KIIS Jingle Ball LA: A Star-Packed Night to Ring in the Holidays
This year’s KIIS Jingle Ball lit up the holiday season with a lineup that felt like a fireworks display across the pop spectrum. The event took place on Friday, December 6 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, and the arena sold out long before the doors opened, with fans arriving early and buzzing with anticipation. The roster included Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Enrique Iglesias, Robin Thicke, Ariana Grande, Austin Mahone, Jason Derulo, Fifth Harmony, and Travie McCoy, a constellation designed to keep the energy high from the first note to the last encore. Entertainment outlets covering the night noted the scale of the stage production, the glow of the fashion, and the undeniable crowd enthusiasm that carried through every performance.
Travie McCoy kicked off the evening with Billionaire, his swagger setting the tone as New Politics, the Danish indie-pop outfit, followed with their persuasive hooks and buoyant rhythm. Jason Derulo stepped into the light next, pairing swagger with precise vocal phrasing as Fifth Harmony emerged, delivering the confident blows of Miss Movin’ On and Dance Alone that had the arena singing in unison. Enrique Iglesias then invited a young fan onstage to sing and dance along, a moment that drew warm, delighted cheers from the audience. The sequence of performances kept the tempo relentless, with the production team weaving lights, sound, and visuals to match each artist’s energy, a rhythm noted by reviewers as a hallmark of the night’s success.
Robin Thicke then owned a moment on the main stage, performing Blurred Lines and bringing out rapper T.I. to join him for a brisk, infectious collaborative groove. The pair drew a roar from the crowd, their chemistry live and immediate, underscoring why the song had become a staple of contemporary pop. As the set moved forward, the show maintained momentum, blending dance bursts, midtempo ballads, and club-ready anthems that kept fans on their feet. The lineup’s diversity highlighted the event’s appeal across audiences who crave big hooks, polished performances, and a shared sense of holiday celebration.
However, no live spectacle is immune to glitches. Selena Gomez encountered technical issues during her turn, briefly interrupting the flow as she adjusted the sound and found her footing again. The 21-year-old star paused, regained composure, and addressed the crowd with candor, noting that there were many other spectacular acts still to come and encouraging fans to remain engaged for two additional songs. The hiccup did little to dampen the mood, and Gomez returned to finish her set with resilience, delivering evocative moments despite the earlier challenge. The moment served as a reminder that live performances are dynamic and often unpredictable, even when talent and production are at their peak.
Following Gomez, Austin Mahone and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis stepped back into the spotlight before Ariana Grande took the stage. Grande’s rendition of Right There showcased a bright, pin-sharp vocal, though a mic issue briefly dimmed the moment, prompting her lighthearted remark about the technical setback before pressing on. She then moved through a string of favorites, including Last Christmas and Honeymoon Avenue, closing with The Way and leaving the audience energized by her quick recovery and confident delivery. The charm of Grande’s stage presence lay in how she turned a small stumble into a moment of personality that fans remembered long after the lights went down.
Last but not least, Miley Cyrus brought the show to a fever pitch with Party In The USA and We Can’t Stop, two tracks that transformed the floor into a high-energy dance floor. Her set culminated in an emotionally charged performance of Wrecking Ball, a moment that offered a softer counterpoint to the night’s non-stop tempo and showcased her ability to blend spectacle with vulnerability. The overall arc of the evening combined bold pop bravado with intimate, human moments, creating a holiday spectacle that resonated with a broad spectrum of listeners and set a festive tone for the season.
Despite the minor technical hiccups, the KIIS Jingle Ball kicked off the holiday period with a showcase of top-tier talent and dynamic stagecraft. The event demonstrated how a strong roster—paired with careful production and a little improvisation from the performers—can deliver an experience that feels both current and timeless. For fans across the United States and Canada, the night offered a memorable start to the season and a vivid reminder of the power of live music to unite audiences in celebration and song.