Wango Tango 2025: A Beachside Rebirth and the Future of Global Pop
Wango Tango is on for May 10th! Credit to iHeartRadio.
Los Angeles, California (April 7, 2025)- For the first time ever, iHeartRadio’s iconic Wango Tango is bringing the heat to the coast. After a three-year hiatus, the legendary summer kickoff concert returns with a bold new setting—Huntington City Beach, California—and a lineup that signals more than just a comeback. Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the 2025 edition is a reintroduction not only of the festival itself but also of the global direction pop music is headed. With genre-spanning icons like David Guetta, Doja Cat, Gwen Stefani, and Meghan Trainor set to hit the stage, the event promises a familiar punch of mainstream energy. But its most significant shift comes in the form of its global reach, particularly in its embrace of K-pop and international newcomers.
Wango Tango has a long history of providing a platform for breakout artists on the cusp of U.S. stardom. From Wonder Girls to Fifth Harmony, the stage has long foreshadowed the rise of future chart dominators. In 2025, the message is clearer than ever: the global wave isn’t just coming—it’s here. K-pop group NMIXX is among the most anticipated performers, bringing their “mixx pop” sound and high-octane choreography to American shores once again. Fresh off the success of their album Fe3O4: Break and a groundbreaking appearance at Billboard’s Latin Music Week, the group’s inclusion underscores the increasing fusion between K-pop and broader international markets.
Joining them is xikers, the rising 10-member boy group under KQ Entertainment, following in the footsteps of labelmates ATEEZ. xikers are making waves with their intense hip-hop energy and have already charted on the Billboard 200 multiple times, no small feat for a relatively new act. Wango Tango represents a significant moment for the group, as it coincides with the start of their Road to XY: Enter the Gate world tour and their continued expansion into Western audiences.
Equally telling is the debut appearance of KATSEYE, the first girl group formed through the HYBE America-led reality show The Debut: Dream Academy. With their sleek pop single “Touch” landing on Billboard’s Pop Songs airplay chart, KATSEYE is primed to be a crossover success, emblematic of the industry’s push for hybrid talent molded with K-pop discipline and global appeal. Their presence on a lineup with legacy pop stars highlights just how quickly these genre lines are blurring.
Newcomers A2O MAY and Hearts2Hearts represent two very different, yet equally ambitious, industry plays. A2O MAY, backed by K-pop mogul Lee Soo-Man’s new company, is a Gen Z–Gen Alpha girl group looking to set a new standard with their so-called “Zalpha Pop.” Their debut single “Under My Skin (A2O),” released in both English and Chinese, signals a multilingual, multinational strategy aimed squarely at the next generation of fans. Meanwhile, Hearts2Hearts—SM Entertainment’s first girl group launched after Lee Soo-Man’s departure—will be making their first U.S. appearance less than three months after their debut, an aggressive move that reflects both SM’s continued global ambition and the group’s rising star power.
Behind the scenes, iHeartMedia has partnered with experience agency Code Four to transform Wango Tango into an immersive beachside spectacle. The creative pivot from an indoor arena to an oceanfront venue isn’t just aesthetic—it’s a symbolic step toward reimagining what a pop festival can be in the age of digital fandom and international stardom. Extended set times, genre-spanning acts, and a literal new stage on the sand create the perfect storm for a festival reawakening.
For fans, it’s not just about watching their favorites perform—it’s about witnessing the moment music's center of gravity shifts. Wango Tango 2025 isn’t just a return to form; it’s a reset. It’s a nod to the past and a full sprint into the future, where K-pop girl groups share headliner status with EDM legends, and multilingual lyrics echo over the Pacific waves. The beach is just the beginning.
