Hwasa Named No. 2 Act at Rock in Rio 2026, Behind Only Elton John

Singer Hwasa has earned high marks from Brazilian media for her performance at Rock in Rio 2026. She was named the festival's second-best act, behind only pop legend Elton John.

Brazilian outlet G1 placed Hwasa at No. 2 on its "best performances" list in a recap of Rock in Rio 2026. The top spot went to Elton John.

G1 wrote that Hwasa "made festival history as the first K-pop female solo artist to take the Rock in Rio stage." The outlet added that she "opened with a song named after herself, revealing her pop-diva side and showing off her vocals, choreography, and command of the stage."

Hwasa performed on Rock in Rio 2026's main stage, Palco Mundo, at Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro on the 11th at 7 p.m. local time. She sang 13 songs live over one hour in front of a crowd of about 80,000.

After the show, Hwasa said she had been waiting for the moment. "I knew the history and the weight of Rock in Rio, so I had been looking forward to this stage for so long," she said. "I was so excited to give Brazilian and global fans who waited for me a stage full of Hwasa's own heartfelt passion, and the incredibly warm response I felt on-site left me overwhelmed. I want to meet more fans around the world who want to see me."

This year's festival main-stage lineup also featured Elton John, Maroon 5, Jamiroquai, and Foo Fighters. With her first appearance drawing strong reviews from local media, Hwasa plans to expand her overseas activities going forward.