Fans of K-Pop have plenty to look forward to this winter as two major music festivals, the 2024 MBC Gayo Daejejeon and the 2024 SBS Gayo Daejeon, gear up for their highly anticipated lineup announcements. Scheduled right before the New Year, these events promise to feature both legendary acts and rising stars, showcasing the diversity of the genre.
First up, the 2024 MBC Gayo Daejejeon will air on December 31, with its presentation beginning at 8:40 PM. Expected to last four hours, not only will it celebrate the music of the past year, but it will also include a countdown to 2025, creating even more buzz around viewership ratings. This year's lineup features 32 confirmed acts, including popular groups like NewJeans, Aespa, Day6, and well-known trot singers such as Yongtak and Lee Chan-won.
Many eyes are on Day6, as they are the only K-Band to be part of this year’s major year-end celebrations—a fact bolstered by their chart-topping hits. The event is set to take place at the MBC Ilsan Dream Center and the MBC Global Media Center, showcasing current powerhouse K-Pop acts across various genres. Events like this reflect the rising influence of new artists alongside established performers, creating excitement for what’s to come.
Meanwhile, the 2024 SBS Gayo Daejeon captivated audiences on the same day, hosted at the Inspire Arena. One of the highlights of this festival was the reunion of the legendary girl group 2NE1, who performed hit songs like "Fire" and "I Don’t Care" for the first time in ten years. Their impactful return has left fans buzzing, particularly after each member showcased their unique talents, from CL's powerful stage presence to Park Bom's impressive vocal prowess.
Not to be missed, the 2024 SBS Gayo Daejeon also featured prominent names such as NCT 127, Stray Kids, ITZY, and many more. A total of 29 teams made appearances, signifying the inclusivity of the event across various styles within the K-Pop genre. Notably, all these acts are expected to draw significant interest both domestically and internationally, indicating the strong global fanbase of K-Pop.
For both festivals, the inclusion of female artists is particularly noteworthy. The spectrum of talent ranges from girl groups like Blackpink and Ateez to the rising star NewJeans. Complementing their performances, Winter from Aespa was seen dazzling fans at the red carpet event prior to the festival, maintaining the anticipation surrounding the outfit to be worn throughout the performances.
SBS is known for its captivating performances, and with the festival held at the Inspire Arena, it is likely to attract large crowds eager for impressive visuals and memorable moments. Such events enable new artists, especially those from smaller agencies, to gain recognition and connect more deeply with fans. This year, acts like Cravity and RIIZE are also set to appear, emphasizing the festival's effort to highlight emergent talent.
Interestingly, performances at these events often become trending topics on social media, with last year’s Gayo Daejeon accumulating impressive viewership. For this year, audiences can look forward to seeing live performances of songs topping the charts, often performed by artists who have dominated the mainstream throughout 2024.
Finally, as both festivals approach, the importance of their broadcast times cannot be overstated. These year-end traditions are more than just music events; they are cultural phenomena for K-Pop fans eagerly counting down to the New Year with their favorite idols.
With the combination of unforgettable performances, exciting line-ups, and the unique atmosphere of ringing in the New Year with music, the 2024 MBC and SBS Gayo Daejeon promise to be events filled with joy and celebration for fans worldwide.