KATSEYE's Sophia Laforteza sits out the European leg of the Wildworld tour

KATSEYE began the Wildworld Tour at Dublin's 3Arena on September 1 with four members rather than six. Sophia Laforteza, the group's leader, is sitting out every UK and European date on the run through September 17, extending the hiatus she announced weeks earlier, and Manon Bannerman has been on her own break since the spring.

The confirmation came the day before the opening night. In a statement posted to Instagram and Weverse and signed by HYBE and Geffen Records, the label said Laforteza is focusing on her well-being and that the company remains fully committed to giving her the support and resources she needs. It asked EYEKONS, the group's fanbase, for understanding and said the health and long-term well-being of its artists is the priority.

Laforteza, who is 23, framed the decision in her own words when she first stepped back. "Making this decision wasn't easy, but I'm learning that health has to come first," she wrote, adding that she would not be able to keep doing what she loves if she does not take care of her mind and body now. The label said medical consultations had advised extended rest and ongoing care.

The Dublin show went ahead with Daniela Avanzini, Yoonchae Jeung, Lara Raj and Megan Skiendiel. Skiendiel had sprained an ankle in rehearsals days earlier, which cost the group its slot at Olivia Rodrigo's Daisy Chain Fields festival, but she was rested and back for the opener.

The set opened with Hootie Frutti and ran through Internet Girl, That Way, Touch, Mean Girls, Gabriela and PINKY UP in the first act, with solo dance breaks for Avanzini and Skiendiel. Bel Air and Unloveu got their first live performances, the second delivered by Raj alone on piano. The three song encore began with Debut, from the 2024 EP SIS (Soft Is Strong), took in the LE SSERAFIM and Illit collaboration ICONIC BY MISTAKE, and closed on Gnarly.

The tour is 31 dates and their first in arenas, taking in London's The O2 on September 3 and 4, Manchester's Co-op Live, Paris, Amsterdam and Copenhagen before a North American leg that opens in Miami on October 13 and includes two nights at Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena. It wraps in November.

The run supports Wild, the EP released on August 14 and the group's first without Bannerman. NME gave it three stars and said it was still unclear where KATSEYE go next. Their pop dates and the rest of the autumn arena schedule are listed in the tour guide.