CORTIS is coming for Singapore. The rising quintet have been confirmed as the only K-pop act on the opening night of the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix 2026, performing at the Padang Stage on day 1 of F1 weekend. They join a lineup that includes Janet Jackson, JJ Lin, Zara Larsson, James Arthur, Mark Ronson, DJ Snake, Major Lazer Soundsystem, and Goo Goo Dolls across the three-day race weekend at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
CORTIS At The Singapore GP: What To Expect
CORTIS will kick off the F1 weekend event on October 9 along with JJ Lin, Spacey Jane, Borderline, Shingo Nakamura, Split Enz, Major Lazer Soundsystem, DJ Snake, TOKiMONSTA and more. The Padang Stage in Zone 4 is accessible to all race ticket holders, meaning anyone attending the Friday race day can see CORTIS perform. Zone 1 tickets are specifically only required for the Wharf Stage, where Janet Jackson performs on Sunday. Friday tickets currently start at $198 SGD for Friday (approx $150 USD).
The Singapore Grand Prix is one of Asia’s most high-profile sporting events, and F1 drew a cumulative attendance of 6.7 million during the 2025 season. For CORTIS — who debuted in August 2025 and are less than a year into their career — performing at a global event of this scale alongside Janet Jackson and Mark Ronson represents one of the most visible non-K-pop-specific stages they have yet been confirmed for.
CORTIS’ Rapid Rise
CORTIS, comprising Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon, and Keonho, debuted under Big Hit Music and Republic Records in August last year, becoming the third act signed to Big Hit after BTS and TXT. Ranging from ages 16 to 20, their name is an acronym for Color Outside the Lines, a phrase that doubles as a creative manifesto; the group are actively involved in writing, producing and in James’ case, choreographing their own music. Their debut EP Color Outside the Lines arrived in September 2025 and debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200, the second-highest charting debut by any K-pop act. Within ten months of that debut, they had released a second EP, launched a world tour, performed at two major international events, and secured a slot at one of Asia’s most prestigious annual festivals.
CORTIS’s second EP GREENGREEN debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart and sold 2,313,291 copies in its first week, placing them among the fastest-rising K-pop acts in terms of first-week sales velocity since debut.
Beyond the streaming figures, CORTIS have been methodically expanding into non-K-pop-specific global stages ahead of most acts at their career stage. In February this year, they became the first K-pop group to headline the NBA’s Crossover Concert Series opening night during NBA All-Star weekend. They are confirmed for Lollapalooza as an official aftershow act, and their debut world tour, titled “Put Your Phone Down”, spans nine cities across South Korea, North America, and Japan from July through September 2026.
The Singapore GP slot on October 9 falls between their Incheon and Seoul domestic tour dates and their Japan leg in Kanagawa in September, making it a natural addition to an already packed international schedule.
They also became the first K-pop act to headline the NBA Crossover Concert Series’ Opening Night during NBA All-Star 2026. The Singapore GP billing as the sole K-pop act on the opening night alongside a Mandopop legend in JJ Lin rather than another K-pop group points to cross-genre, cross-market positioning that distinguishes CORTIS from groups whose international activity is confined primarily to the K-pop touring circuit.
