Tomorrow x Together (TXT) recently released a new MV teaser for their upcoming track ‘Stick with You‘. This will be their first group release since re-signing with Big Hit Entertainment. The teaser features a more sophisticated and mature image of TXT.
TXT debuted in 2019. They were the first boy band to debut in Big Hit Music (formerly Big Hit Entertainment) after BTS and made headlines as BTS’s little brother group. The band consists of members Yeonjun, Soobin, Beomgyu, Huening Kai, and Taehyun. Through the years, fans can see TXT’s growth from exploring different music genres, to finding their musical color, and releasing many hit songs. Their members have also gained a lot of attention for their solo songs, variety show personality, and their MCing skills.
TXT is set to release their 8th album titled, ‘7TH YEAR: When the Wind Pauses Briefly in the Thorn Bushes‘ on April 13th, 2026. The album will feature 8 tracks with their title song being, ‘하루에 하루만 더 (STICK WITH YOU)‘. The album was produced by SLOW RABBIT and “Hitman” BANG.
K-pop girl group TWICE is set to make history on Sunday, April 12th, by becoming the first K-pop band to perform at an arena in Minnesota. Debuting in 2015 under JYPEntertainment, the nine-member girl group consists of Jihyo, Sana, Momo, Tzuyu, Dahyun, Nayeon, Chaeyoung, Jeongyeon, and Mina. TWICE has become a cultural asset in the K-pop industry. As one of the biggest and most influential K-pop girl groups in K-pop history, they have released many hit songs, including “TT,” “Cheer Up,” “What is Love?,” “Signal,” “Feel Special,” and “Fancy.”
This is a special tour, as it is the first time a K-pop group has embarked on such an extensive tour. The tour has been running for months and spans multiple countries and states, with over 20 stops in North America alone. This tour also features a special 360-degree stage, transforming the concert experience for fans.
Minnesota marks the the third to the last stop on TWICE’s 2026 THIS IS FOR Tour. After performing in Minnesota, they will perform in Denver, Colorado then end their North American tour in Austin, Texas.
The tour is ran by Live Nation and features a diverse selection of seats, VIP options, and merchandise. Tickets can be purchased from ticketmaster.
AMPERS&ONE will become the first K-pop band to perform at the Mall of America. Concert promoter LEO PRESENTS announced via Instagram that AMPERS&ONE will be holding a free performance stage at the Huntington Bank Rotunda at the Mall of America on Saturday, May 16th, 2026. AMPERS&ONE is a 7-member boy band that debuted under FNC Entertainment. The members consists of Kamden, Brian, Jiho, Siyun, Mackiah, Kyrell, and Seungmo. They will be going on their 2026 U.S. tour with LEO PRESENTS in May.
The free performance includes upgrades that allow attendees to pay to interact with the artists after. The paid tickets tiers include:
$25 – Hi-Touch
$75 – VIP Group photo High Touch after the show Priority floor access
$100 – VVIP Group photo High Touch after the show Priority floor access Fan Sign
$200 – Everything Ticket (Sold Out) Group photo High Touch after the show Priority floor access Fan Sign Seven Selfie Tickets You+
Other Add-Ons $20 – Selfie Ticket (Take selfie with one member) $75 – Selfie Bundle (seven selfie tickets) $75 – You+ (Solo photo of you and the group)
KCON recently announced their KCON LA 2026 lineup and fans were not disappointed. Many K-pop fans announced their excitement at this year’s line up. KCON is a yearly 3-day event in LA where some of the biggest K-pop artists come to the US to perform. In the day time, KCON hosts a convention that gives fans an opportunity to interact with K-pop idols, discover Korean brands, and see their favorite artists perform. In the evening, the fans can attend a popular K-pop music broadcast called M Countdown.
For this year’s line up, fans can see many returning artists (ex. TXT, NCT 127, izna, ALLDAY PROJECT, JO1, MEOVV, from20 & HELLO GLOOM, and P1HARMONY) and some new artists (ex. &TEAM, So!YoON, ONE PACT, KEYVITUP, RESCENE, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, and KickFlip). &TEAM has performed at KCON Japan before but this will be their first time performing at KCON LA. It will also mark their first official performance in the US. Usually more artists are announced as the date draws closer. So, if you are disappointed because your favorite artist has not been announced, don’t give up! There may still be a chance that they may attend KCON LA.
The official schedule has yet to be released. Usually, this is released a week or two before the convention begins. However, KCON did announce their first round of artists which stages they will be performing at.
This year, it looks like KCON has three stages. The three stages are the X Stage, Artist Stage, and M Countdown. Last year they had the Busking Stage outdoors. They have not announced the stage so their may be a possibility that there is no Busking Stage this year.
The X Stage is a stage in the convention where newer artists can perform. This stage is meant to give exposure to newer or up-and-coming K-pop bands. Strategically placed in the heart of the convention where attendees are walking around and waiting in line at the booths at the convention, this stage allows fans to find and see new artists. The artists rotate to and from this stage.
The Artist Stage is usually for artists from bigger companies. This stage is more like a festival stage where artists perform the entire day in ~45 minute sets. With upgraded tickets, convention attendees can go to the front stage access area. With GA, convention attendees can watch the stages from behind the premium ticket holder’s location. Artists like &TEAM, YEONJUN, P1HARMONY, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, ILLIT, izna, etc. will be performing here.
And lastly, the M Countdown Stage is held at the Crypto.com Arena (right next to the LA Convention Center). It is the celebration that ends the day. Fans can watch their favorite artists perform live on a big stage. There are various types of seats available for all fans to watch and enjoy the performances. From standing pit to sitting sections, fans from all ages can watch and enjoy the performances of their favorite artists.
Which artist are you excited to see at KCON LA 2026 this year?
SF9 recently announced that they will be releasing a special album on March 25th, 2026. This album marks 10 years since their debut. SF9 is a Korean boyband that debuted under FNC entertainment on October 5th, 2016. Known for their rock bands like F.T. Island and CNBLUE, SF9 is FNC Entertainment’s first dancing boy band. Their name is an abbreviation for “Sensational Feeling 9”. The members consist of Youngbin, Inseong, Jaeyoon, Zuho (not participating in this comeback), Dawon, Taeyang (currently on hiatus as he is serving his military service), Hwiyoung, and Chani. Originally debuting as a 9-member boy band, member Rowoon left the band to pursue acting in 2023.
During their recent US tour, member Inseong mentioned that SF9 will try their best to make 2026 filled with SF9. Fans can see their hard work and efforts to meet their fans this year as the members have already been participating in many things:
Inseong recently released his first solo album, ‘Crossfade:’ and has been performing at festivals.
Youngbin is currently participating in his first musical. He is starring as Lee Hae-rang in the Musical ‘Secretly Greatly: THE LAST’.
Dawon returned from his military service and held a successful fan meeting with his fans.
Taeyang had a fan meeting with his fans and SF9 members before going on hiatus to fulfill his military service.
Chani celebrated his birthday and released a cover of ‘yours’ by Damons year. Jaeyoon participated in this cover song by singing the chorus and directing the special YouTube video for this cover.
And in two days, SF9 will be releasing their new album titled, ‘About Love’. Fans are especially excited as this will be the first comeback with Dawon since he has returned from his military service.
Quite different from their ‘Love Race’ concept, ‘About Love’ features all ballad tracks and a more sophisticated and mature image. The SF9 members can be seen wearing darker colors, giving Fall/Winter romantic vibes, and strolling the streets of Seoul. FNC Entertainment and SF9 has been teasing the release by releasing instrumental teasers of upcoming tracks, releasing the album concept photos, doing YouTube live broadcasting with Fantasy (name for SF9 fans), and posting a playlist recommended by SF9 members.
** UPDATE: Due to Visa issues, the LA and San Francisco stop of the tour has been moved to after the Chicago stop. For full information, please check out the official announcement from Oppang: First Announcement & Announcement of change of dates **
Solo artist JUNHEE (previously JUN of A.C.E) recently announced his first US solo tour, <INTO THE OCEAN>. The tour will begin in San Francisco, California before making his way through Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, New York, Minnesota, and ending in Chicago, Illinois. The tour is ran by oppangofficial and KORUS Entertainment.
JUNHEE began his career as a contestant on episode 7 of the hit Korean variety show <I Can See Your Voice 4>. He later debuted as the leader of the K-pop idol group A.C.E under Beat Interactive. In 2024, A.C.E embarked on a U.S. Tour and participated in K-CON LA 2024. Their contract ended after the tour and the members of A.C.E decided to pursue solo careers under different companies.
Since starting his solo career, JUNHEE has established his own label, H&P Entertainment, is actively working on his music, and continues to connect with fans through live broadcasting platforms. He recently released his solo single “Supernova” and the mini album “The First Day & Night.”
He also released a singing cover of the hit song “Your Idol” and “Free” from the popular Netflix animated film KPop Demon Hunters after many fans requested it. Many fans noted that the character Jinu sounded and looked similar to JUNHEE. Fans celebrated when JUNHEE released a surprise cover of the songs.
We are looking forward to seeing JUNHEE performed in Minnesota on January 13th at the 7th Street Entry at First Avenue. Tickets for the Minnesota stop can be purchased on AXS.
Outside of the tour, JUNHEE will also be holding a Video call and Photo Event in Seoul on 12.25.2025 (KST). The chance to apply for these events can be purchased on inmyroom.co.kr with a purchase of his album.
The chilly weather and first snowfall of the season didn’t stop fans from lining up outside the Varsity Theater on Sunday night to see Hannah Bahng perform at her long-awaited Minneapolis concert. Even passersby could feel the fans’ dedication — many had been waiting outside for hours before doors opened, despite not being dressed for the cold.
Fans shivered in the freezing air, chatting to keep their spirits up. Some tucked their faces into their sweaters or pulled their shirts over their legs in an attempt to stay warm. But as soon as the venue doors opened and everyone stepped into the cozy theater, the cold was quickly forgotten. The warm, intimate atmosphere set the perfect tone for an evening of laughter, heartfelt stories, and soul-soothing music.
Who is Hannah Bahng?
Hannah Bahng is a rising Korean-Australian artist known for her relatability, genre-blending music, and engaging TikTok presence. This show marked her first-ever visit and performance in Minnesota. Many fans outside mentioned discovering her through TikTok or through her brother, Bang Chan, the leader of the K-pop group Stray Kids.
Concert Experience
Tickets were sold in three tiers:
VIP 1: Meet and greet, photo with Hannah, sound check access, and a lanyard
VIP 2: Sound check access and a lanyard
General Admission: Entry to the main concert
During the sound check session, Hannah created a personal, lighthearted atmosphere with her VIP fans — answering questions, cracking jokes, and even attempting a Minnesota accent. When one brave fan asked her to marry her, Hannah playfully responded by asking the fan’s age. Upon hearing “13,” she laughed and said, “For legal reasons, I cannot marry you,” earning laughter from the crowd.
Hannah also shared her latest obsession: gumball machines. She had one on stage and invited a fan up to turn the handle to choose that night’s sound check song. The lucky pick was Sabrina Carpenter’s “Good Luck, Babe!”, which Hannah performed beautifully, turning the moment into a spontaneous duet with the fan.
After sound check, general admission ticket holders entered the venue. While waiting for Hannah’s main set, excited whispers spread through the crowd — fans had spotted her parents in the audience. Later, Hannah confirmed it was indeed their first time attending one of her shows. She thanked a couple who gave up their seats for them, gifting them a signed setlist as a token of appreciation.
Opening Act: RealestK
The night began with a soulful performance by RealestK, a Canadian R&B artist known for his smooth vocals and introspective songwriting. His emotional delivery and heartfelt storytelling won over many new fans in the audience. He closed his set with an inspiring message: “Chase your dreams.”
Hannah’s Set
When Hannah finally took the stage, the crowd erupted. She effortlessly commanded the room — performing her songs, connecting with fans, and sharing stories behind her lyrics. Her authenticity and warmth made the night feel deeply personal.
The Misunderstood World Tour includes 27 stops across North America, and Minneapolis marked the halfway point. From here, Hannah will head west and into Canada before wrapping up her tour in Dallas, Texas.
Korean indie rock band Se So Neon (새소년) stopped in Dinkytown as part of their North American “NOW” tour. Originally formed in 2016 as a project duo band, the band has undergone several lineup changes over the years. Today, Se So Neon is a solo project led by guitarist and lead vocalist Hwang So-Yoon, who performs under the stage name So!YoON!. The tour shares its name with her album released earlier this year, which features tracks such as “Jayu,” “Kidd,” “Twit Winter,” “Remember!,” and “New Romantic.”
Joining So!YoON! on tour were Spencer Zahn on bass and Gyun on drums. Minnesota was one of the few stops without an opening act, and the show began about 30 minutes later than scheduled. Still, the energy in the crowd remained high as fans were excited and more than ready when Se So Neon finally took the stage.
The Se So Neon show drew a diverse crowd. Some attendees were K-pop fans eager to show their support, while others were University of Minnesota students taking advantage of the concert’s close proximity to campus. Many in the audience, however, were long time fans who first became interested in Se So Neon because of the band’s distinctive and genre-defying sound.
Se So Neon had a diverse setlist. They played slow songs, upbeat songs, and heavy rock songs. The most memorable performance was when she performed her song, “Remember!” Se So Neon took a moment to teach the audience the chorus to the song. She mentioned it was the easiest track to sing along to, thanks to its repetitive melody and simple lyrics. With a hint of shyness, she encouraged the crowd to groove along with her. Fans responded enthusiastically, cheering as they picked up the tune. As the chorus echoed through the venue, the audience sang and danced together in sync.
Other than performing, So!YoON! took some time to talk with her fans. She mentioned that she really liked Minnesota. She walked around Minneapolis, walked across a nearby bridge, and took a short nap before returning to the concert venue to perform. She also mentioned that when she first started the tour, the songs felt very foreign to her– as if they weren’t her songs. But after performing them for each stop, they now feel as if they were her songs.
They ended the concert with a short encore. They performed popular songs like their track, “Midnight Train”. After they completed their setlist, So!YoON! threw a tour t-shirt and guitar pick into the audience. Drummer Gyun grabbed the set list and handed it to a lucky fan at the front barricade. They ended their performance with a bow to the crowd before exiting the stage.
Minneapolis is the 9th stop of their 16-stop US tour. Se So Neon will stop in Seattle, Vancouver, and Portland before they finish their tour with 4 stops in California (San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Ana, and Los Angeles). After they finish their US tour, they will go on their Asia tour, then end the year with an Australia tour.
Hundreds of fans lined up early Friday morning outside the LA Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena, eagerly waiting for wristbands to access GA or to enter the convention for Day 1 of KCON LA. Held every year in early August, KCON is the largest Korean convention in the U.S. Starting as a small 1 day event, KCON has grown to become a three day convention that brings thousands of fans to downtown LA. This year, the city of LA even officially declared August 1st as KCON Day.
From morning until evening, fans immerse themselves in Korean culture. In the day time, fans can attend panels, visit booths, attend fan meetings, or watch performances at the LA Convention Center. In the evening, fans head over to the Crypto.com Arena to see the M Countdown concert.
Way Better artists from20 and HELLO GLOOM performing at X Stage.
NEWBEAT holding a fan event on the Busking Stage.
This year, KCON LA featured three stages for fans to enjoy throughout the convention: the X Stage, Busking Stage, and Artist Stage. The X Stage and Busking Stage showcased smaller, up-and-coming artists, giving them a platform to connect with new audiences. Strategically located in the main hall and by the food trucks, these stages were designed to maximize exposure and draw in crowds, helping rising artists gain the attention of passing by fans.
The Artist stage was placed in a different hall. Bigger or more senior artists like Hwasa, Zerobaseone (Zb1), IZNA, and Lee Young Ji performed at this stage. The Artist stage was like a short concert. Fans could watch their favorite artists perform their biggest hits in 45 minute sets. Fans can purchase different tiered tickets to get better views. Those with 1Day Plus tickets were allowed to go to the front area to see the artists perform up close.
One of the panels this year featured renowned dancers Brian Puspos, Keone Madrid, and Aaliyah Flournoy. Brian is a famous choreographer and dancer who has choreographed dances for BTS, Justin Bieber, and Chris Brown. Keone Madrid has choreographed for Jungkook, Justin Bieber, BTS, NCT, SHINee, Enhypen, etc. Aaliyah has danced and performed with Jennie, TXT, Stray Kids, and Jungkook. They talked about choreographing for K-pop artists, fun stories with K-Pop idols, and their dance journey. After their performances finished, Keone introduced Full Circle Boys and they performed on stage. After their performance, Full Circle Boys spent time with fans by taking photos with them.
Aespa performs on the M Countdown Stage for KCON LA 2025 – Day 2.
After the convention completed, fans walked to the building next door to watch the M Countdown stage. This year, Crypto.com Arena had a strict bag policy. Any bags bigger than 5″ x 9″ x 1″ was not allowed in the arena. Fans must pay to store their bags outside or go back to their hotel/car to store their items.
KCON LA opened up M Countdown this year with a special guest appearance from popular actor Lee Byung-hun. Lee Byung-hun was recently in popular Netflix series, “Squid Game”. He also played the voice of Gwi-Ma (the demon king) in “KPop Demon Hunters”. Fans screamed in excitement from his surprise appearance.
Ricky and Hanbin from Zerobaseone (ZB1) emceeing for the night.
Hanbin from Zerobaseone continued as the main emcee for M Countdown. M Countdown is a music program in South Korea. It allows the top popular artists in Korea to perform their songs live on stage and broadcast throughout the nation. Hanbin has been the emcee for the show since 2023.
Each night, M Countdown ended with a special stage. This special stage allowed fans to dance on stage with the headliner of the day. The headliners for each night differ each night. This year NCT 127 headlined Day 1, Monsta X headlined Day 2, and Hoshi and Woozi (HxW) of Seventeen headlined Day 3.
Other artists that performed at M Countdown include JO1, NEWBEAT, 82 Major, Way Better artists from20 and HELLO GLOOM, IVE, Aespa, IZNA, NMIXX, Baby DONT Cry, MEOVV, Jackson Wang, KEY, Roy Kim, Zerobaseone, Hwasa, and Lee Youngji. A full list of artists who attended and performed at KCON LA can be found on the official KCON site.
Big Ocean (빅오션) is an up and coming boyband produced by Parastar Entertainment. The band debuted in 2024 with a remake of the famous SMTOWN ending song, “Hope (빛)”, by H.O.T. The band consists of members PJ, Jiseok, and Chanyeon. They are the first K-Pop boyband that was produced with all the members being hard of hearing. They have gone through vigorous training and utilize technology and AI in their performances / music production.
Despite only debuting last year, the group has already amassed almost 100,000 followers on instagram. Many fans feel inspired by their hard work and dedication to pursue music despite their hearing loss.
On their first full day in the U.S., the boys held a café-themed event at Niko Niko Boba Cafe in St. Paul. Despite the sweltering heat, many fans waited patiently for their chance to meet the idols. Big Ocean served drinks, chatted briefly with attendees, and expressed their gratitude for the support. Following the café event, Big Ocean stepped outdoors to take a group photo with all attendees then returned back into the cafe for a short break and to prepare for the fan events.
After a few minutes, fans returned back into the cafe to begin the fan events. Big Ocean took selfies and Polaroids with fans and held a fan sign session for those who purchased additional add-ons. After the fan events ended, fans gathered at the front for send off to say goodbye to Big Ocean as they loaded into their van.
** A special thank you to Parastar Entertainment, KorUS Entertainment, and mnkpopconnect for inviting me and letting me cover the fun events of the day!**
