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After almost two years, K-pop girl group superstars ITZY returned to Manila for their 3RD WORLD TOUR <TUNNEL VISION> on July 11, 2026, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Performing to a crowd of roaring Filipino MIDZYs, Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong, and Yuna delivered an electrifying showcase, proving once again why they reign supreme as stage-mastery queens.

As soon as the opening visual intro hit the massive arena screens, the atmosphere was supercharged. ITZY kicked off the night with their powerful vocals, electrifying choreography, and sharp synchronization, immediately captivating fans. The renowned K-pop girl group performed some of their chart-topping hits, including “Tunnel Vision,” “That’s A No No,” “Girls Will Be Girls,” “WANNABE,” “Imaginary Friend,” “LOCO,” “GOLD,” “Not Shy,” “8-Bit Heart,” and more. The tour also gave the members a chance to showcase their individual stages, performing their solo tracks from their 12th EP, MOTTO: Lia’s “Asylum,” Yuna’s “Tangerine,” Yeji’s “Pocket,” Chaeryeong’s “Undefined,” and Ryujin’s “Look.”

During ITZY’s heartfelt ments, the members took time to cherish the precious and unforgettable moments with their beloved MIDZY.

“From the soundcheck to the concert, why is your energy so high? Because it’s been a while since we’ve met, I wanted to pour my heart into our performances… Thank you for all the love. Stay healthy until the next time we meet again. Masaya kami!” Yuna shared, overwhelmed by Filipino fans’ unstoppable energy throughout the show.

“We were continuously surprised and felt so happy today. If you’re always like this, we can’t do anything but come back! MIDZY, kayo ang pinakamagaling! Salamat po!” Chaeryeong expressed, grateful for the fans’ overwhelming support. She also promised that ITZY would return often because Filipino MIDZY’s energy is truly unmatched and one of a kind.

“I can say that you are the TOP 1 when it comes to cheers! Thank you for coming today! We received so much energy and love, and because of that, we can successfully finish this tour. Once again, thank you for coming and for loving us. Salamat po!” Ryujin acknowledged the deafening cheers from Filipino MIDZY and thanked them for their warmth and unwavering support.

“It’s been a long time, and it feels very good to be back here with the members and our fans. Thank you for always cheering for us and filling up this space. I also agree with Ryujin that you have the best energy. While I was singing and dancing on stage, I could see your emotions and how much you enjoyed the show. I hope to see you all again very soon. Stay healthy.” Lia shared, touched by the strong support and heartfelt cheers from Filipino MIDZY.

“First of all, I think I fell in love. It’s just us standing on stage, but we think you guys are way cooler. Today, we truly felt how much you cherish, value, and love us. Time flies so fast. Just like our MIDZY, I hope we can come back even sooner. We won’t make you wait long. Salamat po, mahal kita.” Yeji expressed as she felt the sincerity of Filipino MIDZY’s love and support, reflecting on how much strength and inspiration the group continues to receive from their fans.

ITZY expressed their deep appreciation for MIDZY, saying that the Manila stop gave them immense energy and some of the loudest cheers of the tour, making them truly feel the love and support of their Filipino fans. The members promised to return soon for another show in the Philippines, with MIDZY already looking forward to seeing their beloved group once again.

From the captivating VCRs and mesmerizing stage pyrotechnics to the impressive stage production, ITZY 3RD WORLD TOUR <TUNNEL VISION> IN MANILA was a spectacular night that showcased the group’s unwavering passion and unforgettable connection with Filipino MIDZY.

ITZY 3RD WORLD TOUR <TUNNEL VISION> IN MANILA was presented by Live Nation Philippines.

Words by Vinny Real

There is something almost contradictory about a Mitski concert.

It gathers thousands of strangers inside an arena, yet somehow feels as intimate as reading a page from someone’s diary. Songs that have long lived quietly through headphones suddenly exist in a room filled with people, but they lose none of their intimacy. Instead, they become heavier, more tangible, and more human.

On July 14, during her long-awaited Philippine debut at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, Mitski offered Manila something far beyond a concert. She created a space where vulnerability was not something to hide but something to embrace—a space where sadness, longing, joy, uncertainty, and nostalgia were allowed to exist together without explanation.

In an era where live performances are often measured by spectacle, pyrotechnics, and elaborate productions, Mitski reminded audiences that one of the most powerful things an artist can do is simply tell the truth.

From the opening notes of “In a Lake,” the atmosphere inside the arena quietly transformed. Conversations faded, phones lowered, and thousands of people settled into attentive silence. Mitski never demanded attention. She never needed to. She possesses the rare ability to command a room not through volume or grandeur, but through presence.

Watching Mitski perform is unlike watching most singers.

She does not simply sing her songs—she inhabits them.

Every measured step across the stage, every carefully timed pause, every subtle tilt of her head, every fleeting expression contributes to the story unfolding before the audience. Her movements are never ornamental. They are extensions of the lyrics themselves, transforming songs into living narratives that unfold in real time.

There is a theatrical quality to her performance, but not in the traditional sense. Theater often asks audiences to suspend disbelief. Mitski does the opposite. She strips every performance down to its emotional core until what remains feels undeniably real.

Her voice carries the music, but her body carries the emotions.

For nearly two hours, she invited thousands of people into moments of reflection. Songs became memories. Lyrics became conversations people had once struggled to have with themselves. The arena gradually transformed into a place where emotions that often remain hidden were given permission to exist freely.

Perhaps that is what makes experiencing Mitski live so profoundly different.

Her music has always encouraged listeners to recognize complicated feelings rather than suppress them. Seeing those songs performed in person only deepens that experience. She does not ask audiences to leave happier than they arrived. Instead, she reminds them that every emotion—no matter how uncomfortable—is worthy of acknowledgment.

That honesty resonated throughout a thoughtfully constructed 26-song setlist that moved effortlessly between older fan favorites and more recent releases. Beginning with “In a Lake,” the evening unfolded through songs including “Cats,” “Working for the Knife,” “Buffalo Replaced,” “Dead Women,” “I Bet on Losing Dogs,” “Heaven,” “Circle,” “Washing Machine Heart,” “Dan the Dancer,” “Francis Forever,” “Stay Soft,” “Two Slow Dancers,” “Lightning,” “My Love Mine All Mine,” “Nobody,” and “That White Cat,” before closing with an encore performance of “Pearl Diver.”

Rather than feeling like a collection of individual songs, the setlist unfolded as one continuous emotional journey, each piece naturally leading into the next.

Equally remarkable was the restraint of the production itself.

The stage remained simple throughout the evening, allowing Mitski to remain the unmistakable focal point. There were no extravagant stage effects or elaborate set pieces competing for attention. Instead, carefully curated film sequences and cinematic visuals appeared across the screens, quietly expanding the emotional world of each song.

The imagery never distracted from the performance. It completed it.

Scenes drawn from films and evocative visual landscapes heightened the nostalgia, tenderness, and melancholy already present within the music. Rather than overwhelming the audience, the visuals served as gentle companions to Mitski’s storytelling, reinforcing every emotional beat without ever demanding the spotlight.

Like the music itself, every creative decision felt intentional.

The understated production reflected Mitski’s artistic identity perfectly—unassuming, deeply thoughtful, and entirely authentic.

As emotionally immersive as the performance was, it was the moments between songs that revealed just as much about Mitski herself.

Addressing the audience during her first-ever visit to the Philippines, the singer-songwriter admitted she was overwhelmed by the warmth she had received.

“Thank you so much for coming. Thank you so much for having us. This is my very, very first time in my life being in the Philippines. And it’s such a privilege to get to be here in order to play a show. That’s like a dream come true,” she told the crowd.

She went on to thank Filipino fans not only for filling the arena, but for the kindness shown to her entire team since arriving in the country.

“It’s really wild to see you all here when it is my first time being here. I’m just in awe. You’re all so welcoming. I’m so overwhelmed. Thank you so much,” she said, adding that every person they had encountered had welcomed them with generosity and humor.

It was a moment that reflected the sincerity that has always defined Mitski—not as a distant performer, but as someone genuinely moved by the people listening to her music.

Near the end of the evening, her gratitude became even more personal.

“Thank you for making me do my favorite thing which I love so much. Because you understand,” she said.

“I just can’t really believe it. I don’t know what to do with these feelings. I feel so grateful for you and I love you all so much. Thank you for being here. Thank you for showing me I’m not alone after all. Thank you for telling me that actually all my feelings are normal. I’m very blessed and you have blessed me.”

Those words lingered long after the applause subsided.

For years, Mitski’s songs have reminded listeners that heartbreak, loneliness, uncertainty, and hope are experiences we all carry, even if we rarely speak about them aloud. Onstage in Manila, those same songs returned that comfort to their creator. The relationship between artist and audience became reciprocal; the understanding she had offered listeners through her music was reflected back to her by thousands of voices gathered inside the arena.

Perhaps that is why Mitski’s Philippine debut felt so unforgettable.

It was never simply about hearing beloved songs performed live. It was about witnessing an artist whose greatest strength lies not in spectacle, but in honesty. Through music, movement, silence, and storytelling, she transformed an arena into a sanctuary where vulnerability became a shared language and where, for one remarkable evening, no one had to feel alone.

In the end, Mitski did not leave Manila with the loudest concert of the year. She left with something far more enduring: the quiet assurance that art, when created with sincerity and received with understanding, has the power to make thousands of strangers feel like they belong to one another.