The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is sponsoring and the Korea Music Label Industry Association is organizing the country's largest live music festival, 'LALALA ON' (LALALA ON), which has set a new record for applications and marked the launch of 2026 LALALA ON.
Since opening in 2023 and establishing itself as a distinctive live music brand, LALALA ON saw a sharp increase in applicants in this year's recruitment compared with last year, with about 550 teams of musicians and about 90 venues nationwide competing fiercely. After a rigorous review, 159 musicians and 53 venues nationwide were finally selected.
Under the slogan "varied music, moments together," the 2026 LALALA ON will embark on a three-month nationwide live tour from Sept. to Nov. Based on nationwide infrastructure, it is expected to expand the indie scene's ecosystem and revitalize regional performance culture.
As accumulated know-how combines with expanded infrastructure, audience influx to small venues nationwide is expected to increase significantly, and artists are expected to be provided with ideal stages to interact closely with fans.
The Korea Music Label Industry Association said the record number of applicants shows musicians' and the industry's strong desire for live performance, and noted it will present a new turning point for the stagnant offline concert market and become a key force in building a sustainable popular music ecosystem.
Meanwhile, the full lineup of performers for 2026 LALALA ON and detailed regional performance schedules will be released sequentially through LALALA ON's official social media channels.
[Photo] Korea Music Label Industry Association
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