#64: KCON LA 2026

The Selective Hearing team returns from KCON LA 2026 to discuss the entire weekend, from the convention floor and media experience to the KCON M!Countdown concerts.

In Episode 64, we compare this year’s KCON with previous editions, discuss the layout, crowds, booths, fan activities and artist interactions, and share which performances and unexpected discoveries stood out during the weekend.

We also take a broader look at KCON’s place in the K-pop landscape in 2026. With more K-pop artists touring North America than ever before, does KCON still serve the same purpose it once did? Is artist discovery still an important part of the experience? And what can KCON offer fans that individual tours cannot?

Finally, we give our overall verdict on KCON LA 2026, discuss what could be improved and whether we would return for KCON LA 2027.

Opening

• Introductions.
• What are you drinking?
• Light banter and catchup

Before KCON

• Expectations going into KCON 2026.
• What were you most interested in seeing or doing this year?
• Were there artists, panels or activities you had marked as priorities?
• Anything that immediately seemed different from previous KCONs?

Media / Press Experience

• Check-in and credentialing.
• Media orientation and communication.
• Press areas and working conditions. How was the cookie room this year?

KCON Convention Experience

• The 2026 experience vs. previous KCON experiences.
• Layout, crowds and organization.
• Booths, merchandise and giveaways.
• Fan activities and interactive experiences.
• Artist appearances on the convention floor.
• Favorite unexpected discovery.
• Anything that felt missing or underdeveloped.

KCON M!Countdown

• General thoughts about the lineup.
  • Special stages.
  • Favorite performances.
  • Biggest surprises.
  • Artists who exceeded expectations.
  • Artists you were already excited about who delivered.
• Collaborations, covers or special KCON stages.
• Production: sound, screens, lighting, staging and cameras.
• Best performance of the weekend.
• Best individual song/stage.
• Biggest surprise.
• Artist you want to see in a full concert now.

KCON as a K-Pop Event in 2026

• Does KCON still serve the same purpose it did several years ago?
• With so many K-pop groups touring North America now, how important is KCON?
• Is discovering artists still a major part of the experience?
• Is KCON primarily a convention, concert festival or a way of pushing various Korean products on attendees?
• What does KCON offer that individual tours cannot?

Was KCON 2026 Worth It?

Final Verdict

• Overall rating for KCON 2026.
• What could KCON improve?
• Would you attend KCON again?
• What would make you return in 2027?

• (00:00) - TAG
• (00:10) - INTRO
• (01:21) - WHAT U DRINKING?
• (04:12) - QUICK CATCH UP
• (10:50) - EXPECTATIONS FOR KCON 2026
• (20:17) - WHO DID YOU WANT TO SEE AT KCON 2026?
• (29:04) - THE KCON 2026 CONVENTION EXPERIENCE
• (41:28) - THE FOOD
• (47:32) - WHAT DID ELLIS PARTICIPATE IN?
• (53:48) - FAN ENGAGEMENT
• (01:04:06) - KCON M!COUNTDOWN
• (01:20:01) - WHO DO YOU WANT TO SEE MORE OF?
• (01:23:41) - DOES KCON STILL SERVE ITS PURPOSE?
• (01:31:32) - ELLIS GETS FIRED UP
• (01:35:33) - WAS KCON 2026 WORTH IT?
• (01:39:04) - WOULD YOU GO TO KCON AGAIN?
• (01:41:44) - WE WANT TRIPLES
• (01:43:50) - WILL THERE EVER BE A FEMALE HEADLINER?
• (01:44:54) - DOES KCON KNOW THEIR DEMOGRAPHIC?
• (01:49:30) - ONE REQUEST OF KCON
• (01:51:34) - CLOSING THOUGHTS