Asian nations in race to build concert venues
Around a dozen new arenas are to debut across the region by 2030
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LIVE concerts are all the rage these days, and Asia’s red-hot live entertainment scene is about to get hotter. As countries haul in billions in tourism revenue from concert-goers, more cities across the region are splurging to amp up their appeal.
South Korean city Incheon opened its 15,000-seat Inspire Arena this month. In February, Bangkok offered up a new 6,000-capacity entertainment venue. Macau inaugurated its largest indoor arena with 16,000 seats last year. In 2022, Kuala Lumpur unveiled a 2,400-seat concert hall, and Jakarta opened an 82,000-seat stadium.
More venues, each boasting a huge capacity and stunning features, including a retractable roof and convertible pitch, are set to open their doors, mostly between this year and 2030. As it stands, around a dozen new entertainment facilities are in the pipeline in Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.
1. Singapore: 3,000-capacity music hall
What: A much-delayed 3,000-capacity music hall is slated to open its doors in Orchard Road in 2026, reported The Straits Times in December. The development will be the first purpose-built venue in Asia by American live entertainment giant Live Nation.
Where: The site of the 48,200 sq ft former open-air carpark at the junction of Grange and Somerset Roads
When: 2026
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2. Singapore: 15,000-seat entertainment arena
What: Marina Bay Sands (MBS) announced in April 2019 its S$4.5 billion expansion plan involving the development of a fourth tower, which will feature a 15,000-seat entertainment arena.
Where: Adjacent to MBS, on an empty plot flanked by Bayfront Avenue, Sheares Avenue and Sheares Link
When: Official opening estimated in January 2031
3. Singapore: New 18,000-capacity indoor arena
What: Singapore announced in Parliament in March 2024 that it intends to develop a new indoor arena that will be “among the best-in-class globally”. At his National Day Rally speech in August the same year, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong added that the upcoming facility will have a capacity of 18,000, which is more than Indoor Stadium’s 12,000.
Where: Adjacent to the current Singapore Indoor Stadium site in Kallang
When: No timeline provided yet
4. Bangkok: 15,000-seat arena
What: Thai retailer The Mall Group and sports and live entertainment company AEG announced in 2018 their partnership to develop a 15,000-seat arena.
Where: Bang Na district, adjacent to Bangkok Mall
When: 2026
5. Bangkok: 6,500-seat Bitec Live
What: The Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre will open a 5,000-seat hall, Thai news website The Nation reported in February 2024. As at December 2024, the arena has held some 10 live music events according to its website, with more coming up in 2025.
Where: Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre in Bang Na district
When: Mid-2024
6. Hong Kong: Kai Tak Sports Park
What: The Kai Tak Sports Park will boast a 50,000-seat stadium, 10,000-seat indoor sports centre and 5,000-seat public sports ground. It is poised to become the largest integrated sports and entertainment landmark in Hong Kong. In October, it was revealed that the facility will host the World Grand Prix for snooker in March 2025.
Where: On the site of the former Hong Kong International Airport in Kowloon
When: Q1 2025
7. Japan: 18,000-capacity arena in Suita
What: In 2021, it was reported that a consortium formed by Mitsubishi Corporation Urban Development, AEG, and Kanden Realty & Development was selected to develop and open an 18,000-capacity arena, due to become Japan’s second-largest indoor arena.
Where: Within the Expo Commemoration Park in Suita, a city in Osaka prefecture
When: 2027
8. Japan: 17,000-capacity arena in Nagoya
What: IG Arena is set to host the Asian Games and Asian Para Games in 2026.
Where: Nagoya, capital of Aichi prefecture
When: Summer of 2025
9. South Korea: 18,000-seat arena in Seoul
What: South Korean Internet giant Kakao and the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced in April 2022 the construction of an 18,000-seat arena dedicated to K-pop events.
Where: Chang-dong, a neighbourhood in Dobong district in northern Seoul
When: 2027
10. South Korea: 20,000-capacity arena in Goyang
What: Film production company CJ LiveCity, a subsidiary of conglomerate CJ Group, and AEG announced in June 2019 the construction of a 20,000-capacity arena with an outdoor space for 40,000 people dedicated to K-pop events.
Where: Goyang, a city in Gyeonggi province
When: Originally slated to open in 2024, it was reported in July that the project was terminated, but the province has said it intends to proceed with the project via public development. No further timeline or details have been released yet.
11. Taiwan: Taichung Arena
What: Two arenas are expected to be built – a main one that can accommodate 15,500 people and a secondary 5,000-capacity one.
Where: Near the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Beitun district, Taichung
When: 2030
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