K-pop agencies to join forces for Coachella-like music festival 'Fanomenon'
Attention, K-pop fans: A music festival featuring the biggest K-pop groups is happening in late 2027.
According to The Korea Herald, South Korea's four biggest K-pop agencies—HYBE, SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, and YG Entertainment—are teaming up to create Fanomenon, an 11-day music festival backed by the South Korean government.
The plan was unveiled on Monday, July 27, by the Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange, co-chaired by Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young and JYP founder Park Jin-young.
Fanomenon, named after the words "fan" and "phenomenon," is scheduled for Dec. 2 to 12, 2027, and is expected to feature artists from all four agencies on the same lineup for the first time.
HYBE, the largest of the four by revenue, is home to BTS, SEVENTEEN, TXT, ENHYPEN, LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, CORTIS, as well as global groups KATSEYE and SAINT SATINE through its partnership with Geffen Records.
SM Entertainment's roster includes EXO, Red Velvet, Girls' Generation, aespa, NCT 127, NCT Dream, NCT WISH, RIIZE, SHINee, and Hearts2Hearts.
JYP Entertainment represents Stray Kids, TWICE, DAY6, and ITZY, while YG Entertainment is home to BLACKPINK, BABYMONSTER, BIGBANG, and TREASURE.
The presidential committee envisions the festival as a Korean counterpart to Coachella and Lollapalooza.
What to expect
The Korea Herald reported that the event will kick off with a gala on Dec. 2 and span two venues: the newly built Seoul Arena in Changdong, northern Seoul, and KINTEX's second exhibition center in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Seoul Arena, set to open in May 2027, will host six concert days across two weekends, with multiple artists performing each day.
The festival will go beyond K-pop, with organizers planning to feature international acts alongside Korean performers. KINTEX, meanwhile, will host a weekend music festival for around 20,000 attendees, showcasing jazz, EDM, rock, R&B, hip-hop, world music, and traditional Korean music.
During the week, the venue will also hold fan meetings, esports tournaments, screenings, production showcases, and business forums. A fandom-focused awards ceremony will also be part of the festival, featuring the trademarked Fandemonium award. Park said the honor is meant for fans, with artists receiving it as representatives of their fandoms.
The final artist lineup has yet to be announced.
Per reports, organizers expect Fanomenon to attract 520,000 visitors over 11 days, including 200,000 international guests, and generate an estimated economic impact of 1 trillion won (roughly P40 billion).
Fanomenon will debut in Seoul in December 2027 before heading overseas in May 2028. Los Angeles has been confirmed as the first overseas stop.
The project also includes plans to build permanent K-culture centers in major cities abroad, each featuring a 20,000-seat venue, exhibition halls, and commercial spaces.
