HYBE has announced that their annual CINE FEST event, which has previously been restricted to Asia and Latin America, will expand overseas to reach international audiences for the first time.

The HYBE CINE FEST was established in 2024 and sees a series of concert films from HYBE Labels artists broadcast at cinemas in selected regions. In its first year, which was hosted in Latin America, the festival attracted approximately 260,000 viewers, while last year’s second edition reached an attendance of 320,000 across Asia.

From October 24 to 31, the ‘HYBE CINE FEST 2026’ will take place across 50 countries within over 1,100 participating cinemas. It will feature a wide variety of artists who are housed under the HYBE Labels umbrella. The official website lists SEVENTEEN’s ‘NEW_’, TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s ‘ACT : TOMORROW’ and ENHYPEN’s ‘BLOOD SAGA’, alongside live broadcasts of BTS’ World Tour ‘ARIRANG’ in Buenos Aires and São Paulo. Regions include Australia, the U.S., Canada, Japan, Mexico, the UK, and many other countries across North and South America, Europe, and Asia. 

There is also a new 3D segment named “HYBE CHEERING PARTY” that allows artists without full tour films to be involved. This year a “one-of-a-kind game-like cheering screening” will be introduced, where music videos are played on the big screens and viewers can sing along and wave lightsticks amongst fellow fans. BTS, SEVENTEEN, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ENHYPEN, LE SSERAFIM, &TEAM, BOYNEXTDOR, TWS, ILLIT, KATSEYE, aoen, CORTIS and SANTOS BRAVOS will all be featured.

‘HYBE CINE FEST 2026’ marks the first global edition of the festival, following the success of previous events and individual global concert film campaigns. Recordings of recent tours from BTS and SEVENTEEN, for example, grossed millions of dollars at the box office. It also capitalises on the rise in interactive cinema experiences, with live broadcasts allowing for real-time participation and 3D screenings comparable to recent VR concerts from artists like ATEEZ and ENHYPEN. They are proven to hold a certain appeal; local fans can find each other, it is more accessible financially and location-wise for many unable to attend in-person concerts, and it allows for in-person experiences to be relived.

Big Hit Entertainment picked up on the trend of K-pop concert films and cinema campaigns early. The first major worldwide K-pop cinema release was Burn the Stage: The Movie in 2018 – a film following BTS on their 2017 THE WINGS TOUR. It broke global admission records at the time, drawing 1.4 million attendees and grossing $14 million U.S. dollars. In 2021, the company was absorbed into HYBE Labels, who have since built on that success and produced concert films for numerous artists. Now, they lead the surge.

As the first worldwide K-pop cinema event of this scale, featuring so many artists and films in series, ‘HYBE CINE FEST 2026’ will act as a determiner for the profitability of these extended, company-based ventures. The 3D segment in particular goes beyond the power of individual fandoms and the popularity of certain major artists. Its reception will indicate whether further HYBE Labels events would appeal to audiences, perhaps in a style comparable to SMTOWN Live. Additionally, regional figures will draw attention to certain areas and may impact future in-person touring locations.

As well as the cinema screenings, there will also be two HYBE CINE FEST stores set up in Los Angeles (AMC Burbank 16) and Paris (Eeseol, Paris Le Marais), with other “special locations” offering exclusive on-site experiences like photo zones and message walls. With these elements, it seems that HYBE is aiming for an all-encompassing event; it will even have its own merchandise range, setting it apart from previous screenings, and prompts to share the occasion on social media.

Led by the slogan “EVERYWHERE, WE CHEER!”, ‘HYBE CINE FEST 2026’ will take over cinemas for a full week this October. Ticket sales will commence internationally on September 30, and fans can sign up for more information on the HYBE CINE FEST website.