ZEROBASEONE → TOMORROW X TOGETHER Federal Reserve..'KCON LA 2026' Opening D-1, Key Viewing Points

*This content was translated by AI.

CJ ENM's global K-festival 'KCON LA 2026', which has continued since 2012, is drawing anticipation from K-culture fans worldwide as the event approaches its opening.

'KCON LA 2026' will be held from August 14 to 16 (U.S. local time) at the Los Angeles Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, USA. Last year, the City of Los Angeles officially designated 'KCON Day', adding symbolic significance as a Hyeon Ji (CEO) cultural event. This year, 'KCON LA 2026' will feature a diverse program where 36 acts—including globally renowned artists and actors—will communicate, participate, and enjoy together over three days. Beyond fans and artists, global companies, brands, and media gather at 'KCON LA 2026', a global comprehensive cultural platform. We highlight the 'Must-attend' viewing points that should not be missed at 'KCON LA 2026'.

◆ Gathering Global K-Lovers: 'K-SOUL CITY' Realized in LA's Hanbok Version, Showcasing the Essence of Every K Festival

'KCON LA 2026' will be designed as an urban festival space concentrating not only K-POP but also K-lifestyle, centered on this year's annual theme 'K-SOUL CITY'. At 'FESTIVAL GROUNDS' held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, programs allowing audiences to directly enjoy K-STORY, K-FOOD, and K-BEAUTY will be prepared, featuring space designs and photo zones reminiscent of Seoul night markets and major spots. This way, attendees will experience Korean culture comprehensively beyond just watching performances. The newly established K-STORY ZONE this year will unfold in an upgraded manner compared to previous years. A signature space where viewers can watch and enjoy videos together through an open-screen motif inspired by the Han River outdoor screening area has been previewed. Participatory content such as 'SING THE SCREEN', a high-density non-stop sing-along session allowing fans to freely indulge in the culture of group singing, 'WATCH PARTY' featuring actors Park Eun-bin, Lee Jun-hyuk, and Lee Sang-hyun, and 'BEYOND THE SCREEN' will also be expanded. Additionally, K-FOOD messenger chef Edward Lee will present a food talk connecting food, music, and fandom memories with ZEROBASEONE's Matthew through 'Edward Lee's Pocha Talk', a night market pocha concept.

◆ From Headliners to First Reveals, Collaborations, and Dream Stage… Limited Stages Unique to KCON Previewed

Stage performances featuring K-POP artists will also become more abundant. At the 'Festival Grounds' held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, an ▲ARTIST STAGE resembling solo concerts by artists, a ▲SHOWCASE where audiences can meet artists of various genres, and a ▲DANCE STAGE offering experiences in K-POP dance content such as cover dance challenges and random play dances will be prepared. The 'M COUNTDOWN STAGE' held over three days at Crypto.com Arena will feature pre-shows by next-generation rookie artists and opening stages incorporating K-culture elements to build excitement on-site first. Additionally, NCT 127, ZEROBASEONE, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER will appear as daily headliners, each presenting performances lasting approximately one hour, while numerous artists leading the K-POP scene will also take the stage to create fantastic performances. Exclusive reveals and special stages only available at KCON will continue. Wanna One, returning to KCON LA for the first time in nine years, will unveil their 'Spring Breeze' stage for the first time. Alongside this, they are expected to create a special moment with global Wannable fans by presenting 'Energetic' and 'Boomerang'. Furthermore, limited performances crossing genres and boundaries will unfold, including the first reveal of ZEROBASEONE's mini 6th album track 'Exotic', Federal Reserve (YEONJUN)'s 'Coma' stage as the opening act on the second day, a collaboration stage between world champion beatboxer WING and K-POP artists, and special stages by global dancers. In addition, ▲DREAM STAGE, KCON's signature content where dozens of fans selected through on-site auditions join NCT 127, ILLIT, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER to complete performances based on their hit songs, will be added, delivering unforgettable stage experiences.

◆ Beyond Music: Expanding into a Global Cultural Industry Platform with Positive Influence and Talent Discovery

'KCON LA 2026' is expected to become not only a platform introducing artists to global fans but also a venue for discovering talent that will lead the future of K-POP. Mnet's K-POP global girl group debut project <Girls Planet 2027> will operate 'Fast Track Audition in LA' at the KCON LA 2026 site, embarking on the discovery of next-generation global talent. Additionally, the program 'TOYOTA MUSIC DEN', which has continued to support new artist discovery and music education through collaborations with large-scale music festivals across various genres including 'Lollapalooza', will join as a showcase. Through diverse social contribution programs and collaborations, the positive influence inherent in K-culture will also be expanded. Continuing the girl education campaign conducted with UNESCO, this year will also feature collaborative performances with Boston Conservatory at Berklee.

Furthermore, brand programs familiar to global Gen-Z, such as global brands Sanrio, are added, demonstrating KCON's platform power through participation from global companies, brands, and media. Through 'OLIVE YOUNG FESTA at KCON LA 2026', representative products of 55 K-beauty and lifestyle brands and various experiential content will be presented. In addition, a total of over 100 companies and brands, including approximately 40 domestic SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) participating in 'K-COLLECTION with KCON LA 2026', are expected to fill the venue. While enhancing on-site experiences through digital queueing and other viewing convenience features via Mnet Plus, a global K-POP content platform, the event will also be broadcast worldwide through Mnet Plus and KCON's official YouTube channel, and can be viewed domestically via TVING.

Meanwhile, KCON has been held in 14 regions worldwide since its inception in Irvine, USA, in 2012, including Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas, recording a cumulative offline audience of approximately 2.35 million people. Through digital platforms, tens of millions of global fans have formed powerful fandoms transcending language and borders, establishing KCON as a unique platform supporting artists' and brands' global expansion. 'KCON LA 2026' will feature Olive Young Festa as the title sponsor and will be held over three days from August 14 to 16 at Crypto.com Arena and the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, USA.

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*This content was translated by AI.