On Day 3 of Lollapalooza 2025, K-pop powerhouse TWICE made history as the first K-pop girl group to headline the Chicago festival. Their performance marked a high point in Lollapalooza's ongoing embrace of K-pop. This trend began in 2022 when BTS' J-Hope became the first South Korean artist to headline, joined by labelmates TXT. In 2023, NewJeans and Stray Kids took the stage, while the 2024 edition welcomed IVE AND SEVENTEEN.
This year features the largest K-pop-heavy lineup in the festival's history, with a total of six K-pop acts. Besides TWICE, the 2025 festival welcomed Xdinary Heroes, BoyNextDoor, Katseye, and KickFlip. While BTS opened the global doors for K-pop to rise, especially in the States, groups like TWICE are keeping K-pop's momentum alive.
TWICE Performs 18 Hits for Lollapalooza Debut Before Sabrina Carpenter "Arrests" Them
Headlining Lollapalooza Chicago on Saturday, August 2, joining the long list of elite headliners including Tyler, The Creator, Olivia Rodrigo, and Sabrina Carpenter. The group delivered an 18-song set on the Bud Light Stage for their only U.S. stop on their sixth world tour. All nine members -- Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu -- opened with "The Feels" and kept the momentum with hits like "What is Love?," "Moonlight Sunrise," and "Dance the Night Away." The group also didn't miss out on their latest single "This Is For", which raked in more than 32 million views on YouTube since its release on July 11, 2025. With New York subway backdrops and cowboy-inspired denim outfits, TWICE closed the night with fireworks.
Even after TWICE left the stage, they weren't off the hook. Sunday headliner Carpenter continued her usual pre-"Juno" bit of "arresting" her celebrity audiences for being too beautiful. This time, the culprits were TWICE's Momo, Jihyo, and Sana, who were playfully slapped with handcuffs. Locking eyes with the three members, Carpenter made the girls blush with her on-stage flirting antics.
"Damn, we have some beautiful people in this audience tonight, but there are three girls I can't take my eyes off of. I was gonna say, 'cause I had to look not once, but twice. Are you guys single, by chance? Would you guys want to get married, maybe? If I were to give you these handcuffs, then I could marry all three of you, right?"
TWICE Brought 'KPop Demon Hunters' Soundtrack to Life Onstage for the First Time
For those unfamiliar with TWICE, you might recognize them through the hit Netflix animated film KPop Demon Hunters. Nearing the end of their Lollapalooza set, TWICE members Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung delivered a live version of "Takedown," one of the songs featured in the film's soundtrack. In KPop Demon Hunters, "Takedown" marks Huntrix's breaking point in the movie, a charged warrior anthem for the fictional girl group fueled by one member's lost voice and the group's frustration at being upstaged by the mysterious Saja Boys.
While TWICE didn't contribute to the original soundtrack (the film's vocals were done by Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami), the trio recorded a reimagined cover that plays during the film's credits. K-pop Demon Hunters became Netflix's most-watched original animated film, with over 26.3 million views in six weeks. Huntrix's soundtrack also peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Despite being nearly a decade into their career (TWICE debuted on October 20, 20215), the members admitted feeling a bit nervous about their cover. Chaeyoung admitted the process was fun but unfamiliar, as it was a style they hadn't tried before. Jeongyeon added, "I'm so happy that the voices of the three of us will be heard all around the world.
Lollapalooza 2025 Shocks Fans with Surprise Collabs Between Pop Stars and Music Legends
Lollapalooza wouldn't be one of the most talked-about festivals it is today without some unexpected surprises. Friday headliner Rodrigo brought out Weezer, whom Rodrigo mentions was her first concert, out to her stage to play their joint renditions of "Buddy Holly" and "Say It Ain't So." Just in 2025 alone, Rodrigo previously performed with David Bryne at New York's Governors Ball and Robert Smith of The Cure at Glastonbury festival. Her fellow Disney counterpart and Sunday headliner, Carpenter, also has a surprise of her own by inviting Chicago R&B legends Earth, Wind & Fire to join her set. The crowd was treated to a mini-set featuring the timeless hit "September" and the disco-pop favorite, "Let's Groove."