KCON LA 2026 will see the return of the K‑pop group Wanna One after a nine‑year hiatus since their last appearance in 2017. The act, a temporary ensemble formed from the hit South Korean survival series Produce 101 (Season 2), debuted in 2017 and disbanded in 2019. Nine members—Park Ji‑hoon, Lee Daehwi, Kim Jae‑hwan, Ong Seong‑wu, Park Woo‑jin, Yoon Ji‑sung, Hwang Min‑hyun, Bae Jin‑young, and Ha Sung‑woon—reunited for a special reality series, Wanna One Go: Back to Base, in April. Kang Daniel remains on mandatory military service, while Lai Kuan‑lin has transitioned to film directing in China.
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – DECEMBER 10: Kang Daniel and other members of Wanna One attend the 2018 Mnet Music Awards PREMIERE in KOREA at Dongdaemun Design Plaza on December 10, 2018 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
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All nine members have pursued successful solo careers. Park Ji‑hoon has focused on singing and acting, most recently starring in CJ ENM’s The Legend of Kitchen Soldier. Lee Daehwi, now a member of AB6IX, contributes as an artist, producer, and songwriter while hosting M Countdown. Kim Jae‑hwan continues music projects and hosts the podcast Su‑seok (秀石) Research Society on Stone Music. Ong Seong‑wu remains active in film and television, slated to appear in the K‑drama Ossakhan Yeonae. Park Woo‑jin, also of AB6IX, recently signed with Para Music. Yoon Ji‑sung works as a singer and actor, with upcoming roles in the musical Portrait of a Boy. Hwang Min‑hyun has starred in the Netflix series Study Group and is on tour across Asia. Bae Jin‑young, formerly of CIX, and Ha Sung‑woon are each developing solo music careers.
At KCON LA, Wanna One will join a lineup that includes H//PE Princess, winners K01KEYZ from Produce 101 JAPAN SHINSEKAI, KickFlip, SANTOS BRAVOS, TREASURE, and &TEAM, with NCT 127 headlining. The festival also features Korean actors Lee Jun Hyuk, Park Eun Bin, and Sangheon Lee as special guests, appearing both at the convention and during the M Countdown concert. With Wanna One members now scattered across acting and music, their reunion promises an emotionally charged performance.
KCON LA will run from August 14 to August 16 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, with the M Countdown concert taking place at the Crypto.com Arena. Sponsored by Olive Young, KCON is the world’s largest Korean cultural festival, showcasing music, beauty, fashion, and lifestyle. Tickets and fan experiences remain available. Further details about the event and Wanna One can be found via the official link.
