TWICE Announces Major European Expansion for Fifth World Tour Ready To Be Following Global Chart Success and Seoul Kickoff

JYP Entertainment’s premier girl group, TWICE, has officially confirmed the extension of their massive fifth world tour, titled Ready To Be, marking a significant milestone in the group’s illustrious eight-year career. The announcement, shared via the group’s official social media channels on April 23, unveils a series of highly anticipated European dates that will see the nine-member ensemble perform in some of the continent’s most prestigious arenas. This expansion follows the successful launch of the tour’s first leg, which commenced earlier this month with a sold-out two-night residency at the KSPO Dome in Seoul, South Korea. The global trek, which serves as a testament to the group’s enduring international appeal, is set to bring their high-energy performances and sophisticated discography to fans across Asia, North America, and now, Europe.

The Ready To Be world tour is a direct response to the massive success of TWICE’s 12th mini-album of the same name, which was released in March. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, making it the group’s highest-selling opening week in the United States and further solidifying their position as a dominant force in the global music industry. By expanding the tour to include major European capitals, JYP Entertainment is signaling a strategic push into the Western market, capitalizing on the unprecedented demand for K-pop in the region.

Detailed Chronology of the Ready To Be World Tour

The journey toward this global expansion began in February 2023, when JYP Entertainment first teased the scale of the fifth world tour. At that time, the agency revealed 17 initial dates spanning across Asia, Australia, and North America. The tour officially kicked off on April 15 and 16 in Seoul, where the group performed to a capacity crowd, showcasing a setlist that blended their iconic hits with new tracks from the Ready To Be mini-album.

Following the Seoul kickoff, the group is scheduled to travel to Australia in early May, followed by a series of stadium shows in Japan, including historic performances at the Yanmar Stadium Nagai in Osaka and the Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo. This makes TWICE the first K-pop girl group to hold standalone stadium concerts in Japan. The North American leg is slated to begin in June, featuring stops at major venues such as SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The newly announced European leg will serve as the next chapter of this ambitious global itinerary, scheduled for September 2023.

European Leg Dates and Venue Specifications

The European expansion focuses on three major cultural hubs, reflecting a calculated entry into the European market where TWICE has seen a steady rise in digital streaming and physical album sales. The schedule for the European leg is as follows:

• London, United Kingdom: The leg begins on September 8 at The O2 Arena. Known as one of the busiest and most prestigious music venues in the world, The O2 has a capacity of approximately 20,000. For TWICE, performing at this venue places them among a select group of international artists who have transitioned from mid-sized theaters to arena-level status in the UK.
• Paris, France: On September 11, the group will take the stage at the Accor Arena. As a central pillar of the European live music circuit, the Accor Arena frequently hosts the world’s top-tier touring acts. The inclusion of Paris underscores the massive "ONCE" (TWICE’s official fandom) presence in Western Europe.
• Berlin, Germany: The European leg concludes on September 14 at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. Germany has long been a primary market for K-pop within the European Union, and Berlin’s status as a cultural capital makes it a logical finale for this segment of the tour.

Tickets for the London performance are scheduled to go on sale at 10:00 AM BST on April 28, with high demand expected to lead to rapid sell-outs across all tiers.

Musical Context and Global Performance Success

The tour takes its name and thematic inspiration from TWICE’s 12th mini-album, Ready To Be. The project was preceded by the pre-release English single "Moonlight Sunrise," which debuted on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the group’s second career entry on the chart following their 2021 hit "The Feels." "Moonlight Sunrise" served as a strategic bridge to Western audiences, blending the group’s signature melodic sensibilities with a contemporary synth-pop sound.

The album’s lead single, "Set Me Free," has been a focal point of the group’s recent promotional efforts. The track is characterized by its groovy bassline and themes of liberation and confidence. In a high-profile move to bolster their American presence, TWICE performed "Set Me Free" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in March. The performance was widely praised for its intricate choreography and the group’s charismatic stage presence, further fueling the momentum that has carried over into the ticket sales for the North American leg of the tour.

Supporting Data and Market Analysis

The decision to extend the tour into Europe is backed by significant data regarding the growth of the K-pop genre. According to industry reports, Europe has seen a 60% increase in K-pop consumption over the last three years, with the UK, France, and Germany leading the surge. TWICE’s previous world tour, "III," primarily focused on Asia and North America, leaving a void in the European market that fans have been eager to see filled.

Furthermore, TWICE’s streaming numbers on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music show a diverse global listener base. In 2022, the group surpassed 6 billion cumulative streams on Spotify, a milestone achieved by only a handful of girl groups globally. The Ready To Be album itself saw over 1.7 million pre-orders, setting a new personal record for the group and indicating that their commercial peak is continuing to ascend nearly a decade into their career.

Official Responses and Fandom Impact

While formal press releases from JYP Entertainment often emphasize the "synergy between the artists and their global fans," the announcement of the European dates has triggered a massive response from the "ONCE" community. Social media engagement surrounding the April 23 announcement reached record highs, with hashtags related to the tour trending globally within minutes.

Industry analysts suggest that this tour extension is a vital component of JYP Entertainment’s broader "JYP 2.0" strategy, which focuses on "globalization by localization." By sending TWICE to major European arenas, the agency is not only generating significant touring revenue but also strengthening the brand equity of their artists in markets that were previously dominated by Western pop stars.

Broader Implications for the K-pop Industry

The scale of the Ready To Be world tour reflects a broader trend in the music industry where K-pop acts are no longer viewed as "niche" or "regional" performers but as global arena and stadium fillers. For TWICE, this tour represents a transition into a more mature phase of their career. The "Ready To Be" concept—focusing on breaking free from societal expectations and being true to oneself—resonates with a global audience that values authenticity and empowerment.

Moreover, the inclusion of three major European cities suggests that future tours may expand even further into territories like Southern Europe, Northern Europe, and South America. As TWICE continues to break records for attendance and sales, they pave the way for junior groups under the JYP label and across the K-pop industry to view the world as a unified stage.

The Ready To Be world tour is more than just a series of concerts; it is a celebration of TWICE’s longevity and their ability to evolve. From the "color-pop" beginnings of "Cheer Up" and "TT" to the sophisticated, disco-infused sounds of their current era, the group has demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt to changing musical trends while maintaining the core identity that endeared them to millions. As September approaches, the European music scene prepares to welcome one of Asia’s most successful musical exports for a run of shows that are destined to be a highlight of the 2023 concert calendar.