Featuring MIYEON & SOYEON of i-dle, Sophie Powers, and Mimi Webb! K/DA to Perform at the Worlds 2026 Opening Ceremony Presented by Mastercard in New York on November 14 at Barclays Center
LOS ANGELES – OCTOBER 21, 2026 – K/DA is back, bolder, brighter, and ready to set the world ablaze. The groundbreaking virtual pop supergroup within the iconic League of Legends IP returns with their new four-song EP. The FIRESTARTER EP (Riot Games/Virgin Music Group), ushers in a distinctive new era for Ahri (vocalist), Akali (rapper), Evelynn (vocalist), and Kai’Sa (vocalist and lead dancer/choreographer). Featured collaborators include MIYEON and SOYEON of i-dle, returning as Ahri and Akali respectively, alongside Sophie Powers as Evelynn, and Mimi Webb as Kai’Sa.
K/DA brings four League of Legends’ playable champions beyond the game and onto the global pop stage, reimagining Ahri, Akali, Evelynn, and Kai’Sa as artists with their own identities, styles, and creative voices. The group’s name references in-game shorthand for the player’s Kills, Deaths, and Assists.
Earlier this week, the group released the title-tack “FIRESTARTER” accompanied by a music video directed and produced by Fortiche Production, the acclaimed animation studio behind Riot Games’ Emmy Award-winning series Arcane, and K/DA’s breakout “POP/STARS” music video. Check out the video, HERE.
The EP features “FIRESTARTER,” “WATCH ME,” “NEVER GOING BACK,” and “GIRLS,” a collaboration with DJ Sona, one of League of Legends’ earliest virtual artists and a reimagined depiction of another iconic champion as an EDM DJ and music producer. Returning for the first time since 2015, DJ Sona has previously collaborated with electronic artists including The Crystal Method, Dada Life, Pretty Lights, and more.
Since debuting in 2018 with the viral hit “POP/STARS,” K/DA has grown from a K-pop inspired group to a global pop phenomenon, helping redefine how beloved game characters can transcend the monitor and connect with audiences through reinvented alter-egos, music and culture. With a catalog spanning their chart topping debut single and ALL OUT EP, the group has amassed more than 2.7 billion global streams and 1.8 billion video views, with “POP/STARS” earning RIAA platinum certification.
Now, K/DA returns sharper, more fearless, and fully in control of their creative direction. This new chapter is all about evolution – letting go of old expectations, setting the past on fire, and stepping fully into what comes next.
“With the FIRESTARTER EP, we wanted to respect what made people fall in love with K/DA while giving Ahri, Akali, Evelynn, and Kai’Sa the space to evolve as artists after all this time,” said Maria Egan, Global Head of Music & Events at Riot Games. “This is K/DA stepping confidently into their next chapter, with a new look, attitude and a diverse group of songs to showcase their individual journeys. We’re excited for players and fans to experience everything that comes with this creative evolution”
“Bringing K/DA back was a joy for the whole artistic team,” shares Marietta Ren, Director at Fortiche. “We wanted their return to feel more mature and fashion-forward. Fortiche’s artists poured their talent and passion into imagining K/DA setting the runway on fire, where haute couture meets raw, fiery energy as the group steps confidently into a new era,”
The artists collaborating on K/DA for the FIRESTARTER EP include:
- SOYEON– Rapper and lead producer of multinational five-member group i-dle. In addition to establishing i-dle with chart-dominating EPs and singles, SOYEON has also embarked on solo ventures since 2021 and has played a prominent role in Riot’s virtual groups K/DA and True Damage.
- MIYEON– South Korean singer, actress and vocalist of multinational five-member group i-dle. Alongside her work with the group, MIYEON has established herself as a solo artist since 2022 and returns to K/DA after previously bringing Ahri to life on “POP/STARS” and ALL OUT.
- Sophie Powers– Singer, songwriter, and fashion designer whose creative world spans music and fashion. Known for bringing her distinctive visual style into her artistry, Powers has expanded into designing collections for other brands, alongside stage design and other artists’ outfits
- Mimi Webb– BRIT Award-nominated British singer and songwriter known for her expressive vocals and candid songwriting. Blending vulnerability with soaring pop, Webb has built a distinctive sound centered on emotionally honest storytelling.
K/DA will join a star-studded lineup, including virtual hip-hop collective True Damage, to perform at the Worlds 2026 Opening Ceremony Presented by Mastercard, League of Legends’ biggest stage taking place on November 14 at Barclays Center in New York.
The FIRESTARTER EP is available now on all major streaming platforms, HERE. Pre-orders for a collection of EP physical products, including multiple limited-edition CD variants and vinyl are available HERE.
FIRESTARTER EP TRACK LISTING
- FIRESTARTER
- WATCH ME
- NEVER GOING BACK
- GIRLS (w/ DJ Sona)
—
ABOUT RIOT GAMES
Riot Games was founded in 2006 to develop, publish, and support the most player-focused games in the world. In 2009, Riot released its debut title, League of Legends, which has gone on to be one of the most-played PC games in the world. In the years since, Riot has released VALORANT, Teamfight Tactics, Legends of Runeterra, League of Legends: Wild Rift, Riftbound and 2XKO. Riot’s titles have led to the creation of some of the most-watched and widely recognized esports in the world, culminating in events like the League of Legends World Championship, VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) and the TFT Open, which are watched by millions of fans each year. Riot has also expanded its IP through multimedia projects across music, comic books, board games, and Arcane, its Emmy-winning animated series.
ABOUT RIOT GAMES MUSIC
Riot Games Music (RGM) builds on Riot Games’ global fandom at the intersection of gaming and music, creating original music, artist partnerships, and experiences that deepen the connection between players and Riot’s IP. Its catalog of over 1,500 songs has generated over 16 billion lifetime streams and reaches more than 50 million monthly listeners across streaming platforms.
RGM is behind some of gaming’s most recognizable moments, including twelve original League of Legends World Championships anthems featuring superstars Linkin Park, New Jeans, Lil Nas X, Imagine Dragons, Zedd and many more. RGM is also a leader in virtual artistry including artists like record breaking K-Pop inspired girl-group K/DA, heavy metal band Pentakill, hip-hop collective True Damage, DJ Sona, and Seraphine.
Beyond League of Legends, RGM continues to expand the music footprint of other Riot Games titles, including VALORANT, through original music and live experiences, working with artists such as KATSEYE, Audrey Nuna, Oli Sykes (Bring Me The Horizon), Courtney LaPlante (Spiritbox), Grabbitz, bbno$, and more. Music partnerships also extend into film and television through Emmy-award winning series Arcane, whose Season 2 soundtrack has generated more than 6.5 billion global streams and featured collaborations with Twenty One Pilots, Stromae, Stray Kids, Young Miko, and more.
ABOUT LEAGUE OF LEGENDS
Released in 2009, League of Legends is Riot Games’ debut title and one of the most-played competitive games in the world, engaging millions of players daily in 20+ officially-supported languages. A mainstay of the MOBA genre, in League, two teams of five powerful champions face off to destroy each other’s base in a game that blends the speed, strategy, and intensity of an RTS with immersive RPG elements.
League continues to evolve year over year in gameplay and storytelling, delivering fresh new experiences like K/DA, immersive stories like Star Guardian and Spirit Blossom, and technical balance changes to ensure competitive integrity. As the basis for the Runeterra universe, League champions have been featured in music, comic books, spinoff games, collectible figurines, board games, TV series, and more. The annual League of Legends World Championship is the most widely viewed esport tournament, and is among the largest and most popular sporting events in the world.
Visit leagueoflegends.com for more information and follow @leagueoflegends on social media.
ABOUT FORTICHE:
Founded in 2009 by Jérôme Combe, Pascal Charrue, and Arnaud Delord, Fortiche is a Multi-awarded animation studio, with a unique graphic signature and staging style that blends 2D and 3D techniques and aesthetics. With ambitious directing, the studio creates captivating content aimed at adult and young adult audiences.
One of its most notable achievements is the critically-acclaimed series Arcane, based on the RIOT Games’ IP League of Legends and available on Netflix and Tencent. Prior to developing the series, the studio produced projects including League of Legends: Rise, League of Legends: K/DA – POP/STARS and League of Legends: Warriors – generating more than 4 billion views on YouTube – as well as music videos for Coldplay and Gorillaz, and the Rocket & Groot series for Marvel Studios.
Based in Paris, with additional studios in Montpellier and Las Palmas (Spain), Fortiche’s teams are composed of hundreds of professionals (up to 450 for Arcane Season 2) covering all stages of development, direction, and production of animated films.
About the Author
