Photo by Alessia Belotti
Rome, 8 July 2026. After the sold out last January 2025 at the Unipol Forum in Milan, ATEEZ returned to Italy for the third time on the stage of the Ippodromo delle Capannelle on the occasion of Rock in Roma 2026. An unforgettable concert that marked the history of k-pop in the Italian capital.
Who are ATEEZ?
ATEEZ is a South Korean boyband that debuted in 2018 under the KQ Entertainment agency, the members are Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung and Jongho, all between 28 and 26 years old. Often considered the “Global Performance Idols” by Korean media, they have sold more than eleven million albums worldwide and have received prestigious music awards in Korea and Asia. Just a few days ago their latest album, Golden Hour: Part.5, reached first place on the Billboard 200. It is their third album in their eight-year career to mark this milestone, a sign that ATEEZ's international success is now undeniable.
The DJ set of KPop Italia and the happy indie of can't be blue – a rockstar opening
After the gates opened and the races to grab front row seats, he thought about it KPop Italy to entertain them Atiny (official name of the ATEEZ fandom) with an entirely k-pop DJ set curated by DJ Yeongdee and accompanied by an energetic dance troupe ready to dance all the most iconic choreographies of recent years.
An hour and a half before ATEEZ's performance, they then took to the stage can't be bluea South Korean indie band consisting of Kwon Dahyun, Lee Hwuiwon, Kim Chaehyun, Kim Daehun, and Lee Dohun. As the name of the band says, their goal is to make “happy music without being depressed”, and I would say that with today's performance they proved it. Between a few middle fingers, a few beers and a run through the crowd by frontman Dohun, can't be blue were real rockstars worthy of Rock in Rome, could this be why they also presented us with a preview of their next single “Fxxkin' Rockstar”?
ATEEZ and their rock soul – a short but intense set
As already announced by the group to fans in recent weeks, ATEEZ have decided to prepare a rock performance exclusively for Rock in Rome. There have been several hypotheses on what the songs in the setlist could be, given that ATEEZ often incorporate rock and punk elements into their songs, such as Guerrilla, Rocky or Wonderland. It certainly cannot be said that they disappointed Atiny's expectations: ATEEZ opened with Guerrillawhich made everyone lose their voices already at the beginning of the set. The live band that accompanied them added a rock touch to all the songs in the setlist, along with their outfits full of leather and studs.
In the setlist now inevitable are some of their most famous pieces such as Say My Name, Work And The Realbut there was also space for the brand new release Bad and for the very unexpected Turbulencewhich as always went straight to the hearts of fans. It's to the tune of Bouncy that the set then comes to an end: no encore, major absentees from the setlist, just under an hour of performance. A very short set but full of energy and impeccable vocal performances, as expected from ATEEZ. And Atiny responded with just as much energy, in the hope of making Rome and Italy understand that k-pop is here to stay, and that we are already anxiously awaiting another ATEEZ concert in Italy.
Click here to see photos of ATEEZ + can't be blue in Rome or browse the gallery below
ATEEZ: the lineup of the Rome concert
- Guerrilla
- Fireworks (I'm The One)
- Say My Name
- NASA
- Crazy Form
- Bad
- Work
- The Real
- Shaboom
- Turbulence
- Now This House Ain't a Home
- Adrenaline
- Bouncy
can't be blue: the setlist of the Rome concert
- Dim
- Should be you
- Sick of you
- I Always Wanna Die (The 1975 cover)
- still want me to love you
- blue daisy
- can't love
- I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE (Måneskin cover)
- take it anymore
- APT. (ROSÉ + Bruno Mars cover)
- Fxxkin' Rockstar (unreleased)
Daniel D`Amico for SANREMO.FM
