NCT WISH and Hearts2Hearts: A 2025 MAMA Awards Collaboration Reviving the Spirit of the 2nd Gen

NCT WISH and Hearts2Hearts confirm a 2025 MAMA collaboration.
Fans welcome the return of SM-style joint stages.
A nostalgic yet fresh performance awaits.

A surprising buzz has swept through the K-pop world: NCT WISH, the newest unit of NCT, will share the stage with rookie girl group Hearts2Hearts at the 2025 MAMA Awards. The announcement quickly ignited excitement across X (formerly Twitter). One fan said this collaboration is “bringing back the SuJu × SNSD and SHINee × f(x) days,” accompanied by photos of the six NCT WISH members and the eight Hearts2Hearts members. This nostalgia echoes the legendary cross-group collaborations from SM Entertainment’s second-generation artists that once defined major award show stages.

The excitement also grows from the identity of both groups. NCT WISH is the sixth NCT unit formed through the survival show NCT Universe: LASTART, consisting of Sion, Riku, Yushi, Jaehee, Ryo and Sakuya. They released their pre-debut single “Hands Up” on October 19, 2023 and officially debuted with “WISH” on February 21, 2024. Meanwhile, Hearts2Hearts, also known as H2H, is an SM Entertainment girl group with Jiwoo, Carmen, Yuha, Stella, Juun, A-na, Ian and Ye-on. They debuted on February 24, 2025 with the single album The Chase. Their name represents their intention to connect with fans around the world through emotional music. The group stands out not only for their performance but also for Carmen, a main vocalist from Bali who is SM Entertainment’s first Indonesian idol, as well as Jiwoo, a former ballerina who is rumored to incorporate ballet elements into the upcoming stage.

Revisiting a Legendary Tradition: Group Background, Event Highlights and SM Nostalgia

The MAMA Awards is known for its spectacular collaboration stages. According to Maeil Business News Korea, the 2025 MAMA Awards will feature an exclusive collaboration in which NCT WISH, known for their fresh energy, will join Hearts2Hearts, a rookie group with strong teamwork and performance skills. Both teams are expected to show powerful synergy through choreography, vocals and youthful charm. Other performances at this year’s event include a collaboration between BoyNextDoor and actor Choi Dae-hoon, as well as the world-premiere debut of ALPHA DRIVE ONE. The event aims to showcase the best of modern K-pop while building bridges to the future.

The 2025 MAMA Awards will take place over two days at Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong on November 28 and 29. Sponsored by Visa and broadcast globally through Mnet Plus, the NCT WISH × Hearts2Hearts collaboration will be exclusive to the MAMA stage. Many fans predict a performance that blends NCT WISH’s strong vocals with Hearts2Hearts’ harmonies and high-energy choreography, possibly including ballet elements from Jiwoo and Yushi. Although the setlist is still unknown, fans hope for an SM Town medley or a concept song combining the themes of “wish” and “heart.”

The announcement has reignited nostalgia for second-generation K-pop. Fans describe it as a “sibling collab,” citing SM Entertainment’s long tradition of pairing male and female groups on special stages. In the late 2000s, Super Junior and Girls’ Generation performed “Moves Like Jagger” together, a stage many fans remember vividly. SHINee and f(x), often nicknamed “starpalmz,” also created memorable joint performances. By reviving this “SM family” concept, the NCT WISH × Hearts2Hearts collaboration reconnects older fans with their memories while introducing the tradition to newer audiences.

Beyond the excitement, the collaboration also carries representation. Carmen’s presence as an Indonesian idol means a great deal to Southeast Asian fans. She once shared that her dream began after watching Girls’ Generation’s “The Boys,” and she reportedly sang around a hundred songs during her online audition. Jiwoo and Yushi, both having ballet backgrounds, are rumored to perform a ballet segment, increasing anticipation even more. However, many fans are reminding others to enjoy the collaboration without adding unnecessary shipping discourse to the moment.

Below are the fan comments from X, each placed on its own line as requested:

“They’re bringing back the suju × snsd and shinee × f(x) days, YESSS”

“Omg yes, bringing back the 2nd gen tradition”

“Yesss I’m so excited”

“We need this siblings collab, we need to go back to our roots”

“So happy they’re bringing back the tradition, Moves Like Jagger still lives in my head”

“Asik starpalmz benar-benar satu stage”

“This gives me SHINee × f(x) nostalgia… my heart”

“Kayaknya Carmen nggak bakal ikut kolab, hiks”

“Kalau lihat pola latihan, Yushi dan Jiwoo mungkin tampil balet”

“Boy groups × girl groups collaboration? REAL K-POP IS SO BACK”

“Love to see SM family perform together”

“I just want to enjoy the collaboration, keep shippers away from ruining the moment”

“Keep Carmen and Yushi away from delusional shippers so they don’t get attacked”

“WE WILL BE SUPPORTING H2H AND NCT WISH”

These comments reflect excitement as well as typical fandom dynamics. Many are thrilled about the return of classic SM-style collaborations, while others focus on maintaining respect for the artists. By blending second-generation nostalgia with the freshness of today’s idols, the NCT WISH × Hearts2Hearts collaboration is set to become one of the standout moments of the 2025 MAMA Awards and potentially a new iconic stage in K-pop history.

Readers who want to explore Hearts2Hearts’ musical color can check their official debut MV ‘The Chase’

Source: Maeil Business News Korea, Kprofiles, slist.kr, Star Today.