Two Worlds, One Rhythm: Santos Bravos and &TEAM Confirmed for a Massive Collaboration Stage at KCON 2026!
- K Fuse
- May 27
- 3 min read
The countdown to July has officially begun, and KCON has just dropped an announcement that is already sending shock waves through the global fandom. In a historic cross-cultural pairing, HYBE Latin America's breakout force, Santos Bravos, is set to team up with HYBE Labels Japan's performance powerhouse, &TEAM, for a highly anticipated Special Collaboration Stage. Ever since the two groups surprised everyone by dropping the digital "KAWASAKI (&TEAM Remix)" track back in February, fans have been desperately awaiting a joint performance. Now, KCON is making it a reality, turning up the heat early for what promises to be the summer's most explosive crossover event. Let's dive into these two powerhouse groups that KCON will be bringing together.
&TEAM, a group that has spent nearly four years completely tearing down walls between J-Pop and K-Pop. The multinational nine-member group first stole our hearts back in September 2022, through the high-stakes survival reality show &AUDITION - The Howling-. Serving as the absolute pioneers for HYBE's global "multi-home" strategy, the lineup is a gorgeous, multicultural powerhouse featuring leader EJ, sub-leader Fuma, K, Nicholas, Yuma, Jo, Harua, Take, and maknae Maki--bringing together an incredible blend of Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese, and German talent, with several members having originally competed on the iconic survival show I-LAND. They made an immediate chart-topping impact with their December 2022 debut EP First Howling : ME, and they've been unstoppable ever since. Known for their mind-blowing, ultra-synchronized choreography and a deeply cinematic werewolf-inspired lore, &TEAM recently unlocked million-seller status with both their historic official Korean debut Back to Life and their latest fiery Japanese comeback We on Fire, proving exactly why their global momentum is completely unmatched.
Meeting them on this global stage is Santos Bravos, the fiercely talented younger sibling in the HYBE ecosystem and the absolute blueprint for the company's expansion into the Latin music market. Based out of Mexico City, the five-member powerhouse group was formed in late 2025 through a gripping, self-titled docu-reality series that followed 16 hopefuls undergoing intense, K-Pop-level performance training. The final, ultra-charismatic lineup brings together a rich tapestry of cultures from across the Americas, featuring leader Drew Venegas (USA), Alejandro Aramburú (Peru), Gabi Bermúdez (Puerto Rico), Kauê Penna (Brazil), and Kenneth Lavíll (Mexico). Guided by legendary creative mentors like director-choreographer Kenny Ortega and producer Johnny Goldstein, the quintet officially burst onto the scene on October 21, 2025, with their addictive, energetic debut single, "0%," followed closely by their critically acclaimed debut EP, Dual, in March 2026. Armed with fluid, Latin-infused choreographic rhythms and infectious pop sensibilities that seamlessly blend Spanish, English, and Portuguese vocals, Santos Bravos has rapidly proven that their artistry is built on a desire to offer something completely disruptive to the global boy band space.
"KAWASAKI"--originally produced by a powerhouse team including Diplo, Johnny Goldstein, and "hitman" Bang--is the absolute perfect canvas for this collaboration. The track seamlessly fuses a high-energy, heavy dance beat with Santos Bravos' distinct Latin pop charisma. By injecting &TEAM's trademark, razor-sharp Japanese synchronization and distinct vocal color into the mix, this upcoming live performance is set to redefine what a global label collaboration can look like. Knowing both groups' reputations for intricate choreography and unmatched energy, the stage presence of all fourteen members moving as a single unit is bound to be a masterclass in modern performance art.
Beyond the jaw-dropping choreography we can expect, the real magic lies in how this stage bridges different corners of the HYBE global ecosystem. We'll finally get to see Santos Bravos' members sharing physical space and artistic chemistry with the multi-talented members of &TEAM. From potential multilingual rap exchanges to massive, unified dance breaks during the final chorus, this announcement gives fans plenty of reasons to count down the days until July. It's a beautiful reminder that language and borders mean very little when the rhythm is this universal.
Stay tuned, because this is one KCON stage you definitely won't want to miss!
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