XMF 2026 music festival to debut in South Korea

The inaugural Xnterstellar Music Festival 2026 (XMF 2026) will be held on October 3 and 4 at the Paradise City resort in Incheon, South Korea. Jointly organized by the XMF Executive Committee and the NPO Japan-Korea Cultural Exchange Association, the two-day event aims to foster musical exchange between Japan and South Korea.

The festival features a lineup of 22 artists, primarily focusing on rock and band music to showcase diverse musicalities beyond the typical K-Pop mainstream. Japanese performers include Ado, ONE OK ROCK, Nakashima Mika, Aぇ! group, Saucy Dog, and Hirate Yurina. South Korean artists include FTISLAND, DAY6, YOUNHA, YB, and LUCY.

Organizers intend for the festival to bridge the gap between the two nations' music scenes, noting that while interest in J-Pop is rising in Korea, Korean music in Japan is often limited to idol groups. Future editions of the festival are planned for Japan to further develop Asian music culture.