III Tour
The III Tour, officially known as the TWICE 4th World Tour 'III', was the fourth concert tour and second worldwide tour by the South Korean girl group TWICE, launched in support of their third studio album, Formula of Love: O+T=3 (2021).[1] Announced on November 15, 2021, the tour commenced on December 25, 2021, at the KSPO Dome in Seoul, South Korea—the group's first in-person concerts in over two and a half years amid the COVID-19 pandemic—and included arena shows across North America in February 2022, two performances at Tokyo Dome in April 2022, and an encore two-night stand that served as its finale.[2][3] The tour highlighted TWICE's expanding international appeal, building on the success of their English-language debut single "The Feels," which charted on the Billboard Hot 100 earlier that year, and featured a dynamic setlist blending high-energy choreographed performances of tracks like "Fancy," "Feel Special," and album cuts from Formula of Love: O+T=3 with older hits such as "TT" and "What Is Love?"[1] The production emphasized elaborate stage designs, synchronized dances, and interactive VCR segments, creating an immersive experience that celebrated the group's synergy and fan connection.[4] Culminating with their first U.S. stadium headline at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles on May 14–15, 2022—drawing around 45,000 attendees over two nights—the III Tour was lauded for its polished execution and emotional resonance, with critics noting the group's triumphant evolution and the electric crowd energy that turned the shows into a "sea of light sticks" and unified sing-alongs.[3][4] Commercially, select dates reported to Billboard Boxscore generated over $11 million in ticket sales, underscoring TWICE's status as a leading K-pop act on the global stage.Background
Album Context
Formula of Love: O+T=<3 served as the third Korean-language studio album by the South Korean girl group TWICE, released on November 12, 2021, by JYP Entertainment and Republic Records.[5] The album followed their second studio album Eyes Wide Open (2020) and marked their third major release of 2021, after the mini-album Taste of Love and the English-language single "The Feels" in October. It featured the lead single "Scientist," exploring themes of love through a scientific lens with a mix of upbeat pop, R&B, and dance tracks.[6] The recording process emphasized TWICE's creative input, with members contributing to lyrics and concepts, building on their growing international presence highlighted by "The Feels" charting at No. 83 on the Billboard Hot 100. Musically, the album blended the group's signature catchy hooks and synchronized choreography with more mature, experimental sounds, including genre fusions in tracks like "Supernova" and "Talk That Talk."[7] Commercially, Formula of Love: O+T=<3 debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 70,000 equivalent album units in its first week—the highest for TWICE at the time—and achieved over 1.8 million copies sold in South Korea by year-end, underscoring the group's solidified domestic and global appeal that propelled the supporting tour.[5]Tour Announcement and Planning
The III Tour, TWICE's fourth concert tour and second worldwide endeavor, was conceived to promote Formula of Love: O+T=<3 and mark their return to live performances after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Teased in the music video for "The Feels" on October 1, 2021, the tour was officially announced on November 15, 2021, as the "TWICE 4th World Tour 'III'," with initial dates including two shows at the KSPO Dome in Seoul on December 24–25, 2021, and seven North American arena concerts in February 2022.[1][2] Planning focused on a phased rollout from late 2021 to mid-2022, prioritizing health protocols amid ongoing pandemic restrictions, including live-streaming options and capacity limits. The itinerary expanded to include three dates at Tokyo Dome in April 2022 and an encore at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles on May 14, 2022, with a second night added due to demand. Venue choices emphasized major arenas like Scotiabank Arena in Toronto and Prudential Center in Newark to showcase high-production elements, while navigating challenges like the cancellation of the December 24 Seoul show due to tightened COVID measures.[8]Promotion
Marketing Campaigns
The promotion for TWICE's III Tour was closely tied to their third studio album Formula of Love: O+T=3, with an initial hint at the tour appearing at the end of the "The Feels" music video on October 1, 2021. The official announcement came on November 15, 2021, via the group's social media accounts, accompanied by a teaser poster revealing the tour name and initial dates in Seoul and North America.[2][1] Ticket presales for the Seoul shows began on November 29, 2021, for third-generation ONCE fan club members, followed by second-generation members on December 1, and general sales on December 2. North American tickets went on presale for fan club members via Ticketmaster starting December 10, 2021, with general sales on December 13. VIP packages were offered, including premium seating, pre-show soundchecks, exclusive merchandise, and photo opportunities to enhance fan engagement.[9][10] The encore shows in Los Angeles were announced on March 31, 2022, with tickets available from April 6, 2022, emphasizing the group's growing U.S. popularity following sold-out arena dates. However, due to rising COVID-19 cases, JYP Entertainment canceled all U.S. promotional activities, including meet-and-greets in cities like Los Angeles and New York, on February 15, 2022, prioritizing health and safety.[3][11]Media and Publicity
The III Tour announcement garnered significant media attention, highlighting TWICE's international expansion. USA Today covered the tour on November 15, 2021, noting the group's 9 million Twitter followers and the success of "The Feels" on the Billboard Hot 100 as key factors in their global appeal. Soompi reported on the initial stops and later the historic U.S. stadium shows, positioning TWICE as the second K-pop act after BTS to headline a U.S. stadium.[1][2][3] During the tour, outlets like the Los Angeles Daily News previewed the Forum shows in February 2022, focusing on setlist highlights and fan excitement. Rolling Stone reviewed the encore performances at Banc of California Stadium in May 2022, praising the production and crowd energy. While major pre-tour interviews were limited amid pandemic restrictions, post-tour coverage in Cosmopolitan (July 2022) featured the members reflecting on the tour's success and their connection with international fans.[12][4][13] Publicity efforts leveraged social media for fan interaction, with teaser images and updates shared on platforms like Twitter and Instagram, building anticipation among ONCEs worldwide.Performances
Setlist Composition
The III Tour's standard setlist consisted of approximately 24 songs in the main set, plus VCR segments, ments, unit performances, and an encore of 3–7 songs, lasting about 2.5 to 3 hours. This structure balanced tracks from the supported album Formula of Love: O+T=3 (2021) with earlier hits, emphasizing high-energy choreographed numbers and fan interaction.[14][15] Performances typically opened with VCR 1 ("I - ONCE") followed by "The Feels" and "Feel Special" to energize the crowd, transitioning into Formula of Love cuts like "Up No More", "Queen", and "Scientist". Mid-set included classics such as "What Is Love?", "Knock Knock", and "Heart Shaker", with unit stages featuring subgroups performing "Push & Pull" (Sana, Jihyo, Dahyun), "Hello" (Nayeon, Momo, Chaeyoung), and "1, 3, 2" (Jeongyeon, Mina, Tzuyu). Encores often closed with fan favorites like "TT" (TAK remix), "Alcohol-Free", and "Cheer Up", selected via a spinning wheel in some shows for variety.[16][17] The selection focused on about 60% pre-2021 hits to engage longtime fans (e.g., "Fancy", "I Can't Stop Me"), complemented by 40% material from Formula of Love: O+T=3 (e.g., "Shot Clock", "Rewind") to promote the album, incorporating ments for member-fan banter and VCRs for thematic storytelling around "I, II, III" (ONCE, TWICE, HEART).Song Adaptations and Variations
Across the tour, TWICE adapted songs for regional appeal, performing Japanese versions of tracks like "Fancy" and "I Can't Stop Me" during the Tokyo Dome shows. Unit stages highlighted subgroup dynamics with customized choreography, while full-group numbers featured synchronized dances and elaborate costumes.[15] Variations occurred in encores, with Seoul shows using a spinning wheel for random selections (e.g., "Rollin'", "Baby Blue Love" on December 26, 2021), and US dates sticking to staples like "Merry & Happy". No major injuries or disruptions affected performances, though VCR segments evolved slightly per leg to include tour-specific missions. Technical elements, such as pyrotechnics during "Fire in the Hole"-style energetic tracks like "Get Loud", enhanced immersion in arena settings.[18]Itinerary
Tour Legs and Routes
The III Tour consisted of four legs: a domestic opening in South Korea, a North American arena run, a Japanese stadium extension, and a U.S. encore finale, totaling 14 performances across Asia and North America. This progression started with hometown shows to rebuild live momentum post-pandemic, expanded to key international markets for global fan engagement, and concluded with a historic stadium headline to affirm TWICE's rising stature.[2] The first leg took place in Seoul in December 2021, marking TWICE's return to in-person concerts after over two years. The second leg covered North American arenas in February 2022, targeting major U.S. cities to capitalize on the group's growing popularity following "The Feels." The third leg featured three nights at Tokyo Dome in April 2022, TWICE's first concerts there. The fourth leg served as an encore with two stadium shows in Los Angeles in May 2022.[2][19][3] Routing emphasized efficient trans-Pacific travel, with North American dates clustered in the western and eastern U.S. to minimize jet lag, followed by a brief Asian return before the West Coast finale. No opening acts were featured, allowing focus on TWICE's full performance.[20]Dates and Venues
The III Tour included 14 concerts from December 2021 to May 2022, primarily in arenas and stadiums with capacities ranging from 6,000 to 22,000. One show scheduled for December 24, 2021, in Seoul was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Venues were selected for their prominence and fan accessibility, with all dates selling out rapidly. Attendance reached approximately 300,000 overall, with North American shows generating over $8 million in revenue as reported by Billboard Boxscore.[20] The following table lists all performed dates, venues, locations, and relevant notes.| Date | City | Country | Venue | Capacity (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 25, 2021 | Seoul | South Korea | KSPO Dome | 15,000 | Sold out; Jeongyeon absent |
| December 26, 2021 | Seoul | South Korea | KSPO Dome | 15,000 | Sold out; Beyond Live stream |
| February 15, 2022 | Inglewood, CA | United States | The Forum | 17,500 | Sold out; 100,000 total for U.S. leg |
| February 16, 2022 | Inglewood, CA | United States | The Forum | 17,500 | Sold out |
| February 18, 2022 | Oakland, CA | United States | Oakland Arena | 19,000 | Sold out |
| February 22, 2022 | Fort Worth, TX | United States | Dickies Arena | 14,000 | Sold out |
| February 24, 2022 | Atlanta, GA | United States | State Farm Arena | 18,000 | Sold out |
| February 26, 2022 | Elmont, NY | United States | UBS Arena | 18,500 | Sold out; $4 million revenue |
| February 27, 2022 | Elmont, NY | United States | UBS Arena | 18,500 | Sold out |
| April 23, 2022 | Tokyo | Japan | Tokyo Dome | 55,000 | Sold out; 150,000 total |
| April 24, 2022 | Tokyo | Japan | Tokyo Dome | 55,000 | Sold out |
| April 25, 2022 | Tokyo | Japan | Tokyo Dome | 55,000 | Sold out; Additional date |
| May 14, 2022 | Los Angeles, CA | United States | Banc of California Stadium | 22,000 | Encore; Sold out; ~45,000 total |
| May 15, 2022 | Los Angeles, CA | United States | Banc of California Stadium | 22,000 | Encore; Sold out |