In a summer filled with live music, one event towers above the rest as the must-see concert of 2025: SMTOWN LIVE 2025 [THE CULTURE, THE FUTURE]. On Saturday, 28 June, London’s The O2 will transform into a stage for K-pop history, as 15 of SM Entertainment’s most iconic and rising artists unite for a Europe-exclusive performance celebrating three decades of global K-pop influence.

Among the names leading the star-studded charge are TVXQ!, Girls’ Generation’s HYOYEON, Red Velvet, NCT 127, NCT DREAM, WayV, aespa, RIIZE, and EXO’s SUHO, CHANYEOL, and KAI -artists who not only helped shape the sound of modern K-pop but continue to change its future. Joining them are NCT WISH, naevis, dearALICE, Hearts2Hearts, and an elite ensemble of SM trainees collectively billed as SMTR25, set to become the next wave of breakout stars.

It was recently announced that MINHO of SHINee, will make his UK return for the first time since 2011. That same year, SHINee became the first Asian group to perform at London’s legendary Abbey Road Studios. Now, 14 years later, MINHO returns not just as a K-pop idol but as a multi-hyphenate star, fresh off the success of his 2024 solo album Call Back, which topped charts in 14 countries and ushered in a new chapter in his career with a sold-out solo tour.

This event is also a historic first for the UK: while SMTOWN LIVE has toured Paris and other global metropolises, this is the very first time the mega-concert brand touches down in London. It also coincides with SM Entertainment’s 30th anniversary.

From first-generation titans like TVXQ! to the virtual-pop frontier of naevis, SMTOWN LIVE 2025 will be a huge music event. Expect not only powerful performances but exciting collaborations, immersive visuals, and the once-in-a-lifetime energy that comes when generations of idols share one roof, one night, and one dream.

Tickets are extremely limited, and the final general on-sale begins Monday, 9 June at 10:00AM BST via AXS. As K-pop continues to shape youth culture worldwide, SMTOWN LIVE 2025 in London is a powerful reminder that The Culture is here, and The Future is now.

Featured image courtesy of SM Entertainment

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to films, music, and the 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.}