The popular Japanese duo formed by Ren Nagase and Kaito Takahashi will perform live for the first time at the Taipei Arena. In addition, their success is consolidated with their leadership in the Oricon charts and the opening of an exclusive pop-up store in the Taiwanese capital!
The King & Prince phenomenon knows no boundaries. After a spectacular end to the year, the group has officially announced its participation in the prestigious New Year’s special programme “2026 Superstar Red & White Entertainment Awards” (popularly known as Taiwan’s Kohaku). This news, confirmed by Universal Music, marks a milestone in the duo’s career, as it will be the first time they will physically perform in front of their Taiwanese fans at the iconic Taipei Arena.
Although the group had already participated in this programme last year through a recorded performance, the 2026 edition will be different. Ren and Kaito will travel to the island for the live recording that will take place on 31st January. The official broadcast is scheduled for 16th February, coinciding with Lunar New Year’s Eve.
In an emotional video shared on the programme’s YouTube channel, the artists expressed their enthusiasm using phrases in the local language. “We can finally meet all of you in person in Taiwan! Nothing makes us happier than being able to come and see you ourselves,” they said, ending their message with an enthusiastic “See you at the Taipei Arena!“, which has set social media alight.
This announcement comes at a time of commercial glory for King & Prince. Their seventh studio album, “STARRING“, released on 24 December, has been a huge hit in Japan. According to Oricon data, the album reached number 1 on the weekly combined album chart on 5 January.
The success is not limited to the physical format; the lead track, “Theatre,” also topped the digital singles chart. The visual impact of this project has been massive, accumulating over 100 million views on related videos across various social media platforms.
This new album is a conceptual work inspired by the world of cinema. The production features high-level collaborations, such as the song “Kibou no Oka” (Hill of Hope), composed by 50TA (Eiko Kano), and “4月1日“, written by Yoshiki Mizuno of Ikimonogakari. In addition, the album showcases the creative maturity of its members: Kaito wrote the lyrics and composed “Sunset” and “this time“, while Ren offers an intimate moment with his solo “Darling“.
To celebrate this live debut, the ‘King & Prince POP-UP STORE 2026 “STARRING”’ experience, currently a hit in Harajuku (Tokyo) will move to Taipei from 31 January to 8 February. International fans will be able to enjoy an exclusive exhibition featuring the costumes the duo wore during their appearance last year, further strengthening their bond with overseas fans!
With the start of their tour of Japan’s four major stadiums (King & Prince DOME TOUR 2026 STARRING) scheduled for 17 January, the duo reaffirm their position as one of the most dominant forces in their musical genre, taking its musical “film” from local stages to the heart of Asia.
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STARRING special accounts!
Kaito Takahashi Instagram account
Ren Nagase Instagram account | Ren Nagase FC
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