Stray Kids' STRAYCITY in Latin America — Rock in Rio headline and the Mexico palace mix-up
Stray Kids headlined Rock in Rio's main Palco Mundo stage on Sept 11, 2026 — the first K-pop headliner since the festival began in 1985. On Sept 24 Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said at her morning briefing that the group would come to the National Palace, but it did not appear; that evening she explained she had thought they would accompany South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. Lee and the first lady attended the Mexico City show the next day.
Fact Claim Disputed Rumor Not true
Rock in Rio's first K-pop headliner
Rock in Rio, founded in 1985, has had headliners such as Queen and Guns N' Roses. Stray Kids were announced in November 2025 and took the main Palco Mundo stage on Sept 11. The Korea Times and Korea JoongAng Daily reported about 100,000 attendees. The set included samba steps and Korean-inspired costumes.
The group had earlier headlined Lollapalooza Paris (2023) and Chicago (2024) and BST Hyde Park. The agency said Rock in Rio allowed lightsticks for the first time — that is the agency's account.
1,2,3The announced palace visit that didn't happen
In May 2026 BTS had greeted fans from the National Palace balcony. When Sheinbaum said on Sept 24 that Stray Kids were coming, fans gathered in the Zócalo, but only the two presidents came out. That evening Sheinbaum explained she had assumed Lee would bring the group. El Universal reported that presidential staff themselves did not know whether the group would appear.
Lee and his wife attended the Sept 25 show at Estadio GNP. Some reports called Stray Kids 'the second K-pop group to meet Mexico's president this year', but we found no report of an actual meeting between Sheinbaum and the members.
4,5,6Timeline
- Fact Rock in Rio announces Stray Kids as a Sept 11, 2026 headliner, saying 'for the first time in history, K-pop comes to Rock City'.1
- Fact The STRAYCITY Latin American festival series opens in Bogotá.2
- Fact Headline set on Rock in Rio's main stage at Olympic Park, Rio de Janeiro; both outlets report about 100,000 people. The lineup also included Calvin Harris, the Black Eyed Peas, Maroon 5 and Elton John.2,3
- Claim JYP Entertainment said Rock in Rio allowed lightsticks for the first time since its 1985 debut.2,3
- Fact Buenos Aires shows (Sept 14–15).2
- Fact At her morning briefing Sheinbaum said Stray Kids were coming, describing them as a younger BTS. The remark came during South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's state visit.4,5
- Fact Only Sheinbaum and Lee appeared on the palace balcony; Stray Kids did not. In an evening video Sheinbaum said, 'We thought perhaps he was coming with the group Stray Kids.'4,5
- Fact President Lee and first lady Kim Hye-kyung attended the show at Estadio GNP, Mexico City, with JYP founder J.Y. Park and others.6
- Fact The second Mexico City show closes the Latin American run.2,4
What people say — checked
The festival's announcement and Korea Times reporting agree.1,2
The festival promoted it as K-pop's first time; we did not check other editions such as Lisbon.1
Only the two presidents appeared on Sept 24, and Sheinbaum herself explained the mix-up.4,5
Reported by Herald Business and others: Estadio GNP, Sept 25.6
Why it's an issue
- r/kpopthoughts Stray Kids made history as the first K-pop artists to headline Rock in Rio 2026-09-12 · 월간 26위
- r/kpop Mexican President Confirms Stray Kids to Visit National Palace: ‘They’re Kind of Like BTS, But Younger’ 2026-09-24 · 월간 27위
- r/straykids 260912 globoplay Instagram Update with Stray Kids 2026-09-12 · 월간 15위
- 위키백과 스페인어판 Stray Kids 문서 9/24~30 주간 6,686회 (다음 주 3,577회) 2026-09-30 · 멕시코 공연·대통령궁 보도 주간에 최고. 포르투갈어판도 3,052회
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Sources
- press NME, Stray Kids announced as Rock In Rio's first-ever K-pop headliners, 2025-11-27
- press 코리아타임스, Stray Kids becomes 1st K-pop act to headline Rock in Rio, 2026-09-16
- press 코리아중앙데일리, Stray Kids makes history as first K-pop headliner at Rock in Rio, 2026-09-14
- press Billboard (Yahoo 전재), President of Mexico Explains Stray Kids’ Absence at the National Palace After Confirming Group’s Visit, 2026-09-25
- press El Universal, “No estuvo Stray Kids en Palacio Nacional, pero salió Jesús”, 2026-09-25
- press 헤럴드경제, Lee meets Mexican youth at Stray Kids concert, 2026-09-26
- community Reddit r/kpop, Mexican President Confirms Stray Kids to Visit National Palace, 2026-09-24
How this article was made: read official statements, court/regulator records and at least two independent outlets; community posts are used only as attention signals. Written by Hallyu Wiki editors with AI assistance — check the sources. Minta koreksi