Philippine girl group KAIA performs at FWC 2026, heads to Seoul for ROUND Festival debut on Nov. 7

KAIA's second FWC stage, in front of 7,000

KAIA took the stage at the Preps Universe World Championship 2026 finals on October 24 at SM Mall of Asia Music Hall in Manila. It was their second time at the event. Around 7,000 fans showed up in person—significantly more than the previous edition—while cumulative streaming viewership hit 50,000. The fourth edition of FWC ran from a dedicated server that opened in April, with the finals wrapping up a roughly six-month competitive run. Esports team Astral claimed their third consecutive FWC championship.

The venue had mini games, photo spots, a stage modeled after the in-game plaza, character merchandise, and cosplayers. KAIA performed in the middle of all of it.

Asked about returning, the group said: "We are truly grateful and happy to be invited to FWC again." They remembered their first appearance fondly—the audience's cheers, the warmth of on-site staff, and a gaming community that "accepted our music with an open heart, which moved us greatly."

At least one member has played Preps with her family. Another is still actively playing now. "It was a long time ago so I don't remember the exact job name," she said, "but I vividly remember how easy and fun it was to get absorbed in it thanks to the cute and charming graphics."

Seoul is next—and there's a surprise collab

KAIA heads to Korea for ROUND Festival on November 7–8 in Seoul. They perform on the main stage November 7 as the Philippine representative artists. First Korea stage.

They're extending their stay for fan meetings, busking in Hongdae, and filming a new music video. They'll also share a special collaborative stage with a domestic K-pop girl group. The name stays secret for now.

The members listed NewJeans, 2NE1, TWICE, MEOVV (미야오), and BABYMONSTER as artists they admire. Their message to Korean fans was direct: "We have been preparing hard for a long time, looking forward to the day we perform in front of Korean audiences. We hope to see you in person."