HYBE is reportedly exploring the possibility of hosting a large-scale K-pop festival in India, with venues being considered across Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Shillong.
According to a report by India Today, the South Korean entertainment company is currently exploring the idea of bringing multiple major K-pop groups and artists to India for a large-format festival. A source familiar with the development told the publication that venues are being considered across the four cities.
The festival has not been officially announced by HYBE. Dates, venues and the artist lineup are still under discussion, and there is no confirmation that any specific K-pop act will perform.
The reported plans come as HYBE continues to expand its presence in India. The company is also currently conducting a nationwide audition drive to identify talent for a new India-based girl group. According to figures released as part of the audition campaign and reported by India Today, applications have come from all 28 states and six Union Territories, with submissions from more than 1,650 cities across 116 countries.
The four cities currently being considered also represent different parts of India’s live music market. Mumbai and Delhi are established destinations for international touring acts, while Bengaluru has a growing live-entertainment market. Shillong has a strong live music culture and an active K-pop following.
The reported festival also comes against the backdrop of a broader shift towards large-scale K-pop festival formats. HYBE, SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment and JYP Entertainment are developing Fanomenon, a K-pop and K-culture festival planned for Seoul and Goyang in December 2027. A Los Angeles edition has also been announced for 2028.
There is currently no confirmation that the proposed Indian festival is connected to Fanomenon.
Internationally, multi-artist formats such as KCON and HallyuPopFest have combined K-pop performances with fan activities and wider Korean cultural programming. Whether HYBE’s reported India event will follow a similar model remains unclear.
For the Indian music and live-entertainment ecosystem, the development is significant primarily because it points to growing interest in building large-scale K-pop experiences in the country. However, with no official announcement from HYBE yet, the scale, format and commercial structure of the proposed event remain unknown.
