MONSTA X THE X: NEXUS Opens in Seoul as I.M's Shaved-Head Ceremony and the Six-Member Full Group Forge a New Chapter

MONSTA X opened a new chapter on the K-pop stage with a powerful, colorful performance as part of the 2026 MONSTA X WORLD TOUR THE X : NEXUS in Seoul. The show on the 1st at KSPO Dome wrapped up a three-day Seoul run and connected with fans worldwide through the Beyond LIVE paid online broadcast. The tour’s title signifies more than the deep bond MONSTA X has built with their fanbase MONBEBE; it represents a unity beyond connection and a new leap forward. In their 11th year, the group demonstrated an expanded musicality that drew heated responses from fans.

The opening set began with 'DRAMARAMA', 'Love Killa', and 'Rush Hour', reaffirming MONSTA X's distinctive color. The ensuing stages offered a setlist that not only showcased the group's identity but also spanned past title tracks and material dating back to the 2020s, delivering a historic lineup. Fans filled the venue with nonstop sing-alongs and applause, and the solo stages drew additional attention. Shownu delivered seductive charisma with 'Around & Go'; Kihyun showcased the classic of rock vocals with 'Howling'; Hyungwon steered the mood with a sensual yet intense performance of 'No Air'; Minhyuk impressed by performing both vocals and guitar on 'Reaching'. Maknae I.M displayed chic charm with 'ERROR 404', while Joohoney underscored his solo musician presence with his recently released solo tracks 'STING' and '하늘에 머리가 닿을 때까지'.

One of the major talking points of the night was I.M's shaved-head ceremony. With military service approaching in February, I.M announced he would shave his head on stage, and the other members took turns shaving each other's heads in support. I.M explained, 'My back isn’t in great shape, but I can’t sit through the last performance,' showing his courage, and the shaved-head moment symbolized the special will of the six-member lineup ahead of the upcoming hiatus. He added, 'MONBEBE will probably like this,' expressing gratitude to the fans and the sense of longing for the coming gap.

The show progressed through 'MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT', 'Deny', and 'AND', then closed with tracks from last year’s mini-album THE X, before fueling the finale with team songs like 'Autobahn', 'Burning Up', 'Beautiful Liar', 'Alligator', and 'Shoot Out'. In the encore, 'Oh My!' and 'Rodeo' re-energized the crowd, and the night ended with a massive crowd sing-along from roughly 20,000 spectators.

This Seoul show marked the resumption of MONSTA X’s solo world tour after about four years since the NO LIMIT tour in Seoul in 2022, drawing around 29,000 fans across the three days. The KSPO Dome’s return to use as a gymnastics venue underscored MONSTA X’s continued strong ticket power, and the group pledged to expand the tour to global cities including Asia and Latin America in 2026.

I.M’s shaved-head ceremony added special meaning to his final stage before military service, and the members shared shaving I.M’s head to demonstrate their bond. Shownu stated, 'Today’s performance solidified our bond with MONBEBE,' and with 11 years of cumulative experience, the group reaffirmed the value of '믿듣퍼' (Believe, Listen, and Support). The tour will extend from Seoul to Japan, across Asia, and to South America, with continued fan engagement expected to further solidify MONSTA X’s global presence.