The April 18 and 19 concert is happening for free at the Araneta Coliseum, marking a historic cultural homecoming.
Folk-pop band Ben&Ben, balladeer TJ Monterde, top-streamed act Cup of Joe, and South Korea-based P-pop group HORI7ON will represent the Philippines in its hosting of the ASEAN-Korea Music Festival, more popularly known as the ROUND Festival.
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), in partnership with South Korea’s KBS World TV, made the grand reveal during a press conference on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
The OPM “Fantastic Four”
Ben&Ben—composed of Paolo Benjamin Guico, Miguel Benjamin Guico, Poch Barretto Jam Villanueva Agnes Reoma, Pat Lasaten, Toni Muñoz, Andrew De Pano, and Keifer Cabugao—is the most-streamed Filipino artist on Spotify, having amassed over two billion streams on the platform to date. The group has won multiple accolades and wields significant influence abroad, performing overseas and topping international charts.
Cup of Joe—composed of Gian Bernardino and Raphaell Ridao (vocals), Gabriel Fernandez (lead guitars), CJ Fernandez (rhythm guitars), and Xen Gareza (keyboards)—led Spotify Philippines in 2025, earning top honors as group, local artist, and local group. The band also ranked second among the country’s most-streamed global artists, behind only Taylor Swift, and was the sole Filipino act on the list. Their breakout hit, “Multo,” was named the year’s top local song.
TJ Monterde, whose humble beginnings date back to 2011, reached mainstream popularity in 2024 through his 2023 single, “Palagi.” He also made history as the first Filipino solo male artist to stage three consecutive sold-out concerts (“Sarili Nating Mundo”) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in February 2025. Over the course of the year, he and KZ held the “Sarili Nating Mundo” world tour, spanning 40 shows across venues in the United States, Canada, Middle East, and Australia.
HORI7ON—composed of Vinci, Kim, Kyler, Reyster, Winston, Jeromy, and Marcus—was formed in 2023 via the survival reality show “Dream Maker.” It’s the first P-pop act to debut in South Korea, appearing in the country’s major music shows. It also won several awards, including the AAA Focus Award, P-Pop Award, VP Choice Awards, Korean Waves Awards, and Forbes K-pop Award.
A global ASEAN stage
The four Filipino acts, widely seen as the epitome of contemporary OPM, will be joined by top-tier artists from ASEAN countries, including: 10CM and MeloMance (Korea), Syafiq Abdilah (Brunei), G-Devith (Cambodia), Pamungkas (Indonesia), JoJo Miracle (Lao PDR), MIMIFLY (Malaysia), Velocity (Myanmar), Regina Song (Singapore), Tilly Birds (Thailand), and Chillies (Vietnam).
10CM—best known for his work in the original soundtracks of K-drama hits “Lovely Runner,” “Queen of Tears,” and “Crash Landing on You”—will also serve as festival host.
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At the Jan. 28 press conference, KBS World TV Director Lee Hansol described the 2026 ROUND as a “very special homecoming,” noting that the festival’s inaugural 2020 edition was originally set for the Philippines before the pandemic forced it online.
“We had to wait six years because of COVID-19, but that wait makes this moment even more meaningful,” Lee said.
NCCA Chair Eric Zerrudo called the Philippines’ role as 2026 ROUND host a historic chance to showcase its cultural leadership.
“We envision a future where the Philippines becomes a performing arts capital in the ASEAN region—driven by Filipino talent and strengthened by our communities and neighbors,” Zerrudo said.
Free two-day concert
The 2026 ROUND will be on April 18 and 19 at the Araneta Coliseum. Admission is free. Online reservations open in February, with ticket claiming scheduled for March. Follow NCCA’s official social media channels for updates.
Ben&Ben, TJ Monterde, Cup of Joe, and HORI7ON are widely seen as the epitome of contemporary OPM.
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