SB19 at Summer Sonic 2026 in Japan. (Sony Music Entertainment/Release)

SB19 continues to build its international presence with a series of recent milestones, including its debut at Japan’s Summer Sonic 2026, its first live television appearance in the country, a Spotify feature chronicling its rise, and the release of its first-ever physical album.

The P-pop group was recently tapped by the Department of Tourism (DOT) as one of its tourism ambassadors, joining the agency’s efforts to promote the Philippines through Filipino artists on the international stage.

READ: ‘Who’s the goat?’: DOT’s emoji post gets A’TIN talking as SB19 tourism ambassador rumors swirl | ‘We want to make a genuine difference’: SB19 embraces role as Philippine tourism ambassadors | DOT to name 2 P-pop groups as tourism ambassadors | DOT taps BINI as tourism ambassadors

SB19 performed at Summer Sonic 2026 in both Osaka and Tokyo, joining a lineup of international and Japanese acts.

The Tokyo performance featured one of the group’s notable moments in Japan when Japanese artist Kento Nakajima joined SB19 onstage for “GENTO,” raising anticipation for a possible official version of the song featuring the Japanese singer.

“This time, I had the special opportunity to write part of the lyrics for this track,” Nakajima said. “There was definitely pressure putting new lyrics on ‘GENTO’—such an important song for SB19—but the members kindly told me, ‘Just be yourself, as always,’ so I poured in everything that came to mind.”

For group leader Pablo, the festival appearances offered the group an opportunity to introduce its music to more Japanese listeners.

“Performing in both Osaka and Tokyo is another milestone for us, and we’re incredibly grateful for the chance to introduce SB19 to Japanese audiences and connect with them,” he said.

“We have a wide range of songs and genres in our repertoire, so fans can expect an energetic and diverse set that showcases different sides of SB19. Most of all, we hope our performances will allow people to experience our music, feel our energy, and hopefully capture their hearts.”

The group has also indicated that it hopes to build a deeper connection with audiences in Japan through more performances and media appearances.

“We would love to have more performances, television appearances, and features in Japanese publications, but most importantly, we want to continue introducing our music and sharing who we are as SB19,” Ken said.

“We hope that more people will discover our songs and embrace us as artists.”

SB19 also marked its first live television appearance in Japan when it performed on NTV’s “DayDay” on August 13.

The group performed “LAWLESS” for Japanese television audiences and joined host Ryota Yamasato, also known as Yama-chan, in a game segment.

“While we remain the same SB19 that people know in the Philippines, being welcomed into a Japanese television program is a huge milestone for us and something we are truly honored and grateful for,” Justin said.

The group’s activities in Japan come as SB19 continues to represent the Philippines on the international stage.

The DOT has cited the group’s overseas activities, including its Lollapalooza appearance and upcoming Summer Sonic performances, as part of its efforts to promote Philippine destinations through its Tourism Ambassadors.

READ: SB19 Lollapalooza watch parties: Where Filipino fans can catch the historic performance | SB19’s Lollapalooza debut turns into nationwide celebration as watch parties draw fans

Josh described the opportunities as another step in SB19’s international journey.

“Now, having these opportunities in Japan through our collaboration with top Japanese artists, performing at Summer Sonic, and appearing on Japanese television feels like an important step forward in that journey,” he said.

“We’re more than grateful to be able to share our music and connect with Japanese audiences while learning from every experience along the way. We hope this chapter will help us reach even more people around the world.”

SB19’s international growth was also highlighted by Spotify through “The Come Up,” a global series examining the defining moments behind an artist’s rise.

The feature traces the group’s journey from its inclusion in RADAR Philippines in March 2020 to its appearance at Lollapalooza, where it became the first P-Pop group to perform at the festival.

SB19 joined RADAR Philippines with 141,489 monthly listeners on Spotify. Six years later, the group had more than 1.4 million monthly listeners, according to the streaming platform.

Its growth on Spotify has included playlist placements for “MAPA” and “GENTO,” as well as collaborations that helped introduce the group to audiences in other markets.

Its collaboration with JVKE brought a Tagalog verse to a global hit, while “Toyfriend,” its joint track with Japanese group BE:FIRST, landed on the cover of Hot Hits Japan.

Spotify Philippines Lead Editor Chesca Tan said the group’s continued presence on the platform has helped it reach new listeners across different stages of its career.

“The more places SB19 showed up on Spotify, the more their audience grew and stuck around. Our playlists like Tatak Pinoy, P-Pop On The Rise, and Viral Hits Philippines are how millions of listeners discover what to listen to next,” Tan said.

“And what stands out with SB19 is that every era gave us a reason to champion them again. Each time, the audience got bigger and stayed longer.”

Apart from its music releases, SB19 has also connected with fans through its Atin Atin Lang podcast, the A’TIN ‘To! jeepney art activation and a Listening Party that drew 20,000 fans, according to Spotify.

“When we debuted eight years ago, we never imagined performing at international festivals or hearing fans around the world sing our songs back to us. A’TIN has been with us through every chapter, and Spotify has helped more listeners discover our music,” SB19 said.

“Every milestone reminds us how far we’ve come and motivates us to keep creating music that makes Filipinos proud.”

Alongside its international activities, SB19 has released the Global CD Version of “Wakas at Simula,” marking the group’s first-ever physical album.

The two-disc edition contains all 24 tracks from the album, along with a 52-page lyric booklet, two exclusive photo prints, a randomly selected photocard from five variants and an NFC tag providing access to the online album.

One hundred randomly selected copies will also contain authentic fragments from the album’s tome.

The first batch of the CD sold out, prompting Backspacer Records and Sony Music Entertainment to open another batch for purchase. Limited stocks are also available at Backspacer Records.

For Pablo, the physical edition offers international fans another way to stay connected with the group.

“For us, the Global CD Version represents a way to stay connected to A’TIN around the world and remind them that no matter where they are, they will always have a piece of home with them,” he said. “We want them to know that SB19 will continue to be by their side through the best moments of their lives and even during the challenging times.”

Justin said the release is particularly meaningful because it allows fans to experience the album beyond streaming.

“Since this is our first-ever CD release, it feels meaningful to share Wakas at Simula in a way that goes beyond just listening to the music,” he said. “We’re grateful that our community can now experience the album in a more personal and lasting way and have something that they can cherish over time.”

Josh likewise emphasized the role of A’TIN in the group’s journey.

“It’s important for us to share these pieces because we wouldn’t be here without A’TIN, and they are an important part of this journey,” he said.

“Through our music, we are able to tell our stories, but our fans are also part of the story we continue to create. By sharing actual fragments, elements, and objects from the Wakas at Simula universe, we wanted to give them something tangible that represents their connection to the album and allows them to feel like they are part of its history.”

For Stell, the physical format also allows the album’s narrative to extend beyond the music.

“The great thing about Wakas at Simula is the story we were able to tell through the music, and having 24 tracks across two discs, along with the lyric book and exclusive memorabilia, allows us to expand that story beyond the songs themselves,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ken said the group was closely involved in developing the physical release.

“From how it looks to what they will receive inside, every element was carefully considered to reflect who we are as artists,” he said. “More than just creating a physical album, we wanted it to feel like a meaningful collectible that fans can connect with and truly enjoy.”

The Japanese edition of “Wakas at Simula” is also available at major record shops and online retailers in Japan under Sony Music Japan.