IVE, Dayoung & more to headline 2026 Daegu WMAC opening concert on Aug 21

IVE will headline the opening ceremony concert for the 2026 Daegu World Masters Athletics Championships on August 21 at 6 PM at Daegu Stadium.

The lineup includes IVE, Cosmic Girls main vocalist Dayoung, Kim Yongbin, Son Bin-a, Jeon Yujin, Chu Hyuk-jin, The Wind, and Seo I-be. Organizers expect roughly 40,000 people: approximately 15,000 athletes and officials, 25,000 general spectators from delegations across some 90 countries.

Competition runs August 22 through September 3 across Daegu Stadium's main and auxiliary tracks, Gyeongsan Citizens' Stadium, Suseong Family Park, and the Sincheondong-ro area. The program includes 34 events: 17 track, 11 field, six road race.

Domestic participating athletes receive one concert admission ticket as a priority allocation. Overseas athletes are invited to the full opening ceremony with accompanying persons. All participants get a 20,000-won Daegu Ropay prepaid card, a commemorative medal, and an official uniform. Half-marathon and 10 km entrants also receive priority registration rights for the 2027 Daegu Marathon. The 300 Korean representatives marching in the opening parade get participation rights and a team uniform.

Eligibility is open to anyone aged 35 or older as of the championship date. Registration closes on the 23rd.

Organizing Committee Secretary General Jin Ki-hoon said the event is expected to "widely introduce Daegu, South Korea's cultural center city, to the world" and pledged to make the opening concert "the best stage of the K-Culture Festa."