KCON LA 2026 has unveiled new details about this year’s festival, highlighting Wanna One’s return to the event after nine years, the KCON LA debuts of numerous artists across multiple genres, and exclusive collaboration stages set to take place during the three-day event in Los Angeles this August.
From Wanna One’s Return to Genre-Crossing Lineup Making KCON LA Debut
Wanna One returns to KCON LA for the first time since 2017. Nine years after the unforgettable KCON L.A. debut, and now reunited, the group’s return is set to be one of the emotional moments of the summer for K-Pop fans worldwide. They will perform on the first day of KCON LA 2026, on August 14.
True to KCON’s legacy of showcasing new K-Pop talent to a worldwide audience. KCON has a strong history of being the home for major K-Pop acts to perform early in their careers to superstardom, with acts like BTS, SEVENTEEN, ATEEZ, TWICE, and more all having graced the KCON stage over the years.
At KCON LA 2026, a genre-crossing lineup spanning K-Pop rookies, hip-hop and singer-songwriters will perform and connect with fans across the festival’s many stages. Artists making their KCON LA debut include ALPHA DRIVE ONE, Anderson . Paak, cosmosy, EVAN, H//PE Princess, ILLIT, KEYVITUP, KickFlip, KO1KEYZ, MODYSSEY, NEXZ, ONE PACT, RESCENE, SANTOS BRAVOS, So!YoON!, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, WING, and &TEAM.
Stages You Can Only See at KCON LA 2026
Some of this summer’s biggest musical moments will happen at KCON LA 2026 including EVAN’s first-ever performance in North America.
Among the newly announced special stages, ZEROBASEONE will perform their track “Exotic” for the first time anywhere in the world. KIM TAE RAE of ZEROBASEONE will cover IU’s “Love wins all,” whereas MEOVV will cover BLACKPINK’s “JUMP.” In the spirit of special collaborations, Anderson .Paak will take the stage at KCON LA 2026 for a first-ever performance with TAEYONG (from NCT), available only at this year’s festival, while ALPHA DRIVE ONE will partner with WING to deliver iconic stages that blend beatboxing and K-Pop performance. In addition, DREAM STAGE – one of KCON’s signature stages – will feature NCT 127, ILLIT, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER, offering fans a once-in-a-lifetime chance to share the stage with their favorite K-Pop artists, only at KCON LA 2026. Last but not least, a trio of M COUNTDOWN MCs – SO JUNG HWAN (TREASURE), PARK GUN WOOK (ZEROBASEONE), and Kyehoon (KickFlip) will come together for a special stage of their own at KCON LA 2026.
Taking place August 14–16, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena and the Los Angeles Convention Center, KCON LA 2026, with OLIVE YOUNG FESTA as its title sponsor, continues to elevate the fan experience as the world’s largest K-Festival that’s led K-Pop, K-culture, and K-Lifestyle globalization since 2012, bringing together some of the biggest names from across the Korean entertainment landscape for unique performances that cannot be seen anywhere else.
Under this year’s K-SOUL CITY theme, attendees will be invited to explore a vibrant cultural destination inspired by the energy and spirit of Seoul. This year’s KCON LA will also introduce a newly extended one-hour performance. This one-hour performance will apply to headline artists at M COUNTDOWN STAGE and ARTIST STAGE performers, offering fans a more exciting concert experience. For more than a decade, KCON has been at the forefront of evolving beyond a music festival into a comprehensive platform where fans can experience Korean culture and lifestyle in all its forms.