HWASA Booked for Rock in Rio 2026 — K-pop's Hottest Solo Artist Heads to Brazil for the First Time
She swept every major chart in South Korea last fall. Now HWASA is taking that momentum straight to Brazil.
P Nation confirmed Thursday that the MAMAMOO singer will perform on the Palco Mundo - the festival's main World Stage - on September 11 at Rock in Rio 2026. It will be her first time performing in the country.
The Night That Could Define K-pop's Global Moment
September 11 is already the most K-pop-heavy night in Rock in Rio history. Stray Kids, who made headlines last November as the first K-pop act ever to headline the festival, will close the evening. HWASA performs before them, with Brazilian DJ Alok also on the bill.
Rock in Rio has been running since 1985 and regularly draws hundreds of thousands of fans to the Cidade do Rock in Rio de Janeiro. Queen, Guns N' Roses, Bon Jovi, and Beyoncé have all played there. The 2026 edition - the festival's 11th - runs September 4-7 and 11-13 at the Olympic Park. Elton John headlines September 7. Maroon 5, Demi Lovato, Jamiroquai, Mumford & Sons, Bring Me the Horizon, and Avenged Sevenfold are also confirmed.
How "Good Goodbye" Changed Everything
Timing matters, and HWASA's arrival at Rock in Rio comes off the back of one of the most dominant chart runs in recent Korean music history.
She released "Good Goodbye" on October 15, 2025 - a self-co-written, self-co-composed R&B ballad produced with Park Woo-sang. The song built quietly at first, then exploded after her performance at the 46th Blue Dragon Film Awards in November went viral. Within days, it swept every major chart in South Korea and earned a Perfect All-Kill, making her the first female soloist to achieve that in 2025. The music video has since crossed 100 million YouTube views.
The song also debuted at No. 1 on the inaugural Billboard Korea Hot 100 - the very first song to ever hold that position - while landing at No. 43 on the Billboard Global 200.
"I never expected it to go this far," HWASA told Billboard. "People tell me this song reminded them of a good farewell they once experienced... I once said I hoped this song could become a source of comfort for someone, and it feels like that wish has become reality."
A Solo Career Built on Her Own Terms
HWASA debuted as a solo artist in February 2019 with "Twit," which topped South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart. The run since then - "Maria," "I Love My Body," and now "Good Goodbye" - has cemented her as one of K-pop's most consistent solo forces.
In Rio, fans can expect a set built around those hits: "Twit," "Maria," and "I Love My Body" are all expected to feature, with "Good Goodbye" likely to close things out. For Brazilian fans who've followed her from afar, September 11 will be the first chance to see her live.
Rock in Rio 2026 runs September 4-7 and 11-13 at the Cidade do Rock, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
