SM Entertainment has been shaping K-pop industry since its establishment in 1995 by Lee Soo-man. Its strategic vision and strict idol training system have been instrumental in exporting Korean pop culture worldwide, driving the “Hallyu Wave” through the success of first-generation icons like H.O.T., S.E.S., and BoA.
Over the decades, SM has expanded its global footprint through joint ventures, international subsidiaries, and digital innovation, pioneering the idol system, establishing localised sub-units, and launching multimedia ventures such as SM Station and ScreaM Records. With its forward-thinking philosophy and relentless pursuit of artistic and commercial excellence, SM Entertainment remains quite powerful in shaping contemporary pop culture on a global scale.
We are very excited to learn that SM Entertainment is bringing SMTOWN LIVE 2025 to the UK for the first time in history, in collaboration with FRONTROW. This event forms part of the label’s 30th-anniversary celebrations, making it one of the most exciting K-pop spectacles in Europe this summer.
Set to take place at London’s Allianz Stadium Twickenham on 28 June, SMTOWN LIVE 2025 will be the stadium’s first-ever K-pop concert – an arena that has previously hosted global icons like U2, Beyoncé, and Lady Gaga. The first wave of chart-topping artists announced today includes EXO’s SUHO and CHANYEOL, NCT DREAM, WayV, RIIZE, and NCT WISH. The full lineup is yet to be revealed, promising even more excitement to come.
This is the first European edition of SMTOWN LIVE since its groundbreaking 2010 performance in Paris.
Leading the first round of artist announcements are SUHO and CHANYEOL of EXO, one of K-pop’s most decorated and influential groups. Over their illustrious career, EXO has achieved unprecedented milestones, becoming the first Korean act to surpass 10 million album sales in the 21st century and the first K-pop group to secure five consecutive million-selling albums. As of January 2024, their total equivalent album sales have exceeded 35 million worldwide. Their latest release, Exist (2023), broke new ground by selling over one million copies on its first day, a remarkable achievement for a group well over a decade into their career.
Also gracing the London stage is NCT DREAM, the sub-unit of SM Entertainment’s NCT umbrella. Fresh off their THE DREAM SHOW 3: DREAM( )SCAPE world tour, which spanned 36 dates across Asia, South America, North America, and Europe, NCT DREAM returns to London just seven months after their sold-out show at OVO Arena Wembley. In addition to their extensive tour, the group released two major projects in 2023 – the EP DREAM( )SCAPE and the full-length album DREAMSCAPE, the former of which became Korea’s best-selling album of the year.
WayV, the six-member Chinese sub-unit of NCT, also makes their return to the UK after their great London debut in June 2023. Since then, they have continued their upward trajectory with FREQUENCY, an album that shattered their previous first-week sales records. Their achievements earned them the distinction of becoming the first non-Korean group to win first place on a Korean music show.
Adding to the lineup is RIIZE, one of the fastest-rising groups in the K-pop industry. Debuting in 2023, they skyrocketed to success with their first album RIIZING, which sold over one million copies. In just over a year, the group has amassed over three million monthly listeners on Spotify, cementing their status as a formidable force in the industry. Their SMTOWN LIVE appearance will be their first-ever European performance, making this event even more momentous.
Completing the first wave of artist announcements is NCT WISH, the latest and final sub-unit of NCT. Despite debuting just last year, the rookie group has already made a significant impact, earning the ‘Rookie of the Year’ title at the Golden Disc Awards and securing a nomination for ‘Best New Artist (K-pop)’ at the iHeartRadio Music Awards. Their London debut at SMTOWN LIVE 2025 is set to be a defining moment in their burgeoning career.
Following two sold-out performances in Seoul last month, SMTOWN LIVE 2025 will take the shows to Mexico City on 9 May, Los Angeles on 11 May, and London on 28 June, before heading to Tokyo for two back-to-back shows on 9 and 10 August.
Tickets go on sale at the end of this month – more details to come.
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View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to films, music, and arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. With rich content already available to our readers, we aim to expand our reach and grow alongside our audience by delving deeper into emerging platforms such as K-pop and Asian music more broadly. At the same time, we remain committed to exploring the vibrant and ever-evolving global landscape of film, music, and the arts, celebrating the immense talent and creativity that define these industries worldwide.
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