Ae! group—Seiya Suezawa, Yoshinori Masakado, Ken Kojima, and Masaya Sano—is set to take one of the biggest steps in their career yet. The four-member group has been announced as part of the first lineup for Xnterstellar Music Festival 2026 (XMF 2026), a brand-new Japan–South Korea cultural exchange music festival taking place at Paradise City in Incheon, South Korea, on October 3 and 4.
Scheduled to perform on October 4, the appearance will mark Ae! group’s first performance as a group overseas, introducing their signature blend of idol entertainment and live musicianship to an international audience.
The inaugural XMF has been launched as the first large-scale cultural exchange music festival jointly created by the Japanese and Korean music industries. Bringing together artists from both countries on one stage, the event aims to foster greater musical exchange while giving fans the opportunity to discover performers from across the Sea of Japan. Supported by both the Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA) and the Federation of Music Producers Japan (FMPJ), the festival hopes to establish itself as a new platform for international collaboration through live music.
For Ae! group, the invitation feels like a natural progression following an eventful year. After completing LIVE TOUR 2026 Runway, the group’s first arena tour as a four-member lineup, they now find themselves stepping onto an overseas stage for the very first time.
Those familiar with the group know that Ae! group’s greatest strength isn’t just their songs—it’s the atmosphere they create. Their concerts feel conversational, playful, and spontaneous, whether they’re joking during MCs, or inviting fans into call-and-response moments. That’s the experience they’ll now have the opportunity to share with a brand-new audience.
For the less familiar audiences, another one of Ae! group’s strength has always been their ability to bridge two worlds: delivering polished idol performances while seamlessly transitioning into a live band, with each member contributing as musicians as well as performers. That versatility makes them a particularly fitting addition to a festival lineup like this built around live music.
The members have also previously visited South Korea during a segment on Fuji TV’s variety program Q&Ae!, where their enthusiasm for the country’s culture left a lasting impression on fans. Returning this time not as visitors but as performers adds another meaningful chapter to that connection, giving them the opportunity to meet Korean audiences through the universal language they know best—music.
Although this will be their first overseas festival appearance, Ae! group are no strangers to the festival circuit. The group has steadily built experience performing outside the framework of their own concerts, appearing at events such as Inazuma Rock Festival even before their official debut, before later bringing their high-energy performances to SUMMER SONIC. Each appearance has showcased not only their chemistry as a group but also the musicianship that has become one of their defining characteristics.
If there is one song that encapsulates this milestone, it may well be “PRIDE.” Originally performed during their Junior era before later receiving an official music video release, the rock-driven anthem has long embodied the determination and confidence that carried Ae! group through years of growth. As they prepare to stand on an international stage for the first time, its message feels especially fitting.
Ae! group will perform on October 4 alongside fellow Japanese artists Marcy, Saucy Dog, and YURINA HIRATE, as well as Korean acts Hi-Fi Un!corn, THE FIX, and legendary rock band YB. Additional artists are expected to be announced in the coming months.
In a video message released following the announcement, Masaya admitted they were “a little nervous” about performing overseas for the first time, but said they hoped to enjoy the experience “the Ae! group way.” Acknowledging that many in attendance may be seeing them live for the first time, they expressed their wish for everyone to simply have fun together—a sentiment that perfectly reflects the spirit of the festival itself.
This opportunity also represents something else: the chance for audiences outside Japan to experience a group that has quietly spent years refining its identity. From their Junior days to becoming one of STARTO ENTERTAINMENT’s most compelling live acts, Ae! group’s journey has been defined by steady growth rather than overnight success.
The festival’s opening day on October 3 will feature another impressive lineup, including Ado, coldrain, My Hair is Bad, Novelbright, and PEOPLE 1 from Japan, alongside Korea’s FTISLAND, YOUNHA, LUCY, ONEWE, and hrtz.wav. Together, the inaugural lineup highlights XMF’s ambition to create a new annual destination where some of Japan and South Korea’s most celebrated artists can share one stage and one audience.
As Ken aptly put it, “People always say music crosses borders.” For Ae! group, October won’t simply mark their first overseas performance—it will be an opportunity to put those words into practice, introducing themselves to new audiences while sharing the same stage with artists from across Japan and South Korea
Tickets for Xnterstellar Music Festival 2026 will go on sale beginning August 3, with one-day tickets priced at ¥13,200 and two-day passes available for ¥22,440. Additional lineup announcements and event details are expected in the lead-up to October.
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