Held on April 18–19, 2026, the ROUND Festival 2026 unfolded as a two-day sonic rush in which international acts and Filipino performers shared one massive stage, turning the SM Mall of Asia Arena into a living exchange of sound, culture, and stage power. At the heart of it all, P-pop and OPM favorites stood out through special collaborations and high-impact performances, keeping the energy flowing from Day 1 to Day 2.
Day 1 hit one of its biggest peaks with KAIA, HORI7ON, and 1ST.ONE joining forces for the special collab performance of “Sulong” as part of The Project P-pop: Rising. Built around the message of pushing forward through challenges and staying strong in the pursuit of dreams, the stage carried a powerful, forward-moving energy that instantly became one of the festival’s defining moments.
The impact didn’t end there. Driven by overwhelming crowd demand and explosive fan response, the three P-pop groups made a surprise return on Day 2, bringing back “Sulong” onstage. What was already a standout Day 1 moment turned into a two-day highlight, doubling the impact and becoming one of the festival’s most talked-about stages.
Day 1 unfolded with strong emotional depth from OPM acts. Cup of Joe opened their set with “Sandali”, followed by “Tingin” and “Multo”, sharing their excitement for their international tour stops and upcoming Sandali: The Cup of Joe Fest in Bulacan.
TJ Monterde followed with heartfelt performances of “Tulad Mo”, “Silver”, and “Palagi”. His collaboration with South Korean singer 10CM added extra weight to “Silver”, especially as he shared how the Korean artist has been one of his long-time musical inspirations.
The international lineup also filled Day 1 with global color, featuring Velocity (Myanmar), Syafiq Abdilah (Brunei), MIMIFLY (Malaysia), MeloMance (South Korea), and Pamungkas (Indonesia), expanding the festival’s sound beyond borders.
Day 2 opened another strong chapter for Filipino artists as Ben&Ben brought a warm, reflective atmosphere to the stage. Their performance of “Heaven” alongside Thailand’s alt-rock band Tilly Birds stood out as a special cross-border collaboration rooted in friendship and shared creative history. Ben&Ben followed with “Kapangyarihan”, “Saranggola”, “Ride Home”, and “Lifetime”, delivering the kind of emotional storytelling that only Ben&Ben can turn into a full crowd moment.
After their special stage with KAIA and 1ST.ONE, HORI7ON returned with a high-energy opening through “Hit Me”, immediately setting the tone for a powerful set. The mood shifted into a playful crossover moment as hosts Gabbi Garcia and 10CM joined them onstage for the “Sumayaw Sumunod” dance challenge, before performing the full song version with complete vocals and choreography. They continued with “Lunod”, “Fly with It”, and “DASH”, balancing emotional depth with explosive performance energy.
Day 2’s international stage expanded further with JoJo Miracle (Lao PDR), Chillies (Vietnam), Regina Song (Singapore), G-Devith (Cambodia), 10CM (South Korea), and Tilly Birds (Thailand), rounding out a globally charged festival atmosphere.
ROUND Festival 2026 wasn’t just a showcase of performances. It was a continuous flow of collaboration, culture, and connection. With P-pop and OPM favorites rising through special collabs and standout stages, the festival became a shared space where Filipino artistry stood strong within a wider international lineup, leaving behind moments that felt both electric and unforgettable.
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