With our feet planted in the sand and some of the best weather Los Angeles has seen all year, iHeartRadioโs iconic 102.7 KIIS FM Wango Tango Festival, presented by Fiji Airways, arrived just in time.
From music legends like Gwen Stefani, Doja Cat, David Guetta, and Meghan Trainor to stage monster K-pop acts like NMIXX, Hearts2Hearts, and Xikers, this lineup had something for everyone. Global groups like Katseye and C-pop group A20 May also have made waves (pun intended), proving this yearโs event was truly one for the books.ย
With the show kicking off at 5 PM, we knew we had to arrive early to catch the action at the pre-show Village. There, we caught standout performances from rising pop acts like Rhea Raj and TRUEBLOOD that started off the night just right.
The must-watch opener was undoubtedly Rhea Raj, an artist riding her own unique wave in pop music.ย
From sultry tracks like โHUSHโ to it-girl anthems like โHAUTE COUTURE,โ Rhea Rajโs set was anything but โMESSY.โ Accompanied by backup dancers, she set the tone for the evening with a confident, high-energy performance.
Following soon after was South Korean singer, songwriter, and rapper KINO with a fresh set of solo tracks that filled the ocean breeze.ย These pre-show artists could have easily held their own on the main stageโiHeartRadio knows how to spotlight talent.
There wasnโt much waiting before the main stage action began, but in the meantime, we explored the many activations around the festival grounds.ย
Kicking off the main stage performances were the winners of Next Music Star, Sorelleโa trio from Utah who charmed the crowd with their signature style. โBoohooโ brought a sweet and steady energy, setting an engaging tone for the artists to follow.
Then came the K-Pop, C-Pop, and global groups, starting with JYP Entertainmentโs six-member, insanely talented group, NMIXX. With a live band and live vocal stage, they kicked off their seaside debut performance โSee That!โ dressed in tan, beach-inspired outfits that perfectly matched the coastal setting.ย
Fittingly, NMIXXโs entire concept has oceanic elementsโeven one of their songs is titled โOceanโโso watching them perform by the sea felt like everything coming full circle. They kept the momentum going with fan-favorite tracks like โDASHโ and โRun for Roses,โ radiating night-like energy even under the broad daylight.ย
NMIXX transformed the stage into their own mini festival, setting the stage for the next act, Hearts2Hearts, who brought a completely differentโyet equally captivatingโvibe.
Hearts2Hearts took the Wango Tango main stage for their first-ever performance in the U.S., charming the crowd with their songs โThe Chaseโ and โButterflies.โย
Their set leaned into a brighter, cuter vibe that stood out in the best way. Staying true to their name and messageโto connect hearts to other heartsโthey absolutely won the audience over with their warmth on this beautiful day.
(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)
Next up was C-Pop group A20 May, making their American festival debut with an explosive performance with two high-energy tracksโtheir debut song โUnder My Skinโ and their recent comeback โBOSS.โ Both songs pulsed with confidence and explosive energy, which quite literally shook the sand under our feet!
(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)
Speaking of ground-shaking energy, it didnโt stop there. K-pop boy group xikers took over the main stage next, delivering a set packed with experimental, bass-boosted tracks like โTricky Houseโ and my personal favorite, โKoong.โย
Their performance brought a completely different energy to the festival, as the large crowd jumped, making the ground tremble beneath them. The audience was all in cheering xikers on.
The cheers only grew louder as global girl group KATSEYE hit the stageโarguably drawing the loudest screams of the day thus far. Dressed in neutral, sandy-toned outfits styled by Gigi Goode and Marko Monroe, the members exuded both elegance and edge. They kicked off their set with the debut U.S. performance of their experimental viral hit โGnarly,โ a track known for its satirical, confidence-boosting lyrics.ย
(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)
KATSEYE showcased their full range with a set that balanced high-energy moments with emotional depth, following up with softer tracks like โMy Wayโ and โTouch.โ Whether bold or tender, every song was met with overwhelming love and nonstop cheers from the crowd.
As the sun began to set over the shore, Meghan Trainor lit up the stage in an all-pink outfit that stood out even from the very back of the crowdโshe definitely made us look. Meghan kept the energy high and the audience fully engaged from start to finish. And true to any Meghan Trainor set, every song was a sing-along.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the icon herself, Gwen Stefani, took the stage, delivering a set that blended her biggest hits with new tracks. And yes, this sht was bananasโB-A-N-A-N-A-S! Quite literally, as bananas made a surprise appearance on stage.
(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)
Closing out the night were the double DโsโDoja Cat and David Guetta.
Each delivered a powerhouse set filled with iconic hits and crowd-favorite classics, turning the beach into one massive dance floor. Wango Tango was nothing but good vibes and unforgettable memories to all who attended.
(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)
