The Korean girl group LE SSERAFIM and the singing voices behind the animated project “KPop Demon Hunters” will perform during ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” on Dec. 31, the network and the group’s agency said Wednesday. The performers will join a star-studded lineup of musicians. The group spans multiple genres and will help welcome millions of viewers to the new year live from Times Square.
LE SSERAFIM is the only K-pop act on this year’s lineup. The singers behind the fictional group known as HUNTR/X — EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI — will also appear, adding a cross-media element to the broadcast, according to Soompi.
A Milestone for K-pop and Cross-Media Performance
The group’s agency said LE SSERAFIM will perform its track “Spaghetti,” bringing its high-energy choreography and sound to Times Square.
ABC’s announcement highlights the growing reach of K-pop beyond its core fan base. By placing LE SSERAFIM among major U.S. performers, the broadcast reinforces how Korean pop music continues to gain global traction.
HUNTR/X’s involvement reflects the trend of blending animation, storytelling, and live performance. Their appearance shows how entertainment formats are shifting as animated concepts move into real-world music stages, according to ABC7 New York.
A Record-Long Rockin’ Eve Lineup
This year’s edition of “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” will be the longest in the show’s history, with an expanded broadcast featuring performers across multiple time zones, ABC7 New York reported. The lineup includes Mariah Carey, Post Malone, Chappell Roan, and other major artists, according to Billboard.
The show begins at 8 p.m. Eastern on Dec. 31 and will stream on Hulu the following day. It will also include live check-ins from New Year’s celebrations in Los Angeles, Puerto Rico, and New Orleans. Producers said the expanded broadcast aims to reach a wider audience by combining established icons with rising acts. The mix of performers reflects the show’s goal to appeal to viewers of all ages and musical tastes as it enters its 54th year.
What This Moment Means
LE SSERAFIM’s role as the sole K-pop act positions the group as a representative of a genre that has steadily crossed into the global mainstream.
For HUNTR/X, performing on a major U.S. broadcast indicates that animated-to-live music projects are becoming a legitimate part of the industry rather than a niche experiment.
As viewers welcome 2026, the broadcast will showcase a moment of cultural fusion for fans of K-pop, animation, and multimedia performance.
