Peru Makes History by Becoming World Champion at the 2026 Changwon K-Pop World Festival

The Peruvian group SWEVEN took first place in the grand final held in South Korea, marking the first time a Peruvian delegation has qualified for and won this prestigious international competition.
The official performance was broadcast worldwide by South Korean television network KBS on November 4.

In an unprecedented achievement for the country’s arts and cultural scene, the Peruvian dance group SWEVEN was crowned World Champion of the 2026 Changwon K-Pop World Festival, organized by South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with public broadcaster KBS (Korean Broadcasting System).

Since the festival was established in the early 2010s — and has become regarded as the world’s leading K-pop dance cover competition — this edition marks the first time Peru has qualified for the final round in South Korea and, at the same time, claimed the competition’s top prize.

The Peruvian group impressed the international jury and the audience with a rigorous and flawless performance of “Plot Twist” (첫 만남은 계획대로 되지 않아), made popular by South Korean group TWS. SWEVEN’s technical skill, synchronization, and stage presence helped the Peruvian delegation outperform representatives from dozens of countries that had qualified through the global preliminary rounds.

The grand final, held in the city of Changwon and broadcast worldwide by KBS on November 4, 2026, highlights the remarkable growth of Peru’s creative industries and urban cultural movement, placing national talent at the forefront of the global entertainment industry.

About the Changwon K-Pop World Festival

The Changwon K-Pop World Festival is an annual event co-organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and television broadcaster KBS. The competition brings together the world’s top K-pop dance and singing talents following an extensive selection process held at more than 80 South Korean embassies and cultural centers around the world.