Independent K-Pop music label hello82 debuted its inaugural K-Pop music festival, 82 WORLD : LA, on October 17-18 at the Los Angeles State Historic Park in Los Angeles. Held over the course of two days, the fan-focused festival marked a milestone for hello82 as 11,000 fans descended into the park grounds to participate in games, photocard trading, food, and great fan interactions from the K-Pop acts in the blazing fall heat. For Day 1, BE:FIRST, xikers, 8TURN, AMPER&ONE, GIRLSET, cosmosy, and fiveALIVE took the main hello82 stage, with P1Harmony performing as headliners for the first time. Despite some hiccups, the festival showcased what hello82 did best: creating unforgettable moments between fan and artist.
“82WORLD : LA is the sum of everything we’ve done since I started the company in 2018,” said hello82 founder and CEO, Jae Yoon Choi, in a press release. “And while this may be the largest iteration we’ve held, at its core it still has the same goal for all of our events … Creating memorable moments between artists and fans alike no matter where they are.”
Some of the festival’s activations included areas such as the P1ECE ZONE and ATINY ZONE where fans could grab exclusive event photocards, leave messages, and see displayed stage outfits and achievements; and a Mercari booth that distributed the other artists’ photocards. Many took photos in front of the big 82WORLD : LA globe or at the ATEEZ members’ photo zones.
Fans were spotted throughout the park lounging on blankets, trading exclusive photocards, and passing out freebies, while others waited patiently at the hello82 barricades to see the performers up close. The main hello82 stage hosted live performances, while the play82 stage featured interactive experiences between fans and the artists. P1Harmony made a surprise appearance at their P1ECE ZONE before heading to the play82 Stage for “THIS OR THAT,” a segment in which members played mini games with their fans. The elimination-style game ended with one winner receiving the “Best P1ece” award and taking a group photo with the group.
xikers, AMPER&ONE, and 8TURN also participated, with AMPERS&ONE and 8TURN facing off in a match-up. The competition was playful, with the two exchanging friendly banter throughout the segment. Between the “THIS OR THAT” challenges were onstage missions, including one where AMPERS&ONE’s leader Kamden had to identify which of two people hugging him was his member. To throw him off, Seungmo lent his outerwear to 8TURN’s Seungheon, who took his place for the hug, drawing laughter from the crowd. It was a great highlight for the early afternoon, offering fans a fun way to learn more about the groups performing later that day.
Warming up the crowd, Asian-American pop group fiveALIVE opened Day 1’s hello82 stage with charismatic performances, including a fantastic cover of aespa’s “WHIPLASH.”
Following fiveALIVE, cosmosy, who previously performed at KCON 2026 LA, took on what they described as their biggest stage since debut. Expressing their gratitude onstage, the members showcased their crystal-clear vocals and high energy. They treated the audience to a pre-release performance of their dark, club-trap song “Give Me Love,” and even covered BLACKPINK’s “Lovesick Girls,” which drew much fanfare as audience members sang along.
The highlight of the girl group hour was GIRLSET, a global group established through JYP Entertainment and Republic Records’ joint reality competition show, A2K. The group exuded charisma as they performed songs such as the Y2K R&B-pop track “Miss Right” and the catchy “CHAT,” as fans chanted along to the chorus with great enthusiasm. The group also performed a then-unreleased song called “young and dumb,” which was about ending a situationship.
8TURN kicked off the boy group segment with performances of tracks like “Bruise” and “Stagefright.” The eight-member group effortlessly balanced slick, cool charisma with playful energy, flashing killer smiles that left longtime fans and newcomers alike swooning. Additionally, 8TURN covered “BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS)” by 82WORLD : LA Day 2’s headliner ATEEZ, which got the crowd moving in unison during the chorus. After thanking everyone for watching their set, the group shared that they would return to L.A. on November 14 for their upcoming tour.
Continuing the show, AMPERS&ONE mesmerized the audience with their perfect and clean synchronization. “GOD” was dramatic and breathtaking with complex choreography, while “Whip It” delivered a smooth and stylish vibe. Notably, the group performed a cover of BTS’ “Boy in Luv” earning roaring applause and cheers, with many singing along passionately.
xikers then stormed on stage with “OKay” and “ICONIC,” generating explosive screams from the festival crowd. A standout moment from their stage was the unexpected appearance of ADELA’s viral “Ain’t in LA” Swaggerina dance move during “BREATHE.” The crowd, initially stunned, roared in shock and excitement watching all ten members execute the fluid, ballerina-inspired body wave in perfect sync. xikers also delighted festivalgoers with their own rendition of NCT 127’s “2 Baddies” before interacting with fans at the barricade with “Do or Die.” As the members wrapped up their ments, they announced their upcoming November album release, building anticipation for their comeback.
Japanese boy group BE:FIRST was up next, and their performances brought out a different energy to the stage. With an R&B focus, the members delivered beautifully during “Paper Scars,” eliciting an emotional reaction from the audience. “BRUCE WAYNE” and “Mainstream” were catchy, hip-hop-focused tracks that highlighted their b-boy choreography and rapping. The highlight of their set was their splendid cover of the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way,” which stunned the crowd and created a storm of applause and cheers. Their 2025 remake of The Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” drew a similar response, bringing another wave of nostalgia to the crowd that lingered even after the group left the stage.
During the intermission, P1eces (P1Harmony’s fandom name) enjoyed a mini karaoke session ahead of P1Harmony’s highly anticipated headline performance. This drummed up excitement as P1eces sang along to songs like “Pretty Boy” and “ICE (VVS).” Anticipation was palpable as many stood up from their blankets and inched closer to the main stage, curious what songs the group would perform.
Soon enough, the group burst onto the stage after cheers echoed throughout the park, performing songs like “Triple 7,” “Work,” and “Killin’ It.” During “Work,” the P1Harmony members strutted up and down the stage like a fashion runway, drawing cheers and excitement from the audience. The crowd went wild during “Pretty Boy” as P1eces sang word for word perfectly.
During their ments, Canadian-born member Keeho did what he did best: exchange playful remarks with P1eces. He poked fun at fans who mumbled the Korean lyrics during “Pretty Boy,” and he curiously asked why some were screaming randomly during the talks, generating lots of laughter.
The group jumped into faster tracks like “DUH!” and “Sad Song” before slowing it down with “Gotta Get Back” and “Stupid Brain,” highlighting the members’ stunning vocals as the shift in tempo showed their versatility. The party did not stop, though, as the group got the crowd jumping during songs like “Heart Beatdrum” and “Flashy.” The latter half really illuminated and solidified their deserved status as headliners as P1eces and P1Harmony became one, singing and dancing along together.
As Day 1 wrapped up, Keeho thanked the audience on behalf of the group for being able to headline 82WORLD : LA, his heartfelt speech created an emotional moment for P1eces, who had long waited for this moment, remembering how the group started performing in smaller venues like theaters.
Keeho also teased that a world tour was on the horizon, drumming up excitement among P1eces. P1Harmony wrapped up their set with “Dancing Queen,” and the group surprisingly returned for an encore performance of “ICE (VVS).” The night drew to a close with fans talking excitedly about the first day, sharing their highlights as they exited the park.
However, Day 1 of the festival was not without criticism. A festivalgoer was reportedly removed from the grounds following a dispute over accessibility accommodations. In a statement released after the festival, hello82 acknowledged the concerns raised by attendees and apologized for the frustration they experienced.
Day 1 of 82WORLD : LA brought together live performances and interactive artist-fan experiences across two stages, offering a different take on the K-Pop festival experience. While the inaugural event showed promise, the accessibility concerns raised by attendees highlighted areas that need improvement. The festival’s opening day offered a glimpse of what 82WORLD could become, with even more in store for Day 2’s ATEEZ takeover.