On October 24–25, 2026, the Paris Event Center hosted the debut edition of THE A FESTIVAL, co-organized by Envol Prod and 5 Oceans Studio. The event stood as an unprecedented gathering celebrating Asian pop culture, music, and screen arts. Over two dynamic days, the festival welcomed an average of 3,800 festivalgoers, supported by an overall total of 4,680 participants—including over 100 artists, 300 artist team members, 100 volunteers, 45 booth staff members, and 190 accredited journalists, photographers, and content creators.

Headline Acts and Musical Lineup

The main stage hosted a diverse group of international artists representing 7 countries across 8 geographical origins (China, South Korea, Japan, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand, including Hong Kong SAR):

• Day 1 Headliner: T-Pop boy group ATLAS (Thailand) delivered an explosive headlining performance to close out Saturday night.
• Day 2 Headliner: Phenomenal artist JASP.ER (Thailand) headlined the final evening in his highly anticipated, exclusive European performance.
• Musical Lineup: The multi-genre stage featured dynamic performances by T-Pop girl group 4EVE (Thailand), TRENDZ (South Korea), POW (South Korea), AM8IC (China), ALAMAT (Philippines), DOLLA (Malaysia), 7!! / Seven Oops (Japan), IRONBOY (Thailand), TOBII (Thailand), Sunny Lukas (China/Hong Kong), Oak Soe Khant (Myanmar), and solo artist Jacob (THE BOYZ / South Korea).

Day 2 Surprise Collaboration & Stage Synergies

A standout highlight of the second day was a special surprise appearance by French R&B artist RnBoi (France). RnBoi joined Thai rapper IRONBOY (Thailand) and South Korean idol Jacob (THE BOYZ / South Korea) on stage for a unique cross-cultural collaboration. Adding a deeply personal touch to this international moment, the song’s English lyrics were written by Emma Amelin (Emmanuelle Amelin), co-organizer of the festival and director of 5 Oceans Studio.

Artistic Professionalism & Off-Stage Joy

Throughout the weekend, performers across all genres demonstrated exceptional professionalism and deep appreciation for their European fans. Screen actors and pairing guests—including Top & Chan (Thailand), Orm & Folk (Thailand), Jinn & Sky (Thailand), Myyu & Chanya (Thailand), James Prescott (Thailand), GELBOYS (Thailand), and Leslie & Wang Yunkai (China)—engaged directly with audiences during Q&A sessions and dedicated fan benefit interactions.

In addition, Maiosi-am Entertainment brought 2 additional actor pairings / couples: Reain & Benjamin (@reainreainreain and @tj4min) and Dora & Tarm (@ddoraez and @tarm.tungsinpulchai), alongside Top Piyawat & Chan Jitt-Isara (@tppiyawat and @chan_jittitsara).

On October 26th, an unforgettable chapter unfolded in Paris for Thai BL fans: selected fans passed auditions to step directly onto the set and join the cast of Maiosi-am Entertainment (featuring Top Piyawat, Chan Jitt-Isara, Reain, Benjamin, Dora, and Tarm) for a special filming session inside an authentic Thai restaurant in Paris, covered backstage by Outsider Magazine and ViviSaar.com.

The motto “Fun on stage and off stage” was embodied through dynamic workshops:

• An exclusive K-pop dance workshop led by 7*-member group TRENDZ (South Korea).
• A hip-hop dance session led by IRONBOY (Thailand).
• An authentic Muay Thai martial arts workshop conducted by actors Top Piyawat & Chan Jitt-Isara (Thailand) and cast members of Maiosi-am.

*only 6 members were present as Havit was on Sick leave

Partnerships and Immersive Experiences

The festival venue was vibrant with diverse partner activations:

• Tourism & Heritage: The Amazing Thailand pavilion (backed by TAT, THAI Airways, CFA Voyages, and VitalLife) held an interactive contest offering a 9-day/7-night trip to Thailand for two, complete with wellness treatments and an exclusive visit to a BL drama shooting set.
• Digital & Community: KoreaLink introduced its community platform and live K-Map, while KSTYLES brought connected NFC fan technology.
• Lifestyle & Wellness: MOAA K-Beauty hosted skincare discovery sessions, while physiotherapist Mélinda Erbüke (Just Keep Moving) offered specialized movement and recovery care for performers and dancers.
• Media & Cinema: GONG TV, Le Monstre Orchestra Production, Festival des Séries d’Asie, and Espace Chine (Ekuater / Club des Cinéastes France-Chine) engaged audiences through panels, film discussions, and live coverage.
• Services: Explorers Consulting, GS Conciergerie, and PHE Protect Security ensured high-end VIP hosting and executive protection throughout the festival.

With 190 accredited media personnel documenting every highlight and a total turnout of nearly 4,700 participants, THE A FESTIVAL successfully completed its milestone Parisian debut. The organizers at Envol Prod and 5 Oceans Studio are now preparing for the festival’s next European destination in Poland.

Elisa Cutullè