[32] The 2008 festival was divided into segments based on themes starting with the letter "S," including "Super Rookie," "Sexy," "Star Wars," and "Stand up."

Performers included Big Bang, BoA, Brown Eyed Girls, Davichi, Epik High, Eun Ji-won, Jang Yun-jeong, Jewelry, Kara, Kim Jong-kook, Park Hyun-bin, Rain, Seo Taiji, SG Wannabe, Shinee, Son Dam-bi, Song Dae-kwan, Super Junior-H, Tae Jin-ah, Taeyeon, TVXQ, Wonder Girls, 2AM, and 2PM.

Park, Kara, Kim Tae-woo, K.Will, Lee Seung-gi, MBLAQ, Shinee, Son Dam-bi, Super Junior, Taeyang, T-ara, 2AM, 2PM, 2NE1, and 4Minute.

[35] The 2010 festival, entitled, "Welcome to Music Factory," included a collaborative performance of Britney Spears' song "Circus," featuring Taemin (Shinee), Seohyun (Girls' Generation), Jiyeon (T-ara), Chansung (2PM), Mir (MBLAQ), Sulli (F(x)), and Lizzy (After School), all of whom were the youngest members in their respective music groups.

[36] The 2011 edition of the festival was held at the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) on 29 December, under the theme of "K-pop Stars" and the Korean Wave.

SMTown presented a special stage with TVXQ and Kai, Luhan, Tao, and Chen of the agency's new boy group Exo, who would eventually debut in April of the following year.

Performers were TVXQ, Super Junior, Big Bang, Dynamic Duo, Epik High, f(x), Shinee, Ailee, B1A4, 2NE1, Secret, B.A.P, Sistar, T-ara, Glam, Teen Top, CN Blue, Exo, F.T.

There were four teams consisting of members from different idols groups labeled under the names of Mystic White, Dramatic Blue, Dynamic Black, and Dazzling Red, who sang songs created by the hottest producers of 2012.

[41] PD Kim Yong Kwon stated, "Since the top singers are gathering together for the year-end ceremony, we wanted to do something meaningful.

The collaboration song, "You Are A Miracle" has 125 participating singers, including Lee Seung Chul, Kim Jo Han, Park Jin Young, Tiger JK, Yoon Mirae, Lee Hyori, Sung Si Kyung, Kim Hee-chul, Brown Eyed Girls, K.Will, Sunmi, Big Bang, Kara, Girls' Generation, Shinee, 2PM, IU, After School, 2NE1, 4minute, f(x), Beast, CNBLUE, ZE:A, Infinite, Miss A, Teen Top, Girl's Day, Apink, B1A4, Ailee, Exo, B.A.P, and more.

[50] Performers:[51] Notes 2022's Gayo Daejeon was held on 24 December 2022,[52] and was hosted by SHINee's Key, Astro's Cha Eun-woo and Ive's An Yu-jin.

[57] Performers: Notes Different from previous years, 2024's Gayo Daejeon would be split into two parts based on summer and winter seasons.