Photos by Deborah Rodriguez ; Written by Bella Lee
This year marks 88Rising’s 8th year of Head In The Clouds L.A. Since the start of Head In The Clouds L.A., 88Rising has gone above and beyond for the 2026 edition of the festival, bringing huge names like Katseye, XG, and more to their stage. This year Head In The Clouds LA was on a new level.
The festival was held at the iconic Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, which is the 20th largest stadium in the world. Though the main stage was the primary event of the day, there were several other happenings around the stadium. Everywhere around, attendees could find food, freebies, and photo opportunities. One of the booths in the stadium was hosted by Sephora, who had a massive makeup and skincare try-on within their walls. On the far side of the stadium was the Toyota Music Den, which hosted talented DJs who kept the party going at all hours of the day.
Although fans could hunt for freebies and enjoy mini games around the Rose Bowl stadium, the main event was the talented artists who frequented the 88Rising stage. The full lineup included ONE OR EIGHT, BE:FIRST, Gia Fu, Warren Hue, no na, KiiKii, Tiffany Day, Lngshot, Umi, Rich Brian, Dabin.kr, XG, and Katseye. Every artist who graced the stage entered with full energy. The music was loud, the fans were hype, and the artists gave it their all. And the energy was not limited to just the Rose Bowl stadium. Fans everywhere could watch the live stream and be a part of the event from start to finish. Head In The Clouds L.A. was an international event, bringing people together through the love of music.
ONE OR EIGHT opened the day with their electric performance skills. Their abilities were on full display on the 88Rising stage. BE:FIRST brought their intense music production and dance skills, leaving everything on the stage. The members danced in perfect sync, leaving fans mesmerized. Gia Fu kept the beat going with her incredible DJ skills. Her set allowed the festival goers to dance freely in the field and become the main act of their own personal stage. Warren Hue brought the energy up with his music and wild energy. He was the first artist to spray the audience with water, giving new life to the heat-stricken listeners. no na made their second appearance in L.A. memorable by performing “honk!” for the first time in the U.S.
The first Korean group to enter the stage was KiiKii, who made it their mission to be remembered by everyone watching. Their performance was a mix of cute and dynamite, giving fans a taste of what they can offer. From there, Tiffany Day jumped out to perform her music with a passion. She leaped across the stage, bringing everyone’s eyes and energy towards her as she performed songs like “PRETTY4U” and “AMERICAN GIRL.” Lngshot dialed the heat up with their performance of “Backseat.” Through technical difficulties, their vocals shone through and didn’t stop their performance from shining.
The day progressed and brought a new energy to the hot Pasadena air. Umi brought a quiet calm when she walked on stage. She asked the audience to perform a meditation with her before she started her set, and then brought soothing vocals to chill the hot air. Rich Brian, a Head In The Clouds LA veteran, owned the stage next. He single-handedly captured the crowd, bringing hype back with his unique freestyle rap and his hit song “Dat $tick.” The final act before sunset was Dabin.kr, whose chill vibes welcomed golden hour. He gave a riveting performance of “KISS ME” and “Jasmine,” beckoning fans to his call.
XG and Katseye were the last performances of the day, which fans had been waiting for with bated breath. These two groups are powerhouses in their own ways, and they showed up for the audience with an unlimited energy. Through the intense heat, some fans had waited all day for these women to perform.
After the sun went down, the lights went up. XG brought their A-game with their set. Featuring songs like “THE VISION,” “ROCK THE BOAT,” and “IKYK.” They told a whole story with their performance, giving the crowd the narrative of their origin and their sound. XG’s stage had multiple raised platforms to create depth and layers to their design so that every person in the stadium could see them. They ended their set with “SHOOTING STAR,” making sure that no one would forget them.
The final performance was by the one and only Katseye, who brought their own flavor by starting their stage with “Pinky Up.” The women, decked in pink pastels and feathers, greeted the crowd and showed them why they are global superstars. Their live performance skills are unmatched. Even with the absence of Sophia, Katseye’s leader, the four women filled the stage with boundless enthusiasm. They continued with fan favorites such “Gameboy,” “Internet Girl,” and “Gnarly.” Katseye is a group who are the best at live performances, their on-stage charisma is intoxicating. Every soul in the stadium fell in love with them by the end of their stage.
Head In The Clouds L.A. was an unforgettable day. It was packed with incredible music acts, fun food, and community. Although the festival has international reach, the crowd felt like home. Everyone was welcome in celebrating their love for Asian and Asian-American artists. And fans can look forward to what 88Rising has cooking for their next big event.
