The streets of São Paulo turned into a massive dance floor as K-pop girl group NMIXX made history by performing at the Brazilian Carnival alongside local superstar Pabllo Vittar. The event, which took place on February 16, 2026, at the Bloco da Pabllo in the iconic Parque do Ibirapuera, drew an estimated crowd of 2 million passionate foliões (revelers), marking a monumental moment for both K-pop and Brazilian music .
This collaboration comes nearly six months after the release of their viral partnership single “MEXE,” which dropped in August 2025 and blended NMIXX’s signature MIXX POP sound with Pabllo Vittar’s energetic Brazilian pop influences . The song features lyrics in both Korean and Portuguese, making it a perfect bridge between the two music cultures.
A Historic First for K-pop at Brazilian Carnival
The Bloco da Pabllo performance marked the very first time a K-pop artist has participated in Brazil’s world-famous Carnival celebrations. JYP Entertainment, NMIXX’s agency, described the event as “a historic symbol of the convergence between K-pop and Brazilian pop music, both of which have attracted so many music fans around the world” .
The term “bloco” refers to the street parties that take over Brazilian cities during Carnival, with massive floats carrying artists through seas of dancing crowds. Pabllo Vittar’s bloco has quickly become one of the most anticipated events in São Paulo’s Carnival calendar since its debut in 2025 .
NMIXX members Lily, Haewon, Sullyoon, Bae, Jiwoo, and Kyujin joined Pabllo Vittar on the trio elétrico (electric stage truck) as it rolled through the Ibirapuera region, specifically along Avenida Pedro Álvares Cabral between the Obelisk and the Monumento às Bandeiras .
Pabllo Vittar and NMIXX Bring the Heat to Ibirapuera
The crowd started gathering early in the area, with the official concentration beginning at 1:00 PM local time . The energy reached peak levels when Pabllo Vittar appeared wearing an eye-catching costume inspired by the popular Labubu character, a Chinese-born plush toy line that became a massive trend in Brazil throughout 2025 .
Before the event, Pabllo had promised fans something special, stating that she was preparing a beautiful look and special repertoire with guests that the public would love . She delivered exactly that by bringing NMIXX to share the stage.
During the performance, Pabllo shared her excitement about working with the Korean group. “Sempre fui muito fã da cultura asiática” (“I’ve always been a big fan of Asian culture”), she told reporters . “Como vocês podem ver, elas têm muitos fãs aqui no Brasil. A alegria é o que move tudo” (“As you can see, they have many fans here in Brazil. Joy is what moves everything”), she added as the crowd cheered wildly. She also mentioned teaching the NMIXX members the dance to Anitta’s “Gostosin” .
NMIXX Members Share Their Excitement About Brazilian Carnival
For the NMIXX members, stepping onto the Carnival stage was a dream come true. Lily Morrow, the group’s 23-year-old Australian-Korean vocalist, shared her personal connection to the event. “Desde pequena, ouvi muito a respeito do carnaval brasileiro” (“Since I was little, I heard a lot about Brazilian Carnival”), she told reporters. “É uma honra estar aqui” (“It’s an honor to be here”) .
The group performed their collaboration track “MEXE” alongside Pabllo Vittar, creating an electric moment as the massive crowd sang along . The performance also reportedly included some of Pabllo’s biggest hits like “K.O.,” “Amor de Que,” and “Corpo Sensual,” with NMIXX joining in on the festivities .
Social media quickly flooded with videos showing the massive sea of people stretching as far as the eye could see, with fans waving both Brazilian flags and NMIXX light sticks.
Fans Travel from Near and Far to Witness History
The 2 million-strong crowd included people from all walks of life, from longtime Pabllo fans to dedicated NMIXX supporters who had been waiting for this moment.
Nicolas Emanuel, 18, came specifically because of the K-pop connection. The young fan has followed NMIXX for two years and made sure not to miss this historic appearance. “Quando ela anunciou a banda, não tive dúvidas de que viria” (“When she announced the group, I had no doubt I would come”), he said .
Thiago Silva Melo, 20, has been following NMIXX since their debut and attended their paid concert in São Paulo back in 2025 at Vibra São Paulo. Seeing them at a free Carnival bloco was an entirely different experience for him. “Eu não podia perder. Pagando já foi incrível, (imagine) de graça então” (“I couldn’t miss it. The paid show was already incredible, so for free it’s even better”), he explained .
Not everyone in the crowd was a K-pop expert, but the enthusiasm remained universal. Lygoa Maria Santos, 16, came specifically for Pabllo Vittar but quickly appreciated the cross-cultural moment. “Não conheço a banda, mas são animadas. Sair da Coreia para passar calor no Brasil!” (“I don’t know the group, but they’re lively. Leaving Korea to experience the heat in Brazil!”), she joked while enjoying the sunny São Paulo afternoon .
The Road to Carnival: From “MEXE” to the Streets of São Paulo
The partnership between NMIXX and Pabllo Vittar didn’t happen overnight. Their collaboration single “MEXE” arrived in August 2025 and immediately caught attention for its unique fusion of genres. The track combined NMIXX’s experimental MIXX POP production with Pabllo’s signature Brazilian pop and funk rhythms, creating something fresh that resonated with audiences in both South Korea and Brazil .
The song featured joint vocals from both artists, with lyrics written in both Korean and Portuguese, plus Latin-style choreography that NMIXX fully embraced . The music video showcased both acts celebrating their respective cultures, hinting at the live collaboration that would eventually manifest at Carnival.
Brazil has long been a strong market for K-pop, and NMIXX specifically has maintained a dedicated fanbase in the country since their debut in 2022 . This appearance at the country’s biggest cultural celebration solidifies that connection.
Pabllo Vittar, one of Brazil’s most successful drag queen performers and pop stars, has consistently pushed boundaries throughout her career. Bringing K-pop to Carnival represents another milestone in her journey of breaking down musical and cultural barriers.
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What the Performance Meant for Fans Worldwide
For Nswers (NMIXX’s official fan club name) in Brazil and around the world, seeing their favorite idols on the Carnival stage represented a major validation of the group’s global appeal. The crowd of 2 million makes this the largest live audience any K-pop group has performed for in history .
Videos circulating on social media platforms showed the sheer scale of the event, with fans capturing moments of the members interacting with the crowd, dancing along to Brazilian beats, and clearly having the time of their lives .
The Bloco da Pabllo has only existed since 2025, but it has already cemented itself as one of São Paulo’s premier Carnival destinations. Adding the first-ever K-pop performance to its resume only strengthens that reputation .
As the trio elétrico made its way through Ibirapuera, the combination of Korean pop precision and Brazilian Carnival chaos created something neither country had ever seen before. Fans danced in the streets, sang along to “MEXE” in two languages, and celebrated music’s ability to bring completely different worlds together.
The performance wrapped up with Pabllo and NMIXX taking in the massive crowd, clearly moved by the response from the 2 million people who came to witness this cultural crossover. For the six NMIXX members, who trained for years in Seoul’s competitive K-pop industry, performing for a crowd this size at one of the world’s most famous festivals marks a career highlight that will be hard to top.
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