TWICE Turns It Up at the UBS Arena on Their “This Is For World Tour” [Show Review]

The iconic K-Pop group, TWICE, kicked off their first night of three total shows at the UBS Arena on February 18th in Elmont, NY, for their “This Is For World Tour.” The nine-member group is comprised of Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu. Dahyun is currently on hiatus due to a recent injury. TWICE, having just celebrated their tenth anniversary last October, shows no signs of slowing down. The South Korean girl group has continued to release new music, including three albums last year, which were well-received by both longtime and newer fans.

The UBS Arena was packed with “ONCES,” the term used to describe TWICE fans, demonstrating the group’s undying popularity. Many attendees wore outfits inspired by signature styles in TWICE’s music videos. Notably, many fans wore their own versions of TWICE outfits from their breakout performance at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2025, showing the artists’ influence not just on music but also on fashion.

The setlist featured a mix of tracks from recently released albums and fan favourites, serving as a retrospective of their discography. The songs from their THIS IS FOR album charmed fans with their novelty and excitement, while their older hits appealed to their nostalgia. TWICE launched into their summer hit “THIS IS FOR,” a song about empowering women to be confident in who they are. Going along with this theme, “Strategy” followed as a song about actively pursuing a love interest. TWICE’s recent releases reflect their growth and evolution as artists, from debuting with a cute bubblegum girl group image to later embracing a more mature one.

A unique feature of the show was the 360° stage, allowing even more fan attendance and interactions. Two additional smaller stages were connected to the main stage by catwalks. This setup made the performances even more dynamic and fluid as the members changed directions throughout the choreography. In addition, the rising platforms on the main stage enhanced the grandness of the show as the girls danced and sang flawlessly on them. Supporting the production was a live band and an ensemble of backup dancers.

TWICE, photo by JYP Entertainment via Sarah Waxberg

The night was fast-paced, with the group expressing various facets of their sound. From the thrilling and cheerful b-side “MARS” to the tense drama of “Cry For Me,” fans were on their feet throughout the entire set, dancing the night away. The catchy dance-pop track, “Right Hand Girl,” captivated the crowd with its infectious beat and alluring choreography.

One of the show’s main highlights was the individual solo performances, allowing each member to shine and demonstrate their unique talents. From Jihyo’s powerful vocals to Momo’s impressive dancing, and Chaeyoung’s debut of her singer-songwriter abilities with “SHOOT (Firecracker),” the all-around group showed they are deserving of their spot as one of the top K-Pop acts of the last decade. Following the solo stages, members Jihyo, Jeongyeon, and Chaeyoung gave a commanding performance of “Takedown,” from the official K-Pop Demon Hunters film soundtrack.

The final act felt like a tribute to songs that helped define their sound from the first half of their career. The energy was electric as TWICE launched into “FANCY,” “What is Love?,” and “YES or YES,” flooding the crowd with an irresistible surge of pop euphoria. The girl group’s finale came with “ONE SPARK,” a celebratory spectacle complete with dazzling on-screen fireworks and bursts of confetti.

At the end of each concert, TWICE gives “ONCES” the option to choose a song for their encore. For the first New York show, the audience had the choice between “SIGNAL” and “TT.” Although the cheers from the crowd were enthusiastic for both song choices, “SIGNAL” ended up being the winner by a slight margin. TWICE closed out the night with the upbeat and energetic single that had fans dancing along to the very last note. The “I Can’t Stop Me” singers are quite literally unstoppable in their achievements, unity, and longevity as a group. Their momentum will only continue as the members reach new heights in their careers.