Third Lineup for 2025 SBS Gayo Daejeon Unveiled, Showcasing Global K‑Pop Powerhouse

A Star-Studded Christmas Spectacle in Incheon

The 2025 SBS Gayo Daejeon is set to deliver one of its most ambitious editions yet, as the third lineup for the annual year-end music festival is unveiled. The event, scheduled for December 25 at Inspire Arena in Incheon, will transform Christmas Day into a high-energy celebration of K-pop’s global influence and evolving sound.

The red carpet is slated to begin at 1:10 PM KST, followed by the main show at 5 PM KST, giving fans an extended window of performances, interviews, and behind-the-scenes moments. The newly announced lineup features a mix of first-generation icons, established superstars, and rising rookies, underscoring how the festival has become a mirror of the industry’s multi-generational landscape.

Among the artists announced are U-KNOW, KEY, NCT Dream, THE BOYZ, Stray Kids, ATEEZ, ITZY, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, TREASURE, aespa, ENHYPEN, IVE, NMIXX, LE SSERAFIM, &TEAM, BOYNEXTDOOR, ZEROBASEONE, RIIZE, TWS, NCT WISH, ILLIT, BABYMONSTER, NEXZ, MEOVV, izna, KickFlip, Hearts2Hearts, Kiiikiii, SKINZ, HITGS, ALLDAY PROJECT, Baby DONT Cry, AHOF, CORTIS, AxMxP, and IDID, along with special guests BINI.

With such a dense roster, the 2025 edition not only promises a marathon of live performances but also highlights the festival’s strategic role as a stage where legacy, mainstream dominance, and rookie momentum collide.

From Year-End Showcase to Global K‑Pop Institution

Since its inception in the 1990s, SBS Gayo Daejeon has evolved from a domestic year-end music program into one of the most watched K-pop festivals worldwide. Historically, the show served as a space to recognize the biggest hits and artists of the year, emphasizing collaborations and special stages rather than awards. Over time, as K-pop’s reach expanded, so did the festival’s ambitions.

In the 2000s and early 2010s, SBS Gayo Daejeon became widely known for cross-group performances and rare unit stages that drew international attention through online clips and fan communities. As social media and streaming platforms amplified the global spread of Korean music, the festival increasingly functioned as both a celebration for local fans and a showcase for a worldwide audience.

By the late 2010s and early 2020s, K-pop’s consumption patterns had changed dramatically. International fans followed year-end festivals in real time, and clips from SBS Gayo Daejeon routinely trended across video platforms. The move to large-scale venues such as Inspire Arena reflects that shift, with improved staging, production design, and concert-like setlists that rival full tours in spectacle.

The 2025 lineup continues this trajectory, emphasizing performance-focused acts known for intense choreography, high-concept stages, and well-defined group identities. The event’s programming is increasingly curated with a global viewer in mind, while still retaining its identity as a Korean year-end tradition.

Legacy Idols Meet the Fourth and Fifth Generations

One of the defining features of the third lineup announcement is the intergenerational spread of performers. Veteran artists stand alongside some of the newest names in the industry, creating a living timeline of K-pop’s evolution.

U-KNOW, a longstanding figure in the idol scene, represents the industry’s second generation, when physical album sales, TV music shows, and domestic fandoms still dominated. His presence signals continuity with an era that laid the groundwork for today’s global infrastructure.

KEY, known both as a member of an influential boy group and as a solo artist, brings a distinct performance style and fashion-forward image that has influenced newer acts. His inclusion highlights how individual artistry has grown increasingly important alongside group identities.

Contrasting these veterans are groups at the forefront of the current wave, including NCT Dream, THE BOYZ, Stray Kids, ATEEZ, ITZY, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, TREASURE, aespa, ENHYPEN, IVE, NMIXX, LE SSERAFIM, BOYNEXTDOOR, ZEROBASEONE, RIIZE, TWS, NCT WISH, and others. Collectively, they represent the third, fourth, and emerging fifth generations of K-pop idols, characterized by:

• Strong digital and streaming performance.
• Large, highly organized global fandoms.
• Genre fusion that blends pop, hip-hop, EDM, rock, and experimental sounds.
• Multi-platform storytelling that extends beyond music into web content, variety, and social media.

Rookie and pre-debut acts such as ILLIT, BABYMONSTER, NEXZ, MEOVV, and other emerging names add another layer, signaling where the industry is heading. For these groups, an appearance at a major year-end festival can act as a springboard, amplifying awareness among both domestic and international viewers.

Performance-Driven Groups Take Center Stage

The 2025 SBS Gayo Daejeon lineup suggests a strong emphasis on performance-driven stages that prioritize choreography, storytelling, and visual innovation. Groups like Stray Kids, ATEEZ, ITZY, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, aespa, ENHYPEN, IVE, NMIXX, LE SSERAFIM, ZEROBASEONE, and RIIZE have built reputations for ambitious staging and concept-heavy music videos, which naturally translates into a heightened expectation for live festival sets.

NCT Dream and NCT WISH, part of the expansive NCT brand, are widely recognized for synchronized choreography, vocal performance, and experimental production that mixes various genres. Their participation supports the idea that this year’s festival will lean heavily into intricate dance formations and multi-song medleys.

In addition, acts such as BOYNEXTDOOR, TWS, and newer units like MEOVV, KickFlip, Hearts2Hearts, Kiiikiii, SKINZ, HITGS, ALLDAY PROJECT, Baby DONT Cry, AHOF, CORTIS, AxMxP, and IDID supply variety across musical styles. With such diversity, the show is poised to offer a mix of:

• High-energy dance tracks conducive to elaborate group formations.
• Emotional mid-tempo and ballad stages that highlight vocalists.
• Conceptual performances with narrative or thematic elements.
• Collaborative units and special stages that cross agency and group lines.

Special guests BINI further illustrate the festival’s widening horizon. The inclusion of an international girl group underscores how K-pop events increasingly function as regional hubs for Asian pop, not limited solely to Korean acts.

Economic Impact on Incheon and the Local Entertainment Sector

Hosting the 2025 SBS Gayo Daejeon at Inspire Arena carries significant economic implications for Incheon and the broader metropolitan region. Large-scale music festivals concentrated around the holiday season tend to generate surges in:

• Hotel bookings and short-term accommodations.
• Restaurant and retail sales.
• Transportation usage, including domestic flights, trains, and local transit.
• Tourism-related spending on attractions, cafes, and merchandise.

Incheon, already a major gateway city due to its international airport, stands to benefit from the influx of both domestic fans traveling from other regions and international visitors drawn to the live event. The timing on December 25 positions the festival as a central attraction during a year-end period when leisure spending often rises.

Beyond immediate tourism revenue, festivals like Gayo Daejeon also support the broader entertainment ecosystem. Stage production companies, lighting and sound technicians, costume designers, stylists, and security services all see heightened demand. Local businesses near the venue, such as cafes and convenience stores, frequently report increased sales around event days.

Historically, major K-pop events have also boosted the visibility of hosting venues. Inspire Arena’s role as the festival’s stage strengthens its positioning as a premier site for concerts and international-scale events, potentially attracting future bookings across music, sports, and conventions.

Regional Comparisons: Korea’s Year-End Festival Landscape

Within South Korea, year-end music festivals have become a cultural ritual, drawing comparisons in scale and influence. Each major broadcaster hosts its own music festival, contributing to a dense lineup of televised events that close out the year.

SBS Gayo Daejeon distinguishes itself through a consistent focus on visually driven performances and cross-group collaborations. While other events may place greater emphasis on awards or retrospective segments, Gayo Daejeon often positions itself as a high-concept live showcase, comparable to extended concert productions. This approach resonates with younger audiences accustomed to intricately choreographed stages and cinematic styling.

In comparison with large K-pop concerts and international tours, Gayo Daejeon offers a unique density of artists in a single program. Fans who might normally travel for an individual group’s tour can experience a broad spectrum of acts in one night, which can be particularly appealing for international viewers accessing the festival through broadcasts and streaming.

Within the broader Asia-Pacific region, the festival’s multi-group format is comparable to large music award shows and festivals in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. However, the concentration of K-pop acts with global fandoms gives the event a distinct edge in online traction, social media engagement, and replay value through performance clips.

Global Reach and Digital Footprint

The 2025 edition is likely to continue the trend of strong digital engagement. In previous years, stages from SBS Gayo Daejeon have routinely gone viral, accumulating millions of views within days. This impact is shaped by several factors:

• International fanbases that organize streaming, live-tweeting, and highlight sharing.
• High production values that make performances replayable content on video platforms.
• Unique stages that are not replicated on regular weekly music shows.

Groups such as Stray Kids, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, aespa, IVE, ENHYPEN, LE SSERAFIM, and others are particularly prominent in driving online conversations, thanks to their active global fandoms and strong presence on social platforms. For rookies like BABYMONSTER, ILLIT, and ZEROBASEONE, standout stages can significantly expand awareness and shape early impressions of their performance identity.

The inclusion of special guests BINI introduces an additional digital dimension, as fans from the Philippine and wider Southeast Asian music communities are likely to join the online conversation. This cross-border interaction reinforces K-pop festivals as shared regional cultural events rather than purely national broadcasts.

A High-Stakes Stage for Established and Emerging Acts

For veteran artists, SBS Gayo Daejeon offers an opportunity to reaffirm their status and showcase artistic growth. U-KNOW and KEY, along with groups that debuted earlier in the K-pop wave, can leverage the festival to present updated arrangements, reinterpret past hits, or spotlight more recent releases.

For mid-career groups like NCT Dream, THE BOYZ, ITZY, ATEEZ, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, TREASURE, aespa, and ENHYPEN, the festival functions as both a summary of their year and a preview of their direction moving into 2026. Setlists often blend hit tracks with newer songs, giving audiences a sense of continuity and progression.

Rookies and emerging acts face particularly high stakes. For IVE, NMIXX, LE SSERAFIM, BOYNEXTDOOR, ZEROBASEONE, RIIZE, TWS, NCT WISH, ILLIT, BABYMONSTER, NEXZ, and other newcomers, a memorable performance can translate into increased streams, social media followings, and invitations to future events. For lesser-known names like MEOVV, izna, KickFlip, Hearts2Hearts, Kiiikiii, SKINZ, HITGS, ALLDAY PROJECT, Baby DONT Cry, AHOF, CORTIS, AxMxP, and IDID, the broadcast may serve as a crucial introduction to a wider audience.

The presence of so many rookie groups in a single lineup reflects an industry in rapid expansion, with agencies actively debuting new teams to capture emerging trends and niches. Gayo Daejeon, in turn, becomes a concentrated snapshot of that growth.

Anticipation Builds Ahead of Show Day

As December 25 approaches, anticipation around the 2025 SBS Gayo Daejeon continues to build among fans, industry observers, and local businesses. Online communities already buzz with speculation over potential collaborations, concept themes, and setlists for the evening.

The Christmas Day timing adds a festive backdrop, as fans plan viewing parties, travel to Incheon, and prepare fan-made banners and light sticks. For many, the festival has become more than a televised special; it is a seasonal tradition marking the end of another year in K-pop.

With a third lineup that spans generations, musical styles, and regional representation, the 2025 edition appears poised to reinforce SBS Gayo Daejeon’s position as a central stage in the global K-pop calendar. From veteran idols to the newest trainees, Inspire Arena will host a live snapshot of an industry that continues to expand its cultural, economic, and digital footprint far beyond Korea’s borders.