K-Pop concerts in Europe: a promising future despite challenges in the past
2025 is already shaping up to be an incredible year for K-pop fans in Europe. I started the year by attending P1Harmony's Utop1a Tour in Milan—an unforgettable experience that only heightened my excitement for what's to come. On January 23, I saw ATEEZ live in Zurich, and the anticipation for TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT) is huge. Their European tour kicks off in Barcelona on March 20, following the start of their tour in Korea earlier that month. With so many exciting events ahead, it's clear that K-pop's presence in Europe is stronger than ever.
A story full of challenges
For us K-pop fans in Europe, attending live concerts was often a rare luxury. For a long time, Europe was rather neglected when it came to major K-pop events, and when something was planned, there were often nasty surprises. Many of us know the feeling: buying tickets with huge anticipation, only to be disappointed by canceled or postponed concerts.
One example is KPOP.FLEX, which set a record in May 2022 with an incredible 44,000 fans in Frankfurt. However, things didn't go so smoothly at the later editions - canceled shows and organizational problems caused frustration. It was a similar story with SUHO's “SU:HOME” concert tour, which was due to visit cities such as London, Paris and Berlin in September 2024, but was canceled just one week before it was due to start. Mark Tuan's fans also had to be strong when the European leg of his “The Other Side” tour was postponed. And those who had been looking forward to iKON's “TAKE OFF” world tour were surprised by unexpected changes to the schedule.
It really wasn't easy, but perhaps that's why we appreciate these concerts all the more. Because when everything works out and the first beat booms through the hall, you know it was worth the wait.
Logistical and financial challenges have made it really difficult for K-pop agencies to see Europe as a worthwhile market in recent years. With so many different languages, regulations and the often high cost of events, it has often felt easier for them to focus on other regions. And then there are the ticketing regulations in some countries that further squeeze profits - no wonder Europe was often at the back of the queue.
The turning point: 2025 and onwards
Despite these obstacles, 2025 marks a turning point towards a more vibrant K-pop presence in Europe. The year began with P1Harmony's Utop1a Tour, which has already delighted fans across the continent.
ATEEZ kicked off their European tour on January 18, in Lyon. Their 2025 World Tour “Two Wars the Light: Will to Power in Europe” kicked off with a spectacular show at the LDLC Arena. I was very happy to attend their concert on 23rd of January at the Hallenstadion in Zurich. A total of 14 concerts in nine countries are planned until the end of February. And March also promises to be exciting: Kiss of Life and Taemin have already been confirmed - and of course the absolute highlight, TXT! Rumors of a K-Pop festival in London underline the growing momentum.
The increasing number of concerts reflects the general trend: K-pop is becoming more and more popular in Europe. Germany in particular has become a hotspot for K-pop fans in recent years. Events such as KCON not only attract fans from Germany, but also from neighboring countries such as France and Switzerland. At the same time, the UK is one of the world's leading markets for K-pop streaming - proof of how much love there is for the genre across the continent.
Even though the fan base in Europe is smaller than in Asia or North America, it is passionate and growing rapidly. This development is making Europe increasingly attractive to K-pop agencies - and recent tours show that these efforts are paying off.
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