Rock in Rio 2026 Features Historic K-pop Headliners Amid Mixed Reception
3 sources across 2 countries · South Korea · Brazil · 1 of them is linked to a state
Who reported this
- Yonhap
- The Korea Herald
- Folha de S.Paulo
What the colours mean
- Left
- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
- A hatched block means the outlet is affiliated with, or controlled by, a state.
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The 2026 edition of Rock in Rio concluded on Sunday at the Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, marked by a historic milestone for K-pop. Stray Kids became the first K-pop act to headline the festival, performing for a crowd of approximately 100,000 people on Friday. Other K-pop artists included Hwasa, who became the first female K-pop solo artist to perform on the main stage, and the rookie group NexZ. To accommodate K-pop concert culture, the festival allowed the use of lightsticks for the first time since its inception in 1985. The lineup also featured international artists such as Elton John, Calvin Harris, Maroon 5, and Foo Fighters, alongside Brazilian performers including Gilberto Gil, Ivete Sangalo, and João Gomes. Reports on the event's success vary based on the perspective of the coverage. Center-leaning coverage highlighted a decline in the festival's appeal, noting that tickets were available for purchase during shows on four of the seven days. This perspective attributed the lower interest to rain and a lineup featuring artists who had recently performed in Brazil. In contrast, center-right and center-leaning reports focused on the success of the K-pop performances, describing the reception of Stray Kids as electrifying.
How each side framed it
- Centre
- Framed the event as a decline in the festival's prestige due to repetitive lineups and poor attendance.
- Centre-right
- Framed the event as a triumph for K-pop stars who successfully captured the Brazilian audience.
Sources
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