Stray Kids will make history at Rock in Rio next year, becoming the first K-pop act to headline the Brazilian festival since its launch four decades ago.
Festival organizers confirmed on November 26, 2025, that the group will take the main stage on September 11, 2026, marking a significant moment for both the event and the global rise of Korean pop music.
Founded in 1985, Rock in Rio has hosted many of contemporary music’s most defining performances, including sets by Queen, Guns N’ Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Muse. The decision to place Stray Kids at the top of the 2026 lineup signals a deliberate widening of the festival’s musical landscape and further recognition of K-pop’s expanding international footprint.
The headlining slot also marks Stray Kids’ South American festival debut, following their successfully sold-out solo concert in Rio de Janeiro earlier in 2025. The group has steadily strengthened its global live presence in recent years, with standout festival appearances at Lollapalooza Paris, I-Days Milan, BST Hyde Park, and Lollapalooza Chicago.
Each performance has helped cement their reputation for high-energy stages and self-produced music that resonates across borders.
Their Rock in Rio appearance arrives nearly a year after the release of their Nov 2025 album DO IT, that continued to push their distinctive, experimental sound. While full details of the September 11 program have not yet been disclosed, organizers say the group’s set is expected to be one of the festival’s most anticipated moments.
Rock in Rio 2026 will span two weekends, from September 4–7 and 11–13, at the Cidade do Rock in Rio de Janeiro.
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