{"id":100260,"date":"2025-10-25T10:14:16","date_gmt":"2025-10-25T10:14:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/100260\/"},"modified":"2025-10-25T10:14:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-25T10:14:16","slug":"celebrate-tour-finale-best-moments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/100260\/","title":{"rendered":"celebrATE Tour Finale Best Moments"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tThe records set by Stray Kids<\/a>\u2019 eight members in 2025 leave no room for doubt. The group\u2019s fourth full-length album, Karma, released on Aug. 22, became the first K-pop album of the year to surpass 3 million copies in first-week sales in Korea. That success led them straight to No. 1 on the Billboard 200<\/a>, marking a historic milestone: Stray Kids are now the first K-pop group to send seven consecutive albums<\/a> to the top of the chart. <\/p>\n

\n\tTheir touring success was just as extraordinary. Starting in Seoul in August 2024 and wrapping up in Rome the following July, the dominATE world tour covered 54 shows across 34 cities worldwide \u2014 including 27 massive stadium concerts. So it was only fitting that, after circling the globe, Stray Kids chose Incheon\u2019s Asiad Main Stadium as the final stop. This encore concert also marked the group\u2019s very first outdoor stadium performance in Korea. <\/p>\n

\n\tBillboard Korea attended the first night of dominATE : celebrATE, held on Oct. 18 and 19 at Incheon Asiad Main Stadium. Only a few K-pop acts \u2014 PSY, SEVENTEEN and now Stray Kids \u2014 have ever performed there. Even before the concert began, waves of STAYs filled the streets outside. The 100-meter-wide stage lined with LED panels and the five-tier stadium holding up to 30,000 fans created a scale that was visually overwhelming in itself.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe show opened powerfully with \u201cMOUNTAINS,\u201d followed by \u201cThunderous,\u201d \u201cJJAM,\u201d \u201cDistrict 9\u201d and \u201cBack Door.\u201d Though the setlist mirrored that of the original tour, the atmosphere inside the open-air venue felt entirely new. Leader Bang Chan even remarked, \u201cIt\u2019s hard to believe this is Korea\u201d as the night unfolded with drone shows, fireworks and every spectacle imaginable for such a grand stage. The members\u2019 explosive energy never waned \u2014 they performed more than 30 songs across three and a half hours.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cSeven laps around the Earth by plane.\u201d That was how JYP Entertainment described the dominATE tour in a press release, referring to the group\u2019s travels \u2014 285,000 kilometers across five continents: Asia, Oceania, North America, Latin America and Europe. Departing from Incheon International Airport, Stray Kids truly went around the world nearly seven times (the Earth\u2019s circumference is about 40,000 km).<\/p>\n

\n\tdominATE : celebrATE was a moment where the sweat and growth of Stray Kids\u2019 eight members \u2014 everything encapsulated in that single phrase \u2014 could truly be witnessed on stage. It was also a night that reflected their well-earned sense of ease, gratitude and an undiminished passion to keep moving forward. <\/p>\n

\n\tHere are six reasons why Stray Kids\u2019 encore concert in Incheon was the perfect finale.<\/p>\n

\tFirst-Ever Live Performances of Tracks From \u2018Karma\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\tTrending on Billboard\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\tThe dominATE tour followed Stray Kids\u2019 mini album ATE, released in July 2024, led by the title track \u201cChk Chk Boom.\u201d Could the lyric \u201cStray Kids run \u2019til we\u2019re done\u201d from \u201cStray Kids\u201d on that album have been a prophecy? After renewing their contracts as a full group, completing their biggest world tour yet and setting Billboard records, the members returned to Korea and unveiled songs from their fourth full-length album, Karma, for the first time \u2014 including the track \u201cCEREMONY.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tStray Kids also performed the album\u2019s opening track \u201cBLEEP\u201d and \u201cHalf Time,\u201d which compares the group\u2019s journey to the first and second halves of a sports match. A surprising addition to the setlist was \u201cIn My Head,\u201d a track filled with early 2000s pop-punk energy. Previously highlighted in reviews of Karma as one of the songs most anticipated for its live stage, its upbeat chorus rang out even brighter with a new arrangement by the concert\u2019s session band, TEAM SKZ.<\/p>\n

\tUnmatched Duet Chemistry<\/p>\n

\t\t\tTrending on Billboard\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\tEven after embarking on the dominATE tour, Stray Kids showed no signs of slowing down. The group released two Japanese albums and the EP \u5408(HOP), led by the track \u201cWalking on Water.\u201d The solo songs included in \u5408( HOP) were featured prominently throughout the first half of the dominATE tour, which spanned nearly a year. <\/p>\n

\n\tBut Stray Kids never truly stop. To celebrate the group\u2019s seventh debut anniversary in March, they released the digital single Mixtape: dominATE, introducing a series of new duet combinations among the members. Starting from their Latin America leg in late March, these duet stages became a fixed part of the setlist \u2014 and Korean fans finally got to experience them live at the encore concert.<\/p>\n

\n\tOpening the sequence was \u201cTruman (Han & Felix),\u201d a track built on clever rhymes and a catchy hook, where the rappers\u2019 contrasting tones alternated powerfully throughout. Next came \u201cBurnin\u2019 Tires (Changbin and I.N),\u201d carried by upbeat electric guitar riffs layered with a rock mood. The two sprinted across both sides of the stage, leading crowd chants before breaking into a high-energy dance segment.
Then came Bang Chan and Hyunjin, who had previously collaborated on \u201cRed Lights.\u201d Their performance of \u201cESCAPE (Bang Chan and Hyunjin)\u201d delivered a mature and intense chemistry \u2014 a blend of alternative R&B and dramatic high notes reminiscent of Bishop Briggs\u2019 \u201cRiver.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tClosing the duet sequence was \u201cCINEMA (Lee Know and Seungmin).\u201d With its grand intro, delicate vocals and emotional band-pop sound, the song highlighted Seungmin\u2019s contribution as both lyricist and composer. The stage, complete with animation visuals and ending credits listing countless names, felt just like the final scene of a movie.<\/p>\n

\tStray Kids Own the Honmoon<\/p>\n

\t\t\tTrending on Billboard\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\tHad we been too distracted by Derpy, the adorable tiger from KPop Demon Hunters? As the sound of the traditional Korean bamboo flute filled the stadium, performers wearing lion masks and the members of Stray Kids appeared on stage. The lion dance \u2014 or Bukcheong Sajanoreum, a traditional Korean performance meant to ward off evil spirits \u2014 is one of the country\u2019s most iconic folk dances. <\/p>\n

\n\tAmid the dancers, Hyunjin, Lee Know, Felix and Bang Chan delivered a striking performance inspired by traditional martial arts movements. Dressed in silk jeogori jackets and pants, Stray Kids surprised the crowd by performing \u201cWalking on Water.\u201d The track\u2019s old-school hip-hop beat blended seamlessly with the traditional Korean elements on stage, creating a powerful fusion. The performance then transitioned into \u201cGod\u2019s Menu\u201d and \u201cS-Class,\u201d two of the group\u2019s most energetic signature tracks. By that point, not a single person in the audience was sitting down.<\/p>\n

\tThe Drone Show<\/p>\n

\t\t\tTrending on Billboard\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\tStray Kids\u2019 first-ever outdoor stadium concert in Korea offered more than just fireworks lighting up the night sky \u2014 it featured a spectacular drone show. As hundreds of colorful drones gathered overhead, the first image to appear was a roaring lion mask, continuing the theme from the earlier performance segment.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe lion\u2019s image soon transformed into the Taegeuk symbol and the group\u2019s iconic SKZ logo before finally forming the heartfelt message to fans: \u201cStray Kids Everywhere All Around the World, You Make Stray Kids Stay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThe Festival Versions<\/p>\n

\t\t\tTrending on Billboard\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\tOn Oct. 18, the first night of the encore concert, it might have been the audience \u2014 not the performers \u2014 who let their guard down. The setlist for dominATE : celebrATE easily surpassed 30 songs, including medleys, and stretched over an intense three and a half hours.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe encore section \u2014 starting with \u201cSUPER BOARD\u201d and continuing through \u201cBlind Spot,\u201d \u201cStray Kids\u201d and \u201cMIROH\u201d \u2014 reached its peak when \u201cChk Chk Boom (Festival version)\u201d kicked in. And when the long-awaited \u201cCEREMONY (Festival version)\u201d followed, the stadium exploded with energy.<\/p>\n

\tThe Sincerity<\/p>\n

\t\t\tTrending on Billboard\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\tAmid packed schedules and ever-growing expectations, when can an artist most genuinely share their \u201cpresent\u201d with fans? Few would argue that it happens anywhere other than on stage \u2014 during a concert where every moment is devoted to performance. DominATE : celebrATE was exactly that: a space to witness Stray Kids\u2019 enduring passion and sincerity toward their craft and fans.<\/p>\n

\n\tThroughout the show, the members ran tirelessly across the vast stage, covering every corner without pause. Even while riding the Torokko carts that moved through the audience, they kept dancing, waving and locking eyes with fans. Their powerful group choreography remained as sharp as ever. When the members gathered center stage after performing apart, still dancing at full power, we couldn\u2019t help but think how unfortunate it was that they themselves couldn\u2019t see just how stunning that moment looked from the crowd\u2019s perspective.<\/p>\n

\n\tAt the same time, the group\u2019s emotional focus during the slower, sentimental tracks was another element that drew the audience in completely. Bang Chan, once again moved to tears while singing \u201cCover Me,\u201d embodied that sincerity in its purest form. <\/p>\n

\n\tAbove all, this encore concert offered a glimpse into the unwavering determination of all eight members \u2014 proof that Stray Kids are still running full speed ahead. Even in the middle of their sweat-drenched set, they took a moment to share news of their upcoming year-end award show appearances, saying, \u201cYou\u2019ll be seeing us on many more stages. We\u2019ll perform with the mindset that we\u2019re representing all of you \u2014 that\u2019s our decision.\u201d On the second night, they even went on to announce their next comeback, revealing that their new album, Do It, will be released on Nov. 21.<\/p>\n

\n\tIn the end, Stray Kids simply keep going \u2014 and for a team entering its eighth year without losing momentum, there\u2019s really nothing to worry about.<\/p>\n

\n\tBillboard\u2019s Live Music Summit will be held in Los Angeles on Nov. 3. For tickets and more information, visit the event\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n


\"Billboard
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