begun through the official earliest-priority period, including two-day reserved seating priced at 40,000 yen. A limited premium package offering arena seating and lounge access is also available for 300,000 yen, putting the festival among the more ambitious K-pop concert offerings on the Japanese calendar.
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