A long-awaited event planned for the Alamodome in San Antonio has been postponed. KPOPWORLD Festival will not take place this year, event organizers told MySA on Friday, September 18.
The four-day-long experience promised a global dance competition, concerts and an international vendor village. Some of K-pop’s biggest stars, including Jay Park, The Rose, Wonho, Dayoung and Cravity, were scheduled to perform.
It was originally scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, through Saturday, October 31. Now, organizers have postponed it until 2027 amid uncertainty about “obtaining U.S. visas for some of the international artists and groups” in time, “despite using expedited and all means of services,” they told MySA.
“There is uncertainty in meeting timely processing deadlines, which is outside the control of the artists, their agencies, and the KPOPWORLD Festival team,” an email statement to MySA read. “Facing the possibility of a significantly reduced lineup due to visa delays and restrictions, and furthermore, disappointing fans, the most responsible decision is to postpone the Festival and provide sufficient time to deliver the promised experience.”
Fans have been looking forward to the celebration for several weeks, according to social media posts, with some saying they had already booked flights and hotels.
Ticketmaster will issue refunds to all who purchased tickets within the next 14 business days, according to the KPOPWORLD Festival team. Refunds will be issued to the original payment method and the original ticket buyer.
“We understand the amount of planning that goes into attending a major event,” the KPOPWORLD Festival team said. “We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience, and we appreciate the enthusiasm that has been expressed by you, the fans.”
The event is still viewable on Ticketmaster.com for now. However, when trying to make a purchase, a message says the show is “sold out.”
The announcement comes the same week residents learned A Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA) would not occur during this upcoming Fiesta season. The decision sparked sadness among several community members who viewed attendance as a beloved tradition.