After years of being a loyal fan of multiple SM Entertainment groups, the excitement was off the charts when the news broke—SMTOWN LIVE was going on tour! With a star-studded line-up and the promise of legendary stages by both iconic acts and the next wave of SM Rookies, we did what any devoted fan would: we secured our tickets for what promised to be an unforgettable concert experience.
The Line-up: Generations Collide in London
For the London stop of SMTOWN LIVE 2025, the roster was nothing short of historic. The stage welcomed second-generation K-pop legends TVXQ, MINHO from SHINee, and HYO of Girls’ Generation. These icons shared the spotlight with rising stars and beloved acts: SMTOWN Rookies 2025 (SMTR25), Hearts2Hearts, dearALICE, RIIZE, aespa, Red Velvet (Joy, Irene, Seulgi), EXO’s Suho, Chanyeol, Kai, and the multi-unit powerhouse that is NCT—including NCT WISH, NCT DREAM, WayV, and NCT 127.
Iconic doesn’t even begin to describe this ensemble.
The Show: A Symphony of Talent and Emotion
After a short delay, the concert kicked off at around 6:30PM with TVXQ delivering a dynamic opening that set the tone for the rest of the night. SMTR25 followed, blowing us away with high-energy covers of SHINee’s ‘Lucifer’ and EXO’s ‘Growl’.
The momentum continued with Hearts2Hearts, who took the stage to perform their debut single ‘THE CHASE’ and a b-side. The atmosphere was electric as dearALICE, RIIZE, aespa, and Red Velvet rolled out their chart-topping hits, igniting crowd-wide singalongs.
HYO brought her solo flair with ‘Retro Romance’, giving us a taste of what was to come in her show-stopping encore.
NCT and EXO Steal the Spotlight
NCT’s performance section began with the youngest unit, NCT WISH, before passing the baton to NCT DREAM, WayV, and NCT 127. Each sub-unit showcased two of their biggest hits, with the crowd singing every word. The energy was palpable— the NEOS truly felt the love.
Then came EXO’s Suho, Chanyeol, and Kai, gracing the stage with solo performances that had EXO-Ls emotional and singing their hearts out.
MINHO kept the emotional intensity going with ‘CALL BACK’ and ‘Something About U’.
Hits, Covers & Fan-Chants Galore
After two hours of mind-blowing performances, the concert moved into a highlight-packed section of hit songs and epic covers.
HYO returned with ‘DESSERT’, joined by Giselle and YANGYANG, lighting up the arena. EXO’s trio nailed a nostalgic cover of H.O.T.’s ‘Git It Up’, stirring the crowd into chants of “EXO!”—a wholesome and emotional moment.
TVXQ stunned with a powerful twist on Red Velvet’s ‘Psycho’, sending the audience into a frenzy.
The Encore: A Heartfelt Finale
The encore began with Hearts2Hearts performing their latest track ‘STYLE’, followed by NCT WISH with ‘poppop’. The energy kept climbing with RIIZE’s ‘Fly Up’, aespa’s ‘Supernova’, and NCT DREAM’s fan-favorite ‘Hot Sauce’.
The set reached its peak with WayV’s ‘Love Talk’, Red Velvet’s ‘Red Flavor’, NCT 127’s ‘Kick It’, and a legendary closing with TVXQ’s ‘MIROTIC’—chant and all!
To wrap up this powerful night, the entire SM family joined for ‘Hope from KWANGYA’. Personal highlight? Doyoung pulling together all of NCT for a group thank-you. The stage was filled with warmth and connection—a truly wholesome and emotional goodbye.
Final Thoughts: SMTOWN LIVE 2025 Was a Dream Come True
SMTOWN in London was a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of K-pop history, talent, and fan unity. With a line-up that honored the past, embraced the present, and welcomed the future, this concert brought fans old and new together in pure joy.
Without a doubt, this is now one of my all-time favorite concerts—and I’m already hoping for the next one (fingers crossed for KEY, BoA, and more of SNSD!).
Were you at SMTOWN LIVE 2025 London? Share your unforgettable moments in the comments below!
