88rising and Goldenvoice have officially unveiled the lineup for the 2026 Head in the Clouds Music and Arts Festival, with Grammy-nominated girl group KATSEYE and Japanese sensation XG set to headline the one-day event on Aug. 8 at Brookside at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
The annual festival, widely regarded as one of the premier showcases for Asian and Asian diasporic talent in the United States, will also feature performances from South Korean rapper Dabin.kr, who will be making his U.S. debut, Indonesian rapper-singer Rich Brian, R&B singer-songwriter UMI, K-pop boy group LNGSHOT, girl group KiiiKiii, no na, DJ Gia Fu, Tiffany Day, and rapper Warren Hue.
This year’s event marks a shift from previous editions, as the festival scales down from its traditional two-day format to a single-day affair. Last year’s Head in the Clouds celebrated the festival’s 10th anniversary in Los Angeles with a sold-out, two-day event headlined by G-Dragon and 2NE1, drawing over 75,000 attendees, according to Soompi.
The announcement comes amid news that KATSEYE member Manon Bannerman will be temporarily stepping back from group activities to focus on her health and well-being, according to a joint statement from Hybe and Geffen Records posted on Weverse. It remains unclear whether Bannerman will rejoin the group in time for the August performance.
KATSEYE, formed through the Netflix competition series “The Debut: Dream Academy,” has earned a Grammy nomination and emerged as one of the fastest-rising acts in global pop, Rolling Stone reported.
XG, the seven-member group based in South Korea and managed by XGALX, has built a massive international following with hits that blend hip-hop, R&B, and pop. LNGSHOT, a K-pop boy group produced by Jay Park, and KiiiKiii round out the roster of newer acts gaining attention on the global stage.
Head in the Clouds has grown significantly since its launch in 2018, expanding beyond Los Angeles to host editions in New York, Jakarta, Manila, and China. The festival is known not only for its music but also for its celebration of Asian culture through art, fashion, and food.
Tickets go on sale Thursday, Mar. 26, at 10 a.m. PT. General admission passes start at $179, VIP passes begin at $329, and 1999 Club packages are priced from $479. All listed prices include service fees and taxes. Fans can register for ticket access through the official Head in the Clouds website, as per Forbes.