HWASA Becomes First K-Pop Female Soloist on Rock in Rio Main Stage

Singer HWASA is set to perform on the main stage of Rock in Rio, one of the world's largest music festivals. She is the first K-POP female soloist to earn the slot.

HWASA will take the Palco Mundo stage at Rock in Rio 2026, held at Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sept. 11 local time.

Launched in Brazil in 1985, Rock in Rio has grown into a major outdoor festival with editions in Lisbon, Madrid, and Las Vegas. Past performers include Queen, Guns N' Roses, Bon Jovi, and Beyoncé. Palco Mundo, the festival's centerpiece stage, will also host Elton John, Maroon 5, and boy group Stray Kids this year.

HWASA plans to run through a set of her signature tracks for the Brazilian crowd. Her setlist includes solo songs "Twit" and "Maria," along with "Good Goodbye," which achieved 750 Perfect All-Kills on the domestic music aggregator iChart after its release in October last year.

A Palco Mundo booking marks a notable moment for K-pop's expansion in Latin America. While boy groups have steadily grown their presence at global festivals, this is the first time a female soloist from the genre has reached the top tier of a Rock in Rio lineup, opening a new lane for solo artists in one of pop's most competitive live markets.