Ceremony (Stray Kids song)

"Ceremony"
Maximum Power Remixes cover
Single by Stray Kids
from the album Karma
Language	Korean English
Released	August 22, 2025
Studio	JYP (Seoul) Channie's "Room" (Seoul)
Genre	EDM trap baile funk
Length	2:44
Label	JYP Republic
Composer(s)	Bang Chan Changbin Han Versachoi
Lyricist(s)	Bang Chan Changbin Han
Stray Kids singles chronology
"Hollow" (2025) "Ceremony" (2025)
Music video
"Ceremony" on YouTube

"Ceremony" is a song by South Korean boy band Stray Kids from their fourth Korean-language studio album Karma (2025). It was released as the album's lead single through JYP Entertainment and Republic Records on August 22, 2025. The futuristic-sport-themed music video features a cameo from professional gamer Faker.

Background and release

Stray Kids announced their fourth Korean-language studio album Karma , set to be released on August 22, 2025. It accompanied by the sport-themed trailer depicting the members as a champion attending the "Karma Sports" competition in 2081, which spoiled some music. ^[1] The band revealed the album's track list four days later, confirming "Ceremony" as its lead single, alongside the "Festival" and English versions, ^[2] which was selected among the candidates "Creed", "In My Head", "Phoenix", and "Half Time". ^[3] Two remix EPs, titled Maximum Power Remixes and Celebrate Remixes, were released on August 25 and August 29, respectively. ^[4]

Composition

"Ceremony" was written by Stray Kids' in-house production team 3Racha–Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han–and co-composed with Versachoi as a "gift" to their fans. ^[5] Musically, the song is an EDM trap and baile funk track, expressing celebrations of the achievement and success forged through perseverance and hard work, as well as the journey of overcoming obstacles. ^[6] Rooted on sports culture, the song likens the group as athletes fighting for hard-earned wins. ^[7] In Intro: Karma video, Stray Kids described "Ceremony" as a celebration of their Dominate World Tour, which set various records, and returning to South Korea in triumph. ^[8]

Music video

South Korean professional gamer Faker (pictured) cameos on the "Ceremony" music video.

An accompanying music video for "Ceremony", directed by Seong Won-mo and produced by Digipedi, premiered on August 22, 2025, ^[9] concurrently with its parent album, preceded by two teaser videos. ^{[10] [11]} According to the group, the music video was inspired by stadiums where they previously held the concert, and "subversively expresses the image of multiple players as a team, giving their all in their respective positions toward the same goal." ^[12]

The video depicts each member in various sports with some physically impossible moves in futuristic landscape: mixed martial arts, tennis, car and motorcycle racing, American football, association football, basketball, b-boying, baseball, and table tennis. ^{[13] [14]} The scene also alternates to the group dancing, choreographed by We Dem Boyz, in futuristic sets. ^{[15] [16]} At the end of the video, it cameos professional gamer Faker, who was previously mentioned on the band's song "Hall of Fame". ^[17] He briefly appears as a gamer who controls all the sporting events in the video and doing his "shh" pose. ^{[18] [19]}

Live performances

Since the release, Stray Kids promoted "Ceremony" at music programs: Music Bank , ^{[20] [21]} Show! Music Core , ^{[22] [23]} Inkigayo , ^{[24] [25]} and M Countdown . ^[26] The group also sung the song as part of Stray Kids' medley at the web show Killing Voice. ^[27] The band will perform the song outside South Korea for the first time at the 2025 The Fact Music Awards, to hold in Macau on September 25. ^[28]

Accolades

Music program awards for "Ceremony"

Program	Date	Ref.
Inkigayo	August 31, 2025	[29]
M Countdown	August 28, 2025	[30]
	September 4, 2025	[31]
Music Bank	August 29, 2025	[32]
Show Champion	September 3, 2025	[33]
Show! Music Core	August 30, 2025	[34]

Track listing

• Digital download and streaming – Maximum Power Remixes

1. "Ceremony" – 2:44
2. "Ceremony" (Karma version) – 2:51
3. "Ceremony" (sped up version) – 2:19
4. "Ceremony" (slowed down version) – 3:04
5. "Ceremony" (instrumental version) – 2:44

• Digital download and streaming – Celebrate Remixes

1. "Ceremony" – 2:44
2. "Ceremony" (Hip Hip version; English version) – 2:38
3. "Ceremony" (Hooray version; English version) – 3:04
4. "Ceremony" (English version) – 2:44
5. "Ceremony" (Festival version; English version) – 2:52

Credits and personnel

Personnel

• Stray Kids – lead vocals, background vocals
  • Bang Chan (3Racha) – lyrics, composition, arrangement, instruments, computer programming, vocal direction, recording, digital editing
  • Changbin (3Racha) – lyrics, composition, vocal direction
  • Han (3Racha) – lyrics, composition, vocal direction
• Versachoi – composition, arrangement, instruments, computer programming, vocal direction
• Eom Se-hee – recording
• Jang Woo-young – digital editing
• Manny Marroquin – mixing
• Chris Galland – mix engineering
  • Ben Rugg – assistant
• Kwon Nam-woo – mastering

Locations

• JYP Studios – recording
• Channie's "Room" – recording
• Larrabee Studios – mixing
• 821 Sound Mastering – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Ceremony" Chart (2025) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [35] 36 Brazil (Brasil Hot 100) [36] 68 Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [37] 64 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) [38] 17 France (SNEP) [39] 80 Germany (GfK) [40] 38 Global 200 ( Billboard ) [41] 10 Hong Kong ( Billboard ) [42] 18 Ireland (IRMA) [43] 69 Japan (Japan Hot 100) [44] 28 Japan Combined Singles (Oricon) [45] 19 Malaysia International (RIM) [46] 19 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [47] 65 New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [48] 10 Portugal (AFP) [49] 70 Russia Streaming (TopHit) [50] 71 Singapore (RIAS) [51] 19 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) [52] 77 South Korea (Circle) [53] 17 Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan) [54] 4 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [55] 62 Taiwan ( Billboard ) [56] 7 UK Singles (OCC) [57] 37 UK Indie (OCC) [58] 6 US Billboard Hot 100 [59] 52 US Hot Dance/Pop Songs ( Billboard ) [60] 3 US World Digital Song Sales ( Billboard ) [61] 1

Monthly charts Monthly chart performance for "Ceremony" Chart (2025) Peak position Russia Streaming (TopHit) [62] 80

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Ceremony"

Region	Date	Format	Version	Label	Ref.
Various	August 22, 2025	Digital download streaming	Original Festival English	JYP Republic	[63]
	August 24, 2025	Digital download	Original Karma sped up slowed down instrumental		[64]
	August 25, 2025	Digital download streaming	Maximum Power Remixes
	August 29, 2025	Digital download streaming	Celebrate Remixes

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