If you thought Wango Tango was just another cookie-cutter summer pop fest, think again. This year, the annual iHeartRadio bash traded the stadium lights for shoreline vibes, throwing its biggest, boldest party yet in Surf City, U.S.A. — a.k.a. Huntington Beach California. And yes, it was absolutely gnarly.
The move from the Dignity Health Sports Park to the sun-soaked sands of Orange County was more than a change of scenery, it was a full-blown reinvention. Picture palm trees swaying, surfboards dotting the crowd, and chart-topping pop acts throwing down while barefoot fans danced in the sand. This wasn’t just a concert. It was a beach rave, a sunset singalong, and a Gen Z fever dream all rolled into one.
The main stage cracked open with fresh fire from The Next Music Star winners, Sorelle, who had TikTok on lock with their viral banger “Boohoo.” They lit the fuse, and it didn’t let up from there.
K-pop took the reins next with a rapid-fire lineup that felt like a global pop takeover. NMIXX, Hearts2Hearts, A20 May, and xikers ignited shrieks from the crowd, serving synchronized choreography and stadium-sized energy. Then came KATSEYE, who practically melted the sand with “Gnarly” and “Touch,” two tracks that are dominating playlists worldwide and now, beach parties too.
Just as the sun kissed the horizon at Wango Tango 2025, Meghan Trainor took the stage in a pink sparkly outfit that hugged all the right places, part pop princess, part Y2K Barbie dream. And in true Meghan fashion, she brought the charm, the vocals, and a whole lot of self-aware sass.
It wasn’t just a performance; it was a radiant, body-positive glow-up moment wrapped in glitter and confidence. Golden hour belonged to Meghan; and honestly, so did the whole damn beach.
But it was Orange County’s own Gwen Stefani who delivered the heart of the show — stepping out at golden hour like a SoCal goddess. With the waves crashing behind her and the sky bathed in pink and orange, she belted out decades of hits with that signature Stefani swagger. It wasn’t just nostalgia. It was a love letter to the coast that raised her.
As night fell, Doja Cat flipped the energy with a set that felt like part rap opera, part fever dream. She tore through fan favorites with her usual pop-rap brilliance, then stopped the show cold with the first-ever live performance of “Crack”. A moment that had phones in the air and jaws on the sand.
Then, just when you thought the night couldn’t go any harder, David Guetta took the stage and turned Huntington Beach into a neon-drenched rave. He dropped banger after banger, with “Titanium” and “I’m Good” echoing over the ocean like some kind of euphoric EDM baptism.
By the end, it was clear: Wango Tango 2025 didn’t just relocate. It leveled up. Forget stadium seats and sticky concrete – this is what a pop festival should feel like. Barefoot, sunburned, and absolutely unforgettable.
