K-pop arrived at Rock in Rio 2026 with the performance of the Japanese-Korean group Nexz, whose name is a combination of "next generation" and the letter "Z". The group opened the Palco Mundo stage for the biggest audience of the time slot at the festival, being received by a sea of black shirts and the sound of fans.
The six Japanese and one Korean that make up the band brought a rock aesthetic, wearing shirts from bands like Ramones, Black Sabbath and Sonic Youth. The performance started with the songs "Beat-boxer" and "O-rly", and the members interacted with the audience in a well-studied Portuguese.
Nexz is a traditional boy band, made up of young people between 18 and 21 years old, that dances and maintains a "tough guy" posture. The group was formed by a Korean company in partnership with a Japanese record label and sings in both languages.
