DxS [SERENADE] ON STAGE — Macau

Basic Information

Note: DxS was initially introduced as a 3-member unit with Woozi/DK/SEUNGKWAN, but officially it is a 2-member unit of 도겸 (DK) × 승관 (SEUNGKWAN) (unit debut on January 12, 2026 with the mini-album 'Serenade'). Woozi is involved on the production side but is not a stage member.

Macau Concert's Position in the SERENADE ON STAGE Tour

DxS's debut tour "SERENADE ON STAGE" covers 5 cities across Asia (Incheon / Chiba / Daegu / Macau / Kaohsiung), and Macau is the 4th major venue in Asia. It is particularly positioned as a hub for CARATe (SEVENTEEN's fandom name) from the Chinese-speaking world and Southeast Asia to gather, and historically SEVENTEEN's Macau concerts have tended to attract fans from "mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and Japan all at once."

The Venetian Arena has been Cotai's flagship arena since its opening in 2007, hosting legendary K-acts such as BTS, EXO, G-Dragon, Girls' Generation, and Super Junior. Renovated in 2024, the name was changed from the former "Cotai Arena" to "The Venetian Arena." Lighting, acoustics, and seat design have been refreshed, and visibility and sound quality are expected to have improved compared to before.

Musical Characteristics of the DxS Unit

DxS is a "Ballad + Quiet Anthem" specialist unit by DK × SEUNGKWAN, known as SEVENTEEN's top vocal duo. The 6-track mini-album 'Serenade' is as follows:

1. Rockstar (DK solo)
2. Blue (title track)
3. Guilty Pleasure
4. Silence
5. Dream Serenade (SEUNGKWAN solo)
6. Prelude of Love

The Korean title of the unit name "소야곡 (Soyagok / Nocturne)" literally means "Serenade / Nocturne." As the title suggests, the musical axis is a quiet stillness that captures the night × dramatic high notes.

Setlist & Stage Production Predictions (Predictions Only)

⚠️ The following are predictions from before the setlist information for this tour has been confirmed. Please be sure to recheck official Weverse/X just before the concert for confirmed information.

• First Half: Full performance of all 6 tracks from the 'Serenade' EP (Blue / Guilty Pleasure / Silence, etc.)
• Middle: Predicted to be vocal arrangements of SEVENTEEN main tracks (e.g., reinterpretations of ballad/mid-tempo songs like Fear / Home;Run / BEAUTIFUL)
• Latter Half: Solo stages (DK = high-note rock style, SEUNGKWAN = musical style) + cover songs
• Encore: Prelude of Love / Dream Serenade / sections for sing-alongs with CARATe
• Talk Ratio: Since it's Fan-Con format, MC time expected to be 20-30% more than a regular concert. Trilingual guidance in 한국어→English→Chinese, familiar to CARATe in the Chinese-speaking world, is expected as usual

The Audience This Concert "Hits"

• 📻 Vocal-focused CARATe who crave pure vocal performances and harmonies more than SEVENTEEN's heavy performance tracks
• 🎭 Listeners who know DK and SEUNGKWAN through the musical/Korean drama OST context
• ✈️ Mid-to-advanced expedition fans who want to combine Macau World Heritage sightseeing + K-concert travel

This is a concert completely different in energy from the main WORLD TOUR — approach it as "going to listen to their voices."

3-Route Sales Channel Comparison

Weverse Presale

For other cities on this tour, the order has been Weverse presale → local general sales. The Macau concert is expected to follow the same pattern.

Advance Preparation (Be sure to do 3 days before):

1. Verify the validity of CARAT Membership (Global or Korea)
2. Update the Weverse app to the latest version
3. Register credit card information in your Weverse wallet in advance
4. Pre-enter passport information (romanized name and number)
5. Turn off VPN (Weverse dislikes VPNs)

Cotai Ticketing (Local General Sale)

Official: cotaiticketing.com

• Payment: Visa / Mastercard / UnionPay / AlipayHK, etc.
• Collection: Online ticketing or venue box office (recommended to collect at least 1 hour before the show starts)
• When collecting, be sure to present the "actual card used for purchase + actual passport"

⚠️ Past Cases: At the 2024 SEVENTEEN Macau concert, 25+ ticket fraud incidents were reported to the Macau Judiciary Police. Anyone approaching you outside Cotai Ticketing to "sell" tickets should be considered a scam with no exceptions.

Price Range (Average for K-acts at this venue in recent years)

💡 Since DxS is a vocal unit where the concert is more about "listening" than MV production, mid-level B seats with optimal acoustics are expected to be the sweet spot. Aiming for center-back areas while avoiding the VIP rush is also valid.

Day-of Purchase Action Flow

T-30min : Logged into Weverse/Cotai Ticketing and waiting
T-15min : Payment card pre-entered in browser (autofill)
T-5min  : Secure 2 connections (Wi-Fi + mobile SIM)
T-0min  : Sales open → Select category → Quantity (usually 1-2) → Payment
T+3min  : Confirmation email arrives → Be sure to screenshot it

Common Traps

• Cotai Ticketing does not allow guest purchases → Register an account in advance
• Payment currencies MOP and HKD are treated as 1:1 (Macau Pataca = Hong Kong Dollar equivalent)
• Weverse requires an exact match of romanized passport name including uppercase/lowercase
• If collecting tickets at the venue, you cannot receive them without the physical card (proxy collection generally not allowed)

What to Do with Leftover Tickets

If you cannot travel, Cotai Ticketing generally does not allow cancellation or name changes. Official resale platforms are not well-established, so if you cannot go, it essentially means a confirmed loss. Therefore, the golden rule is to purchase tickets after securing flights and hotels.

Why Ticket Resale Scams Are Rampant at Macau Concerts

Macau's concert ticket system has a structural weakness: the real-name system + facial recognition system like that used in Korea and Japan has not been established. While "real-name system introduction" has been discussed in the Macau Legislative Assembly, as of April 2026, comprehensive real-name verification has not been implemented.

This "weakness in identity verification" creates the following vicious cycle:

① Fans >>> Seats (14,000 seats)
    ↓
② Brokers make mass bot purchases
    ↓
③ Resold at 10x price on SNS (Instagram / Xiaohongshu / WeChat)
    ↓
④ Scams mix in due to weak identity verification
    ↓
⑤ Victims who "can't enter" on concert day continue to emerge

Actual Damage Cases (2024 SEVENTEEN Main Unit Macau Concert)

• 25+ ticket-related fraud reports filed with the Macau Judiciary Police
• The most common method was "sent money after someone on Instagram DM said they'd sell, then went silent"
• Damage per ticket: HKD 3,000–8,000 (approx. 57,000–152,000 yen)
• In some cases, perpetrators were cross-border fraud groups from Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Thailand, etc.

The "Difficulty in Spotting" Resale Tickets

Market Rate (Not Recommended — Reality Only)

⚠️ The following describes "an existing reality" and kpop-ticket.com does not recommend purchasing through secondary markets at all. For reference only.

• English-speaking secondary markets like Viagogo / StubHub: 1.5x to 4x the face value is the median. Name mismatch risk exists given Macau ticketing rules
• Xiaohongshu / Xianyu (Idle Fish): For Chinese-speaking CARATe. Direct transactions so the highest concentration of scams
• Twitter (X) "#DxS Selling" type hashtags: Close to face value, but risk of overseas wire transfer with unknown individuals remains

The "Right Way to Give Up" When You Can't Go

1. Contact Cotai Ticketing customer support (+853 2882 8818) — though cancellation is generally not available
2. Check if travel insurance's "cancellation clause" applies (conditions such as illness or family bereavement)
3. If transferring to someone on SNS, be sure to do it "at face value + handling fee only," "not QR but accompany to the window"

🛡 Checklist to Avoid Scams

• ✅ Don't buy from anyone other than Weverse or Cotai Ticketing
• ✅ Assume "individual transactions" and "advance payment" are 100% scams
• ✅ Leave immediately if asked for bank transfer instead of card payment
• ✅ Treat anyone approaching you on SNS DMs with "I have extras" as zero credibility
• ✅ Even "physical handover in front of the venue" carries copied QR risk, be careful
• ✅ If alternatives are truly needed, use guaranteed secondary markets like Viagogo only (name mismatch risk still remains)

💬 Conclusion: Macau is a venue where "the moment you deviate from official channels, the risk skyrockets" due to its ticketing system. The basic stance should be: couldn't get tickets at face value = giving up this time.

The Venetian Arena Basic Structure

The Venetian Arena (formerly Cotai Arena) is a multi-purpose arena located within the Venetian Macao integrated resort. With the 2024 renovation, seating was optimized to 14,000 seats and optimized for the standard K-pop arena concert layout.

            [ Stage (South Side) ]
       ┌──────────────────────┐
       │    Floor A / VIP     │
       │                      │
       │    Floor B           │
       ├──────────────────────┤
       │ Side Stands (East/West) │
       ├──────────────────────┤
       │ Back Stand (North)   │
       └──────────────────────┘
              (Main Lobby)

View and Acoustics Rating by Category (Predictions Based on DxS Ballad Concert)

A "Choose by Sound" Perspective Unique to Ballad Units

DxS is a vocal unit. Unlike hip-hop concerts that rely on subwoofers, the clearness of mid-to-high frequencies and spatial resolution determine the quality of the experience. Therefore at the Macau arena:

• ✅ Floor A center to Lower Bowl front center: Sound field forms cleanly
• ✅ Position not directly looking up from under the speaker cluster (center of floor rows 5–15)
• ❌ Floor front edge against the wall: Tends to have muddy reverb
• ❌ Upper Bowl last rows: Sound positioning tends to collapse due to ceiling reflections

Need for Binoculars

• VIP / Floor A front → Not needed
• Floor rear / Lower Bowl → 8x magnification allows you to see expressions
• Upper Bowl → 10x essential

💡 Compact monoculars that can be carried on planes (Kenko, Vixen, Pentax models under 300g) are a staple for expedition fans.

Entry Gates and Seat Access Flow

1. Enter the arena from Level 1 (Ground Floor) of Venetian Macao
2. Security check (baggage X-ray + confiscation of PET bottles)
3. Ticket QR scan → Passport verification
4. Guided to the gate according to seat category
5. Arriving 60 minutes before the show starts is ideal (merchandise, toilets, and currency exchange take time)

Prohibited Items (Usual Rules for This Venue)

• ❌ Outside food and drinks (including PET bottles)
• ❌ DSLR cameras and telephoto lenses (telephoto over 200mm is generally confiscated)
• ❌ Name boards and banners larger than A3 size
• ⭕ Smartphone photography (no flash, no commercial use)
• ⭕ Cheering light sticks (official merchandise recommended)

Japan → Macau Overall Route Comparison

① Direct Flight (First Recommendation)

• Kansai → Macau: Air Macau (NX) operates daily, approx. 4 hours
• Narita → Macau: Some seasonally reduced flights. Peach (MM) offers budget-friendly options
• Arrival airport: Macau International Airport (MFM) — 10 minutes by taxi / 15 minutes by free shuttle to the Cotai area
• After arrival, free shuttle buses to Venetian Macao depart from outside the Arrivals hall (10:00–22:30, every 15–20 minutes)

② Via Hong Kong Ferry Route (Classic Route)

Upon arriving at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), you can use "Upstream Check-in" to board a ferry directly without going through immigration:

1. Arrive at HKIA (T1)
2. Follow signs "Ferries to Mainland/Macau" to Terminal E2
3. Purchase tickets at Cotai Water Jet or TurboJET counter
4. Board directly without Hong Kong immigration in the same area (※30 min before for carry-on only, 60 min before for checked baggage)
5. Arrive at Macau Taipa Ferry Terminal (Cotai) in approx. 65 minutes
6. Go through Macau immigration (Japanese passport exempt from visa for 90 days)
7. After arriving at Taipa, board the free shuttle to "Venetian Macao" (approx. 10 minutes)

Operating Companies:

• Cotai Water Jet (cotaiwaterjet.com) — Shortest to Venetian. Arrives at Taipa
• TurboJET (turbojet.com.hk) — Also has routes arriving at Macau Peninsula (Outer Harbour)

Fare Estimate: HKD 175–260 (approx. 3,300–5,000 yen)

③ Hong Kong to Macau HZMB Direct Bus

Buses via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB), opened in 2018, are also an option.

• Macau HK Airport Direct: HKIA → Venetian direct, approx. 60–75 minutes, around HKD 160
• Cheaper than ferry, less affected by weather
• However, the operation of alighting → immigration → re-boarding at the border is somewhat complicated

Within Macau: Final Access to The Venetian

Pattern A: Arriving at Taipa Ferry

• Board the free shuttle heading to "Venetian Macao" from outside the terminal
• Every 5–20 minutes, approx. 10 minutes
• After alighting, take escalators from the lobby towards the arena

Pattern B: Arriving at Macau Airport

• Outside Arrivals, take the free shuttle "Venetian Macao"
• 10:00–22:30, every 15–20 minutes, approx. 15 minutes

Pattern C: Arriving at Macau Peninsula (Outer Harbour Ferry, etc.)

• Free shuttle to Venetian from the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal
• Approx. 30 minutes

Day-of Concert Timeline (Recommended)

⚠️ Watch out for the last ferry: Cotai Water Jet's Taipa → Hong Kong flights run until approximately 23:59, but it gets congested immediately after the concert ends. If you're aiming to return to Hong Kong on the day, advance booking is essential.

3-Area Comparison

① Cotai District: The Optimal Solution Directly Connected to the Venue

🏨 The Venetian Macao (Main Hotel — Within the Venue)

• Grand hotel with all-suite rooms (40m² or more)
• Directly above the venue, 0 minutes walk
• Price: HKD 1,800–3,800 (approx. 34,000–72,000 yen)
• For K-pop expedition fans, the peace of mind from the shortest route + ability to store luggage after checkout
• Surprisingly good value when split between 2 people

🏨 The Parisian Macao (Adjacent to Venetian)

• Luxury hotel themed after Paris
• 5 minutes walk to the venue via internal Venetian walkway
• Price: HKD 1,500–2,800
• Eiffel Tower observation deck attached

🏨 The Londoner Macao (Formerly Sheraton — Within Walking Distance)

• Fully rebranded in 2021, the newest luxury-grade hotel in Cotai
• 10 min walk to Venetian or free shuttle
• Price: HKD 1,600–2,900

🏨 Galaxy Macau (Across the Street — 15 min walk)

• Integrated resort housing Banyan Tree, Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, etc.
• For cost-conscious visitors, Broadway Macau (same group) can be found for HKD 800–1,200

② Macau Peninsula: For Sightseeing and Budget-Conscious Visitors

⚠️ From the peninsula to Cotai: Taxi costs MOP 100–150 (approx. 1,900–2,900 yen), taking about 20 minutes. Taxis are hard to catch late at night after the concert ends, so prepare apps like Uber/Manda in advance.

③ Should You Stay in Hong Kong?

Advantages of staying in Hong Kong:

• Can also enjoy Hong Kong sightseeing
• If flights are unified as Hong Kong departures/arrivals, airfare can be cheaper
• Overwhelming number of hotel choices

Disadvantages (Important):

• If you miss the last ferry from Macau → Hong Kong after the concert, you'll arrive the next morning
• Border crossing times are unpredictable (crowded at night)
• OK as pre-concert accommodation, but high risk as accommodation on the day of the concert

💡 Practical Conclusion: If it's your first Macau trip, 2 nights at Venetian Macao main hotel or The Londoner main hotel including the day after the concert is the safest option and also secures sightseeing time.

Booking Timing and Cautions

• The golden rule is to book within 3 days of the concert announcement. Rooms inside the Venetian sell out quickly
• Compare all 4 sites simultaneously: Expedia / Booking / Agoda / local official
• "Tour + ticket" bundle products are useful as information sources, but pricing individual components is often cheaper
• Cancellation policy: Choose Flexible Rate (if the difference is around 3,000 yen, use it as insurance)
• Luggage storage on checkout day is possible at the bell desk until after the concert that day (Venetian group)

Basic Structure of Macau Tourism

Macau has a bipolar structure: ① Macau Peninsula (history, World Heritage) and ② Taipa/Cotai Island (integrated resorts, casinos). From Cotai where the concert venue is, the peninsula is about 20 minutes by taxi, around MOP 100.

One-Day Model Course (Day Before or After the Concert)

09:00  Depart from hotel → Take taxi to Senado Square
09:30  Senado Square (World Heritage, Portuguese-style cobblestones)
10:00  St. Dominic's Church → Ruins of St. Paul's (walk up the slope)
11:00  Monte Fort (adjacent to St. Paul's) for city panorama
12:00  Lunch of egg tarts & Portuguese food on Rua da Palha (大三巴街)
13:30  Rua da Felicidade (retro red-walled alley) → A-Ma Temple (World Heritage)
15:00  Take taxi to Taipa Village
15:30  Stroll through Taipa Old Town (pastel-colored rows of houses)
17:00  Return to Venetian, Grand Canal waterway & gondola
19:00  Food court inside the hotel or dinner

Macau Peninsula: Must-Visit World Heritage Sites

🏛 Ruins of St. Paul's

Macau's greatest icon. Construction began in 1602 on this Jesuit church, and the front facade has remained as ruins since the fire of 1835.

• Connection to Japan: Many Japanese Christian craftsmen participated in construction. Carlo Spinola, a Japanese man who fled persecution to Macau, is said to have worked on the facade's carvings. Japanese cultural motifs like chrysanthemums and peonies remain on the facade
• Free admission, the underground Museum of Sacred Art is also worth visiting

🏛 Senado Square

The central square from the Portuguese colonial era. The wave-pattern cobblestones (calçada) and rows of pastel-colored buildings are perfect for photos. Night illuminations are also beautiful. Historic buildings like Leal Senado, Holy House of Mercy, and the Post Office are concentrated around it.

🏛 A-Ma Temple (Templo de A-Má)

A shrine dedicated to A-Ma, the sea goddess said to be the origin of the name "Macau." Founded in the Ming dynasty in 1488. One of the 25 components of the World Heritage "Historic Centre of Macao."

Cotai District: Integrated Resorts and Casino Culture

5 Must-Try Macau Foods

1. Cafe e Nata Margaret's — The holy ground of egg tarts. Walking distance from Senado Square. MOP 10–
2. Lord Stow's Bakery — The main store in Coloane Village, the pinnacle of the simple style
3. Restaurante Litoral — Authentic Macanese cuisine (African Chicken, Portuguese wine sauce)
4. Wong Chi Kei (黄枝記) — 100-year-old wonton noodles at Senado Square. Open until late at night
5. Robuchon au Dôme — 58th floor of Grand Lisboa, Michelin 3-star French (splurge for a special occasion)

Combination Patterns for Concert Travel and Sightseeing

Pattern A: 1 Night 2 Days (Whirlwind)

• Arrive midday on Day 1 → Cotai sightseeing & concert → Return home next morning
• Skip World Heritage. Only the Venetian interior and Taipa

Pattern B: 2 Nights 3 Days (Standard) 🌟

• Day 1: Arrival & concert
• Day 2: Peninsula World Heritage + Taipa
• Day 3: Cotai stroll & return home

Pattern C: 3 Nights 4 Days (Combined with Hong Kong)

• 2 nights Macau + 1 night Hong Kong (going or returning)
• Combine with Hong Kong Disneyland / Tsim Sha Tsui / Causeway Bay shopping

💡 The DxS concert is expected to be on Saturday (6/6). A 5-day, 4-night "Thu-Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon" itinerary of arriving Thursday → concert Saturday → sightseeing Sunday → return home Monday morning is the best balance for working people.

📋 Two Weeks Before Departure

• Passport remaining validity: Must have at least 90 days remaining from the date of entry into Macau
• Flight booking (direct or via Hong Kong)
• Hotel booking (Flexible Rate recommended)
• Ticket acquisition (Weverse / Cotai Ticketing)
• Travel insurance enrollment (Not just credit card coverage — with cancellation clause is ideal)
• Selection of eSIM or Wi-Fi router

💴 Currency & Exchange

Macau's official currency is the Macanese Pataca (MOP), but Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) is accepted at virtually 1:1 practically everywhere.

Recommended Budget (2 nights 3 days, per person):

• Meals: HKD 800–1,500 (approx. 15,000–29,000 yen)
• Transportation: HKD 200–400
• Souvenirs & miscellaneous: HKD 500+
• Total cash: Aim for HKD 2,000 (approx. 38,000 yen)

📱 Communications: eSIM is the Best

💡 Choosing an eSIM that works in both Macau and Hong Kong means no disconnection during the ferry transfer.

✈️ Immigration Procedures

Japan → Macau Direct

• No landing card required (digitized since 2024)
• For smooth passage, do the facial photo registration at the staffed counter once before the automatic gates (e-Channel)
• 90-day visa-exempt stay is permitted

Via Hong Kong

• If taking the ferry without going through Hong Kong immigration at HKIA, Hong Kong is transit only
• Go through Macau immigration at the Macau side

Essential Items to Carry

• ✅ Passport (90+ days remaining)
• ✅ Return flight or ticket to next destination / ferry ticket
• ✅ Hotel reservation confirmation for Macau stay
• ⭕ Cash approx. HKD 2,000 (for presentation when requested)

🎫 Items to Bring on Concert Day

• Ticket QR (smartphone + print out just in case)
• Physical passport (required for identity verification)
• Credit card used to purchase the ticket (may need to present when collecting)
• Portable battery (10,000mAh recommended)
• Light stick (official)
• Binoculars (Lower Bowl and beyond)
• Light snacks / water (can purchase inside, outside food restrictions apply)
• Light jacket (air conditioning gets cold)
• Earplugs (for sound pressure protection, Loop Experience, etc.)

🏥 Health & Safety

• Climate (June): Temperature 27–31°C, humidity over 80%. Frequent squalls → Folding umbrella essential
• Infection prevention: As of 2026, COVID entry restrictions into Macau have been lifted
• Emergency contacts:
  • 🚨 Macau Police / Ambulance: 999
  • 🚨 Japanese Consulate (covering Hong Kong and Macau): +852-2522-1184
• Medical special clause of travel insurance: Be sure to enroll. Medical bills for illness or injury can reach hundreds of thousands to millions of yen

🧳 Suitcase Optimization

• Since returning from Cotai is via free shuttle → airport, a 20–23kg carrier is sufficient
• Leave space for merchandise such as concert T-shirts and light sticks when departing
• If the flight is LCC (Peach, etc.), save a few thousand yen by pre-paying for checked baggage fees

🎁 Standard Souvenirs

• 🥮 Almond cookies (long-established shops like Koi Kei / Choi Heong Yuen)
• 🍰 Portuguese-style egg tarts (refrigeration required, so purchase on the last day)
• ☕ Portuguese coffee and olive oil (available inside the Venetian)
• 🧴 Macau-exclusive LUSH / Jo Malone (duty-free prices at Cotai are a good deal)

🏁 Final Pre-Departure Check (Night Before)

• Save passport, flight ticket, ticket QR to smartphone
• Download hotel reservation confirmation PDF (so it can be opened offline)
• Register local contacts (hotel, consulate) in smartphone contacts
• Fully charge credit card, smartphone, and portable battery
• Confirm you're logged into Weverse / Cotai Ticketing app with the email address you'll use on the day
• Share meeting time, location, and hotel information with your travel companions

---

💬 Finally

The DxS Macau concert has the potential to be the most emotionally powerful night of the June 2026 Asian K-pop expedition for vocal-focused CARATe. The World Heritage streets, the sparkle of the integrated resort, and the sound of DK and SEUNGKWAN's voices echoing through The Venetian Arena — go in with the mindset of 80% preparation, 20% day-of, and have an expedition with no regrets.

Safely, joyfully, and true to CARAT. 🌙