CJ ENM announced on Monday that NCT 127, aespa, MonstaX, and Key have been added to the prestigious lineup of KCON L.A., further enriching an already star-studded event. Joining them are the dynamic duo Hoshi and Woozi of Seventeen (HxW), the charismatic girl groups IVE and NMIXX, and the promising boy bands Zerobaseone and P1Harmony, who were announced earlier as part of the initial wave of artists for this much-anticipated festival.
KCON, the preeminent K-pop festival globally, is gearing up to return to the vibrant heart of downtown Los Angeles, encompassing the Los Angeles Convention Center and the Crypto.com Arena for a thrilling three-day extravaganza. This reunion promises local K-Pop enthusiasts an unparalleled opportunity to witness a myriad of their beloved acts all under one roof. Historically, the festival has followed a tradition of hosting daytime activities at the convention center, before escorting eager ticket-holders across the street to the arena for mesmerizing nighttime concerts.
This year, KCON L.A. introduces the concept of "festival grounds," aiming to elevate the content and immersive experience for attendees, as revealed in an official statement. With a theme titled "Klover’s Club Fair," inspired by the symbolism of a four-leaf clover, the festival's parent company hopes to bring an aura of luck and joy to all participants.
The festival will once again harness the power of multiple stages, including the artist stage, meet and greet stage, X stage, and M Countdown (named after Mnet’s music program, owned by CJ). The artist and meet and greet stages will serve as avenues for fans to come face-to-face with their idols, while the X stage will shine a spotlight on burgeoning talents. Detailed stage-by-stage programming will be unveiled at a later time.
In addition to NCT 127, aespa, Monsta X, and Key, the latest wave of performers boasts Choi Hojung, Hwasa, Kiss of Life, Meovv, NowADays, Riize, and Yuqi. Earlier announcements had included HxW, IVE, NMIXX, P1Harmony, Zerobaseone, Cravity, J-Pop groups IS:SUE and JO1, rapper Lee Youngji, and singer-songwriter Roy Kim.
Last year's festival set a new benchmark in scale, with its final concert segment, M Countdown, being broadcast live on The CW, marking a historic first for a K-Pop performance to air during primetime national television. Actress Awkwafina made a memorable guest appearance, hosting solo and alongside NCT 127 members Johnny and Mark.
Mark your calendars for KCON L.A., set to captivate audiences from August 1-3. Further details on ticket sales, the exact festival schedule, and additional artists will be forthcoming in due course.
