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University spring festivals become showcase for K-pop, ranging from Riize to ILLIT, Cortis and KiiiKiii

Published: 04 May. 2026, 13:36 Updated: 04 May. 2026, 14:15

LEE TAE-HEE
[email protected]

Riize take a photo after performing at Gwangju University's fall festival on Sept. 25, 2025. The boy group will also perform at Incheon National University and Soongsil University's upcoming spring festivals. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

From popular K-pop boy groups like Riize to rookies such as Cortis and LNGSHOT, universities are gearing up their spring festival lineups for students.

After weeks of grueling midterm study sessions, it's now time for university students to enjoy spring festivals with star-studded K-pop lineups.

Korean universities tend to hold their spring festivals throughout May, with student clubs hosting booths that sell food and fun games around campus.

But the undeniable highlight of the spring festivals is the performances. Universities invite K-pop groups, rappers and bands to perform at their spring festivals, allowing students to see popular acts and release alls that midterm stress.

Universities such as Incheon National University and Jeonbuk National University are two of the first schools kicking off the spring festival season, both hosting their festivals between Wednesday and Friday.

If you want to know who's performing where, the Korea JoongAng Daily has compiled all the details for you!

Incheon National University

Riize takes a picture at Gwangju University's fall festival on Sept. 25, 2025. The boy group will also perform at Incheon National University and Soongsil University's upcoming spring festivals. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Incheon National University will hold its spring festival between Wednesday and Friday, with several rappers taking the stage for performances on the first day.

Rappers NOW IM Young and HAON from the recent 12th season of the hip-hop competition show “Show Me the Money” (2012-) will perform, as well as rapper Sik-K. Boy group Winner will also be performing on Wednesday.

The second day will include singers heegyu and Han Roro, band Cherry Filter and girl group fromis_9. For the last day, Riize and girl group Ichillin' will be performing, as well as a secret artist that hasn't yet been announced.

Performances will take place at the university's sports field, with a student-only zone set up closer to the stage. The special area is only for Incheon National University's undergraduate students, and doesn't include graduate school students, students on leave and those who graduated. Students will need to get a wrist band by showing their student ID, but nonstudents are also able to enjoy the performances in areas behind the student-only zone.

Jeonbuk National University

Poster showing artists that will be performing at Jeonbuk National University's spring festival. HAON, NOW IM Young and cosmosy were part of a second lineup announcement.[SCREEN CAPTURE]

Jeonbuk National University will also hold its spring festival between Wednesday and Friday.

Performances on Wednesday will feature artists Chang Kiha and girl groups Kiss of Life and cosmosy. Rappers HAON and NOW IM Young, singer BIBI and band FT Island will perform on the second day.

Friday brings singer Jannabi to the stage along with More Vision artists Jay Park and boy group LNGSHOT, produced by the rapper himself.

The university also prepared a student-only zone near the stage, which is open to Jeonbuk National University students who paid student council fees and secured online tickets in advance. However, students who couldn't get tickets and nonstudents can also view the shows from the back.

Hongik University

Cortis performs ″RedRed″ during a press showcase held on April 20. [NEWS1]

Hongik University's spring festival will be held between May 13 and 15, with a packed lineup of performances announced.

The first day will feature performances from band Dragon Pony and Dynamic Duo. Girl group H//PE Princess, formed through Mnet's audition show “Unpretty Rapstar: Hip Pop Princess” (2025) will also perform, just ahead of their official debut slated for May 27.

On the second day, boy group Cortis will be performing, as well as singers KINO, Yerin Baek and HAHA. Band N.Flying, fromis_9 and rappers Gray, Loco and Woo will take the stage on the last day.

While details about whether the performances are open to students and nonstudents haven't been announced yet, the university also designated a separate student-only zone near the stage and allowed others to watch from behind for its fall festival held in 2025.

Apart from performances by K-pop groups, the university's spring festival also invites various DJs. These performances start around 6:30 p.m. or 7 p.m., and go until midnight.

Myongji University

KiiiKiii performs their song ″404″ during a press showcase held on Jan. 26. The girl group is set to perform at Myongji University's spring festival on May 6. [YONHAP]

Myongji University's spring festival will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, but artist performances will go on until Friday, also referred as the finale night.

On Wednesday, girl groups AtHeart and KiiiKiii will take the stage, as well as singer Car, the Garden. Singer Kwon Jin-ah, band CNBlue and boy group Tunexx will perform on the second day.

The finale night will feature performances by singer BIBI and girl group Madein. Student booths and other activities will not be held, with the evening dedicated solely to artist performances.

Soongsil University

ILLIT poses for a photo after performing at Sungshin Women's University's fall festival on Sept. 19, 2025. The girl group is also set to perform at Soongsil University's spring festival on May 13. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Soongsil University is also holding its festival between May 13 and 15, with boy group In A Minute, rapper Giriboy and girl group ILLIT set to perform on the first day.

The second day will feature performances from singer Kuonechan, Han Roro and Cherry Filter. Boy group Riize will also take the stage.

H1-KEY is the only artist announced for the third day, although there are two more singers set to perform. While each university's student councils tend to announce performance lineups, according to the student council, the company for the final two artists will announce the lineup.

Yongin University

Yongin University's festival will run between May 12 and 14, inviting numerous rappers and K-pop groups to the stage.

Girl group ILLIT is set to perform on the first day, as well as rapper Han Yo-han. Singer heegyu, Chuu and band N.Flying will perform on the second day. Rapper Kim Seungmin, girl group Kiss of Life and boy group Highlight will be performing the third day.

Wonkwang University

Yena takes a photo with students after performing at Inje University's spring festival on May 28, 2025. The singer will also be performing at Yongin University's spring festival this year. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Wonkwang University's spring festival will be held between May 12 and 14, with singers BOL4, Crush and Sunmi performing on the first day.

The second day will feature performances from Min Kyung-hoon, vocalist of the band Buzz, as well as singers BIBI and Yena. Band Romantic Punch, N.Flying and duo Melomance is set to perform on the third day, as well as singer Sandara Park from 2NE1.

Sungkyunkwan University

Sungkyunkwan University has two campuses: the Humanities Campus in Jongro District, central Seoul, and the Natural Sciences Campus in Suwon, Gyeonggi.

While the two campuses previously held separate festivals, typically about a week apart, they will jointly host a single festival starting this spring. This year’s festival will take place at the Humanities Campus from May 14 to 15.

On the first day, singer Lee Mujin, Davichi and girl group fromis_9 will take the stage. For the second day, band QWER and singers Roy Kim, Yerin Baek and Jannabi will perform.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [[email protected]]

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