TWICE Announces Major European Leg Extension for READY TO BE Fifth World Tour Including Stops in London Paris and Berlin

Global K-pop sensation TWICE has officially expanded the horizon of their fifth world tour, "READY TO BE," announcing a highly anticipated string of dates across Europe. The announcement, made through JYP Entertainment’s official social media channels on April 23, marks a significant milestone for the nine-member group as they bring their high-energy performances to some of the most iconic arenas in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. This expansion follows the successful launch of the tour’s first leg in Seoul earlier this month and serves as a testament to the group’s burgeoning influence in the Western music market.

The "READY TO BE" world tour is TWICE’s largest production to date, designed to showcase the group’s evolution from their early "color-pop" roots to a more mature, sophisticated musical identity. The European leg is scheduled to commence in early September, beginning at the O2 Arena in London on September 8. From there, the group will travel to the Accor Arena in Paris on September 11, before concluding this specific segment of the tour at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin on September 14. For the London show, tickets are scheduled to go on sale to the general public on April 28 at 10:00 AM local time, with high demand expected to result in rapid sell-outs.

A Strategic Chronology of Global Expansion

The announcement of the European dates is the latest chapter in a carefully orchestrated global rollout that began in early 2023. In February, JYP Entertainment first unveiled the initial 17-stop itinerary for the "READY TO BE" tour, which primarily focused on major cities across Asia and North America. This first phase included massive venues such as the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, making TWICE the first female K-pop group to headline these NFL-sized stadiums.

The momentum for the tour was further bolstered by the release of TWICE’s 12th mini-album, also titled "READY TO BE," which debuted in March. The album was preceded by the English-language pre-release single "Moonlight Sunrise," which earned the group their second career entry on the Billboard Hot 100. Upon the album’s full release, the title track "Set Me Free" became an instant hit, characterized by its groovy bassline and themes of liberation and confidence. To support the release, TWICE made a high-profile appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, delivering a powerful live performance of "Set Me Free" that resonated with international audiences and solidified their status as a household name in global pop.

The tour officially kicked off with two sold-out nights at the KSPO Dome in Seoul on April 15 and 16. These opening shows set the tone for the world tour, featuring a setlist that balanced new hits with nostalgic classics, supported by state-of-the-art stage production, intricate choreography, and live band arrangements.

Supporting Data and Commercial Impact

TWICE’s expansion into Europe is backed by impressive commercial data that highlights the increasing demand for K-pop on the continent. The 12th mini-album "READY TO BE" achieved remarkable success on the charts, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 and topping the iTunes charts in dozens of regions worldwide. In Europe specifically, the group has seen a steady rise in streaming numbers on platforms like Spotify and YouTube, with the United Kingdom and Germany emerging as two of their strongest markets in the region.

The selection of venues for the European leg—The O2, Accor Arena, and Mercedes-Benz Arena—is indicative of the group’s massive drawing power. The O2 Arena in London, with a capacity of approximately 20,000, is a benchmark for international superstars. Similarly, the Accor Arena in Paris and the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin are premiere venues that typically host the world’s top-tier touring acts. By securing these locations, JYP Entertainment is signaling that TWICE has moved beyond niche popularity into the mainstream European consciousness.

Industry analysts note that TWICE’s touring strategy mirrors the broader "Third Wave" of K-pop, where artists are no longer confined to regional success but are competing directly with Western pop stars for stadium and arena dominance. The "READY TO BE" tour is projected to be one of the highest-grossing tours by a female group in 2023, further cementing TWICE’s financial and cultural impact on the music industry.

Official Responses and Artist Vision

While formal press conferences regarding the European extension are rare in the K-pop industry, the members of TWICE—Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu—have expressed their excitement through various fan communication platforms and behind-the-scenes content. During their Seoul kickoff, leader Jihyo remarked on the significance of the tour’s title, noting that "READY TO BE" represents the group’s readiness to show the world their true selves, stripped of expectations and full of newfound confidence.

JYP Entertainment has emphasized that this tour is a "new beginning" for the group, following their full-member contract renewal in 2022. The agency’s partnership with Republic Records in the United States has also played a crucial role in the group’s international logistics and promotional efforts, ensuring that the "READY TO BE" tour receives the infrastructure necessary for a global trek of this scale.

Fan reactions across social media have been overwhelmingly positive, particularly from European "ONCE" (the group’s official fandom), who have waited years for a dedicated tour leg in their region. The hashtag #READYTOBE_EUROPE trended globally shortly after the announcement, with fans praising the group for including multiple major European capitals in their schedule.

Broader Implications for the K-pop Industry

The "READY TO BE" world tour extension is more than just a series of concerts; it is a barometer for the health and reach of the K-pop industry in a post-pandemic landscape. TWICE’s ability to sell out stadiums in the U.S. and arenas in Europe suggests that the global appetite for Korean music is not only sustaining but expanding into new demographics.

Furthermore, TWICE’s success challenges the historical trend in K-pop where boy groups typically saw higher touring revenues and larger venue sizes than girl groups. Alongside peers like BLACKPINK, TWICE is proving that female acts possess the longevity and "fandom power" required to sustain multi-continental arena tours. This shift is likely to encourage labels to invest more heavily in the international touring infrastructure for their female artists.

As TWICE prepares to cross the Atlantic and eventually arrive in Europe this September, the "READY TO BE" tour stands as a celebration of eight years of growth. From their debut in 2015 with the survival show Sixteen to becoming one of the best-selling girl groups of all time, the journey of TWICE continues to be a defining narrative in modern pop music. The upcoming European shows are not merely an extension of a tour, but a victory lap for a group that has successfully transitioned from "National Girl Group" of South Korea to a dominant force on the global stage.

Detailed Tour Timeline and Upcoming Milestones

To understand the scale of the "READY TO BE" era, it is essential to look at the upcoming schedule for 2023:

• April 15-16: Tour Kickoff at KSPO Dome, Seoul.
• May 2023: Asian leg begins, including stops in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, as well as several cities in Japan (Osaka and Tokyo).
• June-July 2023: North American leg, covering major cities including Los Angeles, Oakland, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Toronto, New York, and Atlanta.
• September 8, 2023: European leg begins at The O2 Arena, London.
• September 11, 2023: Performance at Accor Arena, Paris.
• September 14, 2023: Performance at Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin.

As the group moves through these dates, fans and industry insiders alike will be watching closely to see if further dates are added in regions such as Latin America or Southeast Asia, where TWICE maintains a massive and loyal following. For now, the focus remains on the "READY TO BE" mission: a bold, global statement of musical maturity and a promise of many more years to come for the nine members of TWICE.