STAYC Brings Excitement to National Harbor for the First Time

Photos by Nia Jackson

On October 16, 2025, The Theatre at MGM National Harbor in Maryland was filled with excited fans–fans of the upbeat, bubbly, bright, and talented High Up Entertainment girl group STAYC. This was a show many were anticipating, and before it started, you could feel the enthusiasm from each fan. 

In true concert magic, the moment the lights dimmed, all conversations came to an end, and all eyes focused on the screen. The show started with our first VCR of the night: a bright, futuristic-themed video, kind of like their concept was for “BEBE,” introducing each member one by one. With each member shown on the screen, the crowd erupted into cheers. The crowd did a great job cheering, and when it came to member Seeun, they cheered extra loud and hard for her since she wasn’t able to participate in this stop. 

The moment the VCR ended, and the girls' silhouettes could be seen on the stage, the cheers got louder, and you could feel everyone's excitement from your seat. Once the lights came on, you could see their outfits clearly. All were wearing a variety of white outfits, each specific to each member. For example, member Yoon wore a bedazzled white cropped jacket with a matching white top and skirt. All the outfits were so cute and shone whenever the light hit them. The first song that the girls performed was their ballroom-inspired track “BEBE.” An electrifying track with a groovy beat, it was a striking way to start the show. From there, we went to their B-side, “1 Thing,” a hit from their first album, Metamorphic. It was a perfect transition from “BEBE” and fit the bold opening the girls were going for. There was an eye-catching dance break in this song that had every audience member cheering the girls on. The next song to play was their joyful, adorable track “Poppy,” a lovely song with cute choreography and addictive lyrics. While the girls performed the track, you could hear the audience singing, “Poppy, poppy. Pop, poppy, poppy, poppy, love, love.” It was one of those memorable moments during the concert, because it showed the connection between STAYC and SWITH. 

After that stellar opening, the girls introduced themselves individually, each receiving a loud cheer from the audience. The girls then reassured us about member Seeun and how she was resting well. This news had the crowd erupt in cheers, and it was a heartfelt moment seeing SWITH give her encouragement from their seats. STAYC is amazing at interacting with fans and bringing the excitement out of everyone in the room. The girls, during this moment, were talking to SWITH, asking if everyone was enjoying themselves, which, of course, we were. 

The next round of songs had everyone smiling from ear to ear, singing along, and trying to copy the girls' choreography. From the opening ment, we went straight to the upbeat, but breathtaking ballad “BEAUTIFUL MONSTER.” It was a joy to hear the audience members singing along with members Yoon and Sieun during their high notes and falsettos, and with how exhilarating this song is, you can’t help but sing along. From there, the girls started performing their track “Cheeky Icy Thang.” A thrilling track with a danceable beat, everyone in the audience was on their feet, copying the iconic hand movements from the choreography, and singing along. It was a great song to get us excited and ready for the second VCR of the night—a beautiful video showcasing the group's different sub-units. Their flowy, bright pastel dresses and mystical nature setting gave them a fairy-like aesthetic. It was a stunning video, and the moment it ended, we were super excited for the next round of songs. 

The first special unit to perform was the unit featuring members Sieun, Seeun, and J. Their track “Find” is a beautiful ballad that showcases the members' diverse vocal tones and skills. Next was member ISA with her track “Roses.” A sensual, R&B track, ISA performed her song with skillful vocals and phenomenal chair choreography that had the audience on the edge of their seats. The last unit song was “Fakin” by members Sumin and Yoon, an upbeat track that showcased the girls' strong vocals and funny friendship. From there, we got the girls' iconic, well-known pop/rock B-side “YOUNG LUV.” It was exciting to hear everyone sing along to this track. It was like a moment many had anticipated, and the enthusiasm could be felt throughout the venue. 

The second ment of the night was hilarious. It started with members Yoon and Sumin talking about a promise to do a heart at the end of their unit song, but it didn’t come to pass. This caused the members to joke about the moment and try to recreate what was supposed to happen. The girls also talked about their experience here at the National Harbor. They spoke about their experience at Crumbl Cookies, saying they tasted a cookie so good they even pulled out the infamous “Who made this?” joke, which made the audience laugh. Member Sieun talked about her time at the National Harbor. She talked about how beautiful it was to see the Ferris wheel and the infamous Awakening statue. After an eventful ment, the girls then said they were going to do a “180 degree” in terms of music. With the crowd anticipating what was to come, we watched as the girls got into position for their next song. 

The next song to be performed was their B-side “Beauty Bomb” from their first album, Metamorphic. With a beautiful field of flowers as their background, we saw a variety of different shades of pink, blue, peach, and orange. The girls were still wearing the outfits that made them look like fairies. So their bright, flowy outfits matched the scenery behind them. Once the song ended, the members asked everyone to turn on the flashlights. It was like a sea of lights that swayed side to side as the girls sang their heartwarming B-side “Meant To Be.” 

After a funny but memorable ment where the girls sang a capella renditions of their songs and everyone was super excited, the girls started their next song, the newest hit, “I WANT IT.” This summer banger will never lose its flair, no matter the weather. The entire audience was screaming along to the lyrics and cheering the girls on as they performed. Staying with that upbeat energy, STAYC then performed their super-cute, exciting track “Bubble.” The crowd was already really hype, but when the bubble machines came out, it went from 100 to 200. The energy started high with their next track, “Trouble Maker.” The crowd was on their feet, jumping and dancing as the members hit unforgettable notes. The happy sing-along had the whole crowd showing their best vocal skills. 

Once they finished singing, while everyone caught their breath, the girls ran to the back to get changed into their final outfits. While we waited, the final VCR of the night played. With such a sentimental message, the girls talked about their childhood dreams. The dreams ranged from wanting to be a figure skater, to a swimmer, to a dancer. We then got a throwback look at the girls' lives from debut to now. While watching the different past comebacks, you started to really think about where you are now and how nostalgic and sentimental it is to see the girls' growth.

The girl came back out with a lineup we can never forget. We started with their addictive B-side “Twenty.” From there, we were on a roll with their well-known tracks. We then get to hear their iconic tracks “GPT” and “Stereotype.” Everyone was singing the tracks word for word, and it didn’t stop there. We then were all screaming along to their super fun and addictive tracks “RUN2U,” “ASAP,” and “Teddy Bear.” This lineup of songs had us all gasping for air, and after a short ment, we were given a track we all hoped and prayed was on the setlist: their iconic debut track “SO BAD.” It was like the last bit of energy that we had; we all gave it our all. This song is a moment in time, and hearing it live changed the lives of so many fans. 

During the encore, there was a moment that stood out, bringing a smile to many faces and securing a spot in fans’ hearts as a beloved memory. It was the moment when the members walked through the crowd to their bright song “Gummy Bear.” The smiles, excitement, and shock on the fans' faces as they walked through the crowd melted your heart and made you smile. The girls ended the show with their song “Stay WITH me.” It’s a sweet song dedicated to SWITH, and it was the perfect song to end the jam-packed show.

STAYC did an amazing job. This concert will be a favorite for many, and the girls certainly made it enjoyable.