Stray Kids continue to cement 2025 as another successful year with their latest album and a historic announcement of becoming the first K-pop act to headline “Rock in Rio” on September 11, 2026.
This marks a noteworthy milestone for both the group and K-pop globally, considering the festival’s signature rock, pop and Latin superstars.
Brazil proves the power of Stray Kids
The band left an unforgettable impression in the South American country in April after attracting more than 50,000 fans during their 2025 Brazil “dominATE” tour stop at Estádio Nilton Santos.
Their anticipated return as headliners next year signifies a development in their international fanbase and recognition as a global performance act.
Furthermore, this announcement coincides with the fiery hype surrounding “SKZ IT TAPE: DO IT”, a five-track mixtape dropped on November 21.
Upon its release, the album made a skyrocketing No.1 debut on worldwide and European iTunes charts, dominated charts in numerous countries, and achieved over one million Spotify pre-saves, a first for a K-pop release, according to The Korea Times.
Lead single “Do It” landed in the 11th spot of Spotify’s Global Daily Top Songs after earning over 3.33 million streams on its first day, while its music video topped YouTube’s worldwide trending charts.
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‘Do It’ unlocks a bold new sound
All-out efforts were made by Stray Kids to ensure that the mixtape spotlights the band’s experimental edge.
They wanted to showcase their versatility and confidence by creating the high-energy anthem “Do It” and genre-bending “DIVINE” – their first double title tracks in an album since 2021.
Visuals of the album also left no crumbs with a “modern-sage” aesthetic built from dramatic outfits and moody backdrops that gave the band a new level of mature, daring image.
Amid the fresh concept, Stray Kids’ self-produced sound remains evident in this comeback thanks to their producer unit, 3RACHA.
A global takeover in motion
As the group entered 2026, the combination of their chart-topping “Do It” era and their Rock in Rio headline spot positioned them at the forefront of global pop.
They are not just boosting K-pop’s reach – they are reshaping it, living proof that Korean acts can bring the same heat to the stage as the world’s biggest festival headliners.
Building on the success of “Do It” and their debut in Rio, Stray Kids are set for a pivotal year in the global music industry.
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KC Maderia 
John Christopher Aquino