K/DA to perform new material at Worlds 2026 Finals opening ceremony

League of Legends’ virtual K-pop group, K/DA will bring new music to LoL esports’ biggest stage as it showcases songs from the virtual pop group’s new FIRESTARTER EP during the League of Legends Worlds 2026 Finals opening ceremony on Nov. 14 at Barclays Center in New York.

The four-track release marks the return of the League of Legends virtual group, featuring Ahri, Akali, Evelynn and Kai’Sa, with top music stars performing the vocals for the iconic LoL Champions.

K/DA to perform at Worlds 2026 Finals opening ceremony

K/DA will join a star-studded lineup at the Worlds 2026 Finals ceremony, including fellow virtual hip-hop collective True Damage.

Released through Riot Games and Virgin Music Group, FIRESTARTER features the title track alongside WATCH ME, NEVER GOING BACK and GIRLS, a collaboration with DJ Sona, another of the game’s virtual music artists.

The new chapter reunites MIYEON and SOYEON of i-dle, who return as the voices of Ahri and Akali, respectively. Sophie Powers takes on the role of Evelynn, while BRIT Award-nominated singer-songwriter Mimi Webb voices Kai’Sa.

The EP’s title track arrived earlier this week with an animated music video directed and produced by Fortiche Production, the studio behind Riot’s Emmy-winning series Arcane and K/DA’s breakout video for POP/STARS.

Since debuting in 2018, K/DA has evolved from a K-pop-inspired virtual act into a global pop phenomenon. The group has accumulated more than 2.7 billion global streams and 1.8 billion video views, while POP/STARS earned platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America.

Beyond this, K/DA arguably provided the inspiration behind K-pop Demon Hunters, an animated virtual band in the same vein, although we’re sure neither party is keen to dive into that web of inspiration versus plagiarism.

As per Riot’s release, “FIRESTARTER era aims to push the group’s sound and identity forward while retaining the appeal that made its original lineup a hit.” Riot Games global head of music and events Maria Egan said the project gives the four characters room to evolve as artists, with a new look, attitude and songs reflecting their individual journeys.

For LoL esports fans, the Worlds 2026 Finals opening ceremony will bring that evolution to the tournament’s biggest stage, blending virtual pop and live esports spectacle as finale of the 2026 championship concludes.