ILLIT Announces PRESS START Encore Tour After Sold-Out First Concert Run
ILLIT will hold PRESS START encore concerts in Korea and Japan after a sold-out debut tour and growing success with I Got Your Back.
ILLIT's rapid rise shows no signs of slowing. After packing venues across Asia and earning praise for a debut tour that quickly became one of the year's hottest tickets, the five-member group is heading back to the stage with a full-scale encore run. The announcement reflects more than strong demand. It confirms that ILLIT has become one of the most talked-about young acts in K-pop, with fans eager for another chance to experience a show that left a lasting impression.
Belift Lab confirmed on July 27 through Weverse that ILLIT LIVE 'PRESS START' ENCORE will begin at Inspire Arena in Incheon on October 17 and 18 before travelling to Lala Arena Tokyo Bay in Chiba for four performances on December 23 and 24, followed by December 26 and 27. The encore arrives after the group's first concert tour exceeded expectations from its opening night. Built around a playful video game concept, the production blended creative visuals with an energetic setlist that kept audiences engaged from start to finish. Tickets disappeared almost immediately whenever new dates went on sale, proving ILLIT's growing drawing power. Fan support pushed the tour well beyond its original schedule, eventually reaching 15 performances across seven cities with Hong Kong added to the itinerary.
🚨 ILLIT anunciou os shows de Encore da turnê 'PRESS START'! As apresentações acontecerão na INSPIRE Arena (Incheon, Coreia do Sul) nos dias 17 e 18 de outubro, e na LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY (Tóquio, Japão) nos dias 23, 24, 26 e 27 de dezembro.#ILLIT #아일릿 @ILLIT_official pic.twitter.com/T3nhDt83JY
— ILLIT BRASIL (@ILLITBrazil) July 27, 2026
That success has been matched by impressive momentum in Japan. ILLIT recently released their second Japanese single, "I Got Your Back," which climbed to the top of multiple local charts and strengthened the group's position in one of K-pop's biggest international markets. The excitement reached another level during their Tokyo concert when Jisoo and Momoka from the popular Japanese group HANA made a surprise appearance. The pair joined ILLIT on stage for a special performance of the title track, creating one of the tour's standout moments and sending fans into a frenzy. It was the kind of unexpected collaboration that hits differently when it unfolds live, turning an already memorable night into an event fans will be talking about for a long time.
The schedule ahead suggests ILLIT has little intention of slowing down. Alongside the encore concerts, the group is preparing for appearances on major Japanese television programmes while also joining high-profile summer festivals throughout August, including Mezamashi WANGAN Festival and LuckyFes '26.' Those bookings place ILLIT alongside some of Japan's biggest performers and underline how quickly the group has become a familiar name beyond South Korea. Every new stage offers another opportunity to reach fresh audiences while rewarding the loyal fanbase that helped turn their debut tour into a sold-out success.
For a group still early in its career, the pace has been remarkable. Sold-out arenas, expanding tour schedules, chart success, surprise collaborations, and festival invitations all point in the same direction. ILLIT is building momentum that feels earned rather than rushed. The encore tour is more than a victory lap. It is the next chapter in a story that continues to gather speed, with fans ready to press start once again.
