From the moment we arrived at the venue, it was clear this wasn’t going to be your average pop concert.
Outside Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, groups of fans were perfecting intricate choreography, filming themselves against the arena’s glowing facade – a pre-show ritual that felt like part of the performance itself.
If you’re not familiar with K-Pop fandom culture, you must have been living under a rock.
In the days leading up to TWICE’s Sydney stop, a pop-up merch store in Westfield Sydney drew massive queues of fans eager to grab official gear for the show.
Now celebrating ten years together, TWICE have built an empire on relentlessly catchy hooks and razor-sharp choreography. We discovered them for ourselves a few years back – and yes, we’ve absolutely spent afternoons trying to nail their dance moves.
Inside, Qudos Bank Arena transformed into a sea of light sticks, sequins, and unfiltered joy as TWICE delivered a high-voltage performance for their devoted “ONCE” fandom. The moment the gigantic video curtain lowered, it was obvious: this wasn’t just a concert. It was an ecstatic celebration of community, identity, and belonging – all powered by impossibly infectious pop hits.
The show kicked off with that triumphant feeling of “we’re all in this together” – and TWICE never let up. The 360-degree stage design made sure every fan felt part of the action. From the opening beats of ‘This Is For’, the crowd erupted – a synchronised wave of movement, sound, and shared emotion.
Three main stages were connected by sweeping catwalks, with the central stage constantly shifting and evolving thanks to multiple rising platforms.
The majority of the 2.5 hour set is the full group onstage, where they are flanked by a massive troupe of male and female dancers who are used in different combinations throughout. But the bonus of a girl group having nine – count ’em! – nine members, is that the show can be broken up even further with a solo moment for each star. So the performance remains unpredictable and fast paced.
Beyond the glitter and precision, there was something deeper at play – a sense of collective identity and freedom. The joy, the sparkle, the communal glow-stick sea, themed outfits, the crowd singing every lyric – it all radiated empowerment and inclusivity. For many, this was more than a concert; it was a safe space to be loud, proud, and fully themselves.
This was put to great effect when a break before one of the encores turned into one of the night’s highlights. The video screens would spotlight fans in the audience for a spontaneous dance-off which, with a devoted fanbase like this worked brilliantly.
And let’s not forget the incredible live band tucked beside one of the stages, adding grit and rumble to the glossy pop production. Fair warning: bring earplugs if you have sensitive ears. Ours were ringing the whole way home! Be prepared for a crowd that is very loud and very excited – which, let’s face it, is pretty much the dream.
In the end, this was a night of pure celebration – unapologetically bright, inclusive, and bursting with joy. TWICE weren’t just performing *for* their fans; they were performing *with* them. As the lights dimmed after the final encore, the buzz in the air said it all: pop music, at its best, is about connection – and this show was connection in its most dazzling form.
Thanks to our friends at Live Nation for having us along.
For more info on TWICE visit www.twicejapan.com
To see who Live Nation is bringing down under next, visit www.livenation.com.au
Concert photography credit: Jess Gleeson, supplied by JYP Entertainment
