It has been a staggering 14 years since CNBLUE last stepped onto a London stage. Back in 2012, at the IndigO2, the band offered a glimpse of a group that was already breaking the mold of what a Korean musical act could be. Since their debut in 2010, Yong-hwa, Min-hyuk, and Jung-shin have consistently defied the “manufactured idol” narrative, cementing their status as a legitimate, self-producing K-rock powerhouse. Over the last decade and a half, they have evolved from a fresh, guitar-driven sensation into a mature, sophisticated band, with their latest music—including the 3LOGY era—showcasing a deeper, more refined approach to songwriting that retains the raw, high-energy spirit that launched their career.
In anticipation of the European leg of their World Tour, CNBLUE shared with us some thoughts on their tour and music. Make sure to check out our special interview on our website or watch it on YouTube!
On the 5th of July, 2026, the long-standing thirst of European fans was finally quenched as the band brought their 2026 CNBLUE LIVE WORLD TOUR ‘3LOGY’ to the historic Troxy. The air inside the venue was thick with anticipation, as a mix of long-time supporters who had waited over a decade and a new generation of listeners gathered for what promised to be a masterclass in live performance.
As the lights dimmed and the first chords rang out, it was clear that while the years had passed and their sound had matured, the band’s signature magnetic energy remained as sharp as ever. And spoiler alert: it was an epic night! Just before the group approached the stage, we had a very warm-up section with fun fan interaction on the screen; they asked fans to clap, scream “hey,” and jump to the rhythm! It was really fun, made everyone smile, and kept us engaged.
We had an incredible opening—lights, smoke, and high energy—that set the bar very high! CNBLUE kicked off the show with ‘Ready, Set, Go!’. It was a perfect start, and they literally led the way by letting us get “ready, set, go!” for the amazing night we were about to have. ‘Catch Me’ and ‘RACER’ were up next!
The band took a moment to introduce themselves and chat with the fans before jumping into the next song, ‘Nothing,’ which featured a slight mood change, followed by ‘Intuition,’ which brought the energy right back up! We then started vibing all together with ‘Lowkey,’ followed by ‘99%,’ which showcased that CNBLUE are truly high-level performers.
The band stopped to chat with the fans once again, asking if they were having fun. There is something so nice when groups check in and interact with fans while performing; it truly shows how much they care about their fandom. Minhyuk, the drummer, said the fans were just like a ‘BANG,’ and he asked how the previous set felt. He was so happy seeing the fans jump while they played, comparing it to 14 years ago when the fans didn’t jump quite as much. Yonghwa then asked the crowd to teach him how to talk with a British accent, and lowkey, he nailed it from the start! He also said he tried Nando’s—a must-have in the UK—and I must say, I’m an advocate for the brand too. They also admitted that they had eaten so much Korean food in London—more than they usually eat back in Korea!
The set continued with ‘Bliss,’ which had such a beautiful opening. Yonghwa switched to piano for ‘Domino,’ which then led straight into ‘Radio.’ This stage was so uplifting and made everyone jump; ‘Radio’ was one of my personal favourites.
They took another pause to interact with the fans, noting they couldn’t believe it has been 17 years since their debut, and once again they expressed their excitement to be back in London. The set continued with the fun ‘Love,’ followed by the extra-cute ‘Little Things.’ They continued talking and expressing their happiness to be back in the home of rock; they said it was exciting 14 years ago, but now it’s even more so. The UK is the home of so many legendary rock bands, and I totally get their excitement from a rock lover’s point of view.
The stage then transitioned into ‘The Temperature of Memory,’ which had such a sweet melody; it felt like their voices really touched our souls. It was an incredible ballad. With a rock twist from the drums, they then transitioned to the next song, ‘Then, Now and Forever,’ which shifted the mood again for another ballad. A beautiful interlude introduced ‘Still a Flower’; I felt like every song was like a fairy tale, distinct and full of its own storytelling.
CNBLUE then continued chatting and said they loved seeing the fans’ faces; they said it was like they were in a garden and they could see a lot of flowers (the fans). ‘To the Moon and Back’ and ‘Between Us’ were up next, uplifting and fun, leading into ‘I’m Sorry.’
Unfortunately, we were reaching the end of the night… the iconic—and my personal favourite—‘Killer Joy’ was the last song… but was it really?!
After a few minutes of rest, CNBLUE rocked back up on stage with a quick outfit change into white tees and CNBLUE merch hats. They thanked the fans for coming, especially since they admire Metallica so much, they had to mention that the band was playing on the same night; they thanked the fans even more for choosing to come to their show!
The encore kicked off with the iconic fan favourite ‘Loner,’ followed by ‘YOU’RE SO FINE’ and ‘Again.’ The band took a moment to introduce the musicians who helped them during the concert. Straight after, we took a group photo, and we also had a very special video message from UK fans playing on the screen as a surprise—CNBLUE were very touched by that.
After that, they played more songs; this encore felt special as they kept adding songs in, and ‘Anthem of Life,’ ‘In My Head,’ and ‘Cinderella’ wrapped up the whole show.
What else is left for me to say… it was my first time seeing CNBLUE, and even after the show, at this very moment while I’m writing my thoughts, I can’t stop singing their songs. They have this magnetic resonance that grabs your soul and doesn’t let go. And it’s a wonderful feeling. Together, Yonghwa, Minhyuk, and Jungshin are the definition of what a rock band should look like: talented, high-energy, and charismatic performers. They have been around for 17 years, and this night in London proved exactly why they are here to stay. Hopefully, we won’t need to wait another 14 years for another show in London!
DAVIDE K-POP 