The South Korean group NEXZ made history this Friday (11) as the first K-Pop act in Rock in Rio history. The event took place at Cidade do Rock, in Rio de Janeiro, during the second week of the festival in 2026. The crowd that showed up early at the venue was mainly expected to see Stray Kids, the main act of the day, but the opening performance already demonstrated that the K-pop day would be a success.
NEXZ took the Mundo Stage without delay, wearing cropped shirts and displaying lots of dancing and rockstar energy. The group is made up of seven members: Yu, Tomoya, Haru, So Geon, Seita, Hyui and Yuki. The members' charisma was evident from the start, winning over both dedicated fans and those not as familiar with the genre.
During the performance, each member spoke directly in Portuguese when introducing themselves, which pleased the audience at the festival. The group's subsequent speeches, made in Korean, were accompanied by simultaneous translation offered by Rock in Rio itself, ensuring everyone could follow the artists' communication.
The group, formed in 2023, also drew attention for their characteristic visuals and energetic performance. The presentation, well received from the start, signaled that the first time K-Pop appeared at Rock in Rio would be a milestone in the festival's history.
