KCON LA 2026 Ends With 142,000 Attendees

CJ ENM said on Aug. 17 that KCON LA 2026, held Aug. 14–16 local time at the Los Angeles Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena, drew a cumulative 142,000 attendees.

The event, themed 'K-SOUL CITY,' was livestreamed online to about 250 regions worldwide. On site, a total of 144 companies and brands participated, operating 724 booths, and 36 teams, including K-pop artists and actors, took the stage.

The venue featured a variety of booths, including 'K-Collection (K-COLLECTION),' which showcased 40 Korean small and medium-sized enterprises, and the first U.S. edition of 'Olive Young Festa.' CJ CheilJedang brands such as Bibigo and Tous Les Jours also opened booths to display their products.

Korean actors appeared in person at the new K-content showcase space, the 'K-Story Zone.' Park Eun-bin from the drama 《Ossakhan Yeonae》, Lee Joon-hyuk from 《Lotto 1deungdo Chulgeunhamnida》, and Lee Sang-heon from 《XO, Kitty》 visited the venue to view video screenings and speak with the audience.

The nighttime music concert 'M Countdown Stage' featured performances by NCT 127, ZEROBASEONE and TOMORROW X TOGETHER, among others. The event also included a 'Dream Stage' program in which pre-selected audience members danced on stage alongside the artists.

Shin Hyeong-gwan, head of CJ ENM's music content business division, said, "We will continue to serve as a global platform that promotes artists and content across diverse genres, as well as companies and brands."