NMIXX Breaks New Ground at Brazil’s Carnival Ahead of “TIC TIC” Featuring Pabllo Vittar

NMIXX Makes a Carnival First in Brazil—and Sets the Stage for “TIC TIC” with Pabllo Vittar

K-pop has spent the last decade expanding its global footprint, but some milestones still feel genuinely “new.” NMIXX’s recent appearance at Brazil’s Carnival is one of them. The group joined Brazilian pop superstar Pabllo Vittar during Carnival celebrations in São Paulo, a performance their agency framed as a major cultural crossover—and outlets described as a first for a K-pop act at the festival.

And they didn’t come empty-handed: soon after the Carnival buzz, NMIXX officially announced a new collaboration single with Vittar, titled “TIC TIC,” building on their earlier partnership.

Why this is a big deal: Carnival is not a typical “festival booking”

Brazil’s Carnival isn’t just a concert slot—it’s a massive cultural season powered by street parades, neighborhood parties, and “blocos” (block-party-style events). NMIXX were scheduled as special guests at Bloco da Pabllo, Pabllo Vittar’s Carnival event in São Paulo, in what Korean media described as a symbolic collision of global fan cultures.

That matters because it signals a shift in how K-pop expands:

• Not only touring arenas or appearing at mainstream Western festivals

• But also entering local cultural institutions—events with deep roots and established traditions

When a K-pop group is welcomed into a setting like Carnival, it’s a strong indicator that the audience relationship in that market is already substantial—and that organizers see real value in cross-genre, cross-language collaborations.

The performance: NMIXX x Pabllo Vittar in São Paulo

Reports say NMIXX performed with Vittar at São Paulo Carnival, and Soompi noted that the stage marked them as the first K-pop artist to perform at Brazil’s Carnival.
Billboard Brazil’s social video coverage also framed it as NMIXX joining Vittar for “MEXE” at Bloco da Pabllo while highlighting the “first K-pop act” angle.

This kind of moment is catnip for global fandoms because it’s both:

• Highly visual (Carnival crowds, dance, staging, street-energy)

• Highly symbolic (K-pop stepping into one of the world’s most famous cultural celebrations)

“TIC TIC” is the next step—and it’s official

On Feb 17, 2026, NMIXX announced that “TIC TIC (Feat. Pabllo Vittar)” would be released on Feb 26 (12 p.m. KST).
The official pre-save page for “TIC TIC Feat. Pabllo Vittar” went live as well.

Importantly, this isn’t a one-off experiment. Soompi also pointed out that NMIXX and Vittar previously collaborated on “MEXE” (August of the prior year), positioning “TIC TIC” as a follow-up rather than a random pairing.

Why this collaboration works (even before we hear the full song)

Even without overhyping, the logic is clear:

1) Market authenticity
Pabllo Vittar isn’t just a feature artist—she’s a defining pop figure in Brazil, with strong cultural presence during Carnival season. Pairing with her helps the collaboration feel “from within” the scene rather than imported.

2) Performance-first synergy
NMIXX’s brand leans into vocal and choreography strength. Carnival crowds respond to rhythm, energy, and call-and-response hooks—exactly the kind of environment where a dance-forward track can explode.

3) A real bridge between fan ecosystems
K-pop fandoms and Brazilian pop fandoms both thrive online—memes, fancams, dance challenges, and rapid viral spread. A joint track gives both communities a single shared “object” to rally around.

The bigger picture: K-pop’s “local culture” era

A decade ago, K-pop globalization was often about exporting Korean acts to global stages. Now it increasingly looks like co-creation:

• local partners

• local rhythms and languages

• local cultural moments (like Carnival)

JYP Entertainment even framed the performance as a “historic symbol” of convergence between K-pop and Brazilian pop in its quoted statements.

Whether “TIC TIC” becomes a chart monster or a fan-favorite, the strategy itself is the headline: NMIXX are not just visiting Brazil—they’re collaborating with Brazil.