KCON LA 2025 performers 82MAJOR performs during MBC music program 'Show Champion' at MBC Dream ... More Center on May 22, 2024 in Goyang, South Korea. (Photo by MBCPLUS/Imazins via Getty Images) ImaZins via Getty Images KCON has long been the barometer for showcasing what’s next in K-pop. Now, the world’s biggest K-culture festival amplifies that mission by announcing the addition of the X Stage, a dedicated live platform for rising talent at its upcoming Los Angeles event to bolster the lineup to a massive 33 artists. Dubbed the “SHOWCASE on X Stage,” this stage will provide newly debuted idol groups and up-and-coming soloists the opportunity to perform for international fans, some on U.S. soil for the very first time. Throughout the festival’s August 1-3 dates, the LA Convention Center’s West Hall transforms into a special area to connect with these acts while also serving as a discovery zone for 10 artists leading a new wave of K-pop talent. The Debut Lineup for KCON LA 2025’s X STAGE: 82MAJOR: The six-member boy band who debuted in 2023 and made their U.S. Billboard chart debut late last year with the release of their EP, X-82, following its release in the States NEWBEAT: The seven-member boy band from BEAT Interactive that made a major musical statement by debuting with their impressive full-length album, RAW AND RAD, this past March ifeye: A girl group whose name stands for “Imagine & Find, Energetic Young Eyes,” the sextet just arrived on the K-pop scene in April with their debut single “NERDY” released in Korean and English HITGS: The five-member girl group who also just debuted in April and dropped their first comeback single, “GROSS,” earlier this week Kik5o: A female soloist known for a distinctive sonic identity who dropped her latest single, “VITAL CHECK,” with fellow solo star and previous KCON performer AleXa in April from20, Hello Gloom, Lim Sejun, Kang Yunchan: A quartet of soloists under the WAY BETTER label, who each bring their own stylistic flair seen in singles from this year like from20’s “Eye Candy” and “Summer” by Lim Sejun. This is also be Kang Yuchan’s first appearance as a soloist at KCON after performing with his boy band A.C.E just last year So Soo Bin: An emerging singer-songwriter backed by KCON producer CJ Corporation and its Cultural Foundation’s Tune Up, a support program for musicians to enrich and share arts programs in culturally marginalized areas to engage a broader and more diverse audience For those keeping track, the 33 artists coming to KCON LA this year will be including Hwasa, Jackson Wang, IVE, aespa, KEY, Roy Kim, HxW (SEVENTEEN), Monsta X, NCT 127, YUQI of i-dle, JO1, P1Harmony, CRAVITY, Lee Youngji, NMIXX, ZEROBASEONE, RIIZE, MEOVV, izna, IS:SUE, Kep1er, Choi Hojung of Street Fighter and NOWZ (previously known as NOWADAYS). ForbesK-Pop’s Live Boom 2025: SEVENTEEN’s Record Gross, A Promising 2nd HalfBy Jeff Benjamin KCON has a strong track record of bringing future superstars to their stateside events early. One of the most notable instances came when BTS performed as the youngest artist on the lineup at KCON 2014 in Los Angeles. Billboard noted then that “BTS might have been the newest artist on the bill, but the huge crowd reaction could have made you think otherwise…we wouldn’t be surprised to see a U.S. tour announced soon.” Not only did the group announce a U.S. tour within a year, but multiple KCON appearances and touring the States would become a significant part of what created the band’s massive Stateside success. MORE FOR YOU Bitcoin ‘Going To Take Over’—Tesla CEO Elon Musk Backs Shock $40 Trillion U.S. Dollar Collapse Warning Amid Price Boom Everything To Know About ‘Wicked: For Good’—And How To Watch The Trailer Trump’s Bedminster Golf Club Flagged For 18 Health Violations In Latest Inspection—Earned Lowest Grade In County Other major artists like TWICE, SEVENTEEN, Red Velvet, Monsta X, NCT 127, Stray Kids, LOONA and more all made their first-ever appearances and performances in the States as part of KCON. Tickets for KCON LA 2025 are now available via AXS, with additional announcements regarding special stages, guest appearances and convention programming all said to follow soon. KCON LA 2025’s X STAGE Daily Schedule Lineup (LA Convention Center West Hall) Friday (August 1, 2025) Saturday (August 2, 2025) from20 & Hello Gloom & Lim Sejun & Kang Yuchan Sunday (August 3, 2025) from20 & Hello Gloom & Lim Sejun & Kang Yuchan Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions