2025 MBC Music Festival Reveals Special Stages With ILLIT's Wonhee, TXT's Taehyun, and TWS

The 2025 MBC Music Festival is officially kicking the year-end excitement into high gear. On December 22, the festival announced its lineup of special stages, promising unique collaborations that will bring together some of K-pop's hottest rising stars and powerhouse vocalists.

According to the announcement, rising boy group TWS is set to trade their signature fresh-faced charm for a more "mature, sophisticated stage," offering fans a glimpse at their evolving artistry.

A major vocal collaboration is also on the docket, pairing the distinct voice of indie singer-songwriter HANRORO with Taehyun of TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT). The unexpected duo is already generating buzz among fans eager to hear their harmony.

In a showcase of K-pop's next generation, a special unit has been formed featuring Ian of Hearts2Hearts, Bang Jeemin of izna, and Wonhee from the breakout 2025 rookie group ILLIT. Their combined performance is one of the most anticipated moments for fans of the new wave of K-pop.

Rounding out the previews, the festival confirmed that legendary rock band YB will also deliver a special performance, ensuring the lineup spans multiple genres and generations.

PRISM Insight: The curation of these special stages reveals a deliberate strategy by MBC to engineer viral, cross-fandom moments. By pairing an indie darling like HANRORO with a global K-pop idol like TXT's Taehyun, and creating a super-rookie unit featuring a member of ILLIT, the festival isn't just creating a show—it's creating highly shareable content designed to dominate social media feeds. This is the new playbook for year-end festivals competing for global attention.