KPOP MINNECON 2026 Brough Two Days of K-Pop, Dance, and Fan Community to Minneapolis

For two days, Saint Paul RiverCentre became a place where K-Pop fans could spend an entire weekend doing what they love without having to choose just one way to participate. KPOP MINNECON returned August 29–30 for its second year, expanding into a two-day event filled with music, dance, creators, artists, vendors, panels, and the smaller fan-to-fan interactions that tend to make conventions memorable. The convention grounds stayed busy with random dance play, karaoke, dance workshops, a dance competition, artist and actor meet and greets, a marketplace, panels with Sam and Alan, and one of the most recognizable parts of K-Pop fandom: fans opening their binders and trading photocards with one another.

The random dance play and karaoke stage kept the convention floor from feeling like a place where fans were expected to simply walk around and watch. Random dance play could turn an open section of the convention into a dance floor as soon as a familiar song came on, with fans jumping in, watching from the edges, and cheering each other on. Karaoke offered another version of that same participation, giving attendees the chance to grab a microphone and become part of the entertainment themselves. It was easy to walk past one activity and find yourself stopping for the next song, another dancer, or a particularly enthusiastic karaoke performance.

Dance continued throughout the weekend through workshops and the dance competition. The workshops gave attendees a chance to learn choreography, while the competition put dancers on stage to show what they had prepared. With team performances on Saturday and solo performances on Sunday, the competition also gave different types of performers their own space. The energy from the audience mattered just as much, with friends and fellow dancers cheering from the sidelines and making the competition feel connected to the larger community happening throughout the convention.

The marketplace brought a different kind of energy to the grounds. Albums, photocards, artwork, fan-made merchandise, and other K-Pop finds filled the vendor area, giving fans plenty to browse between scheduled programming. It was also one of the easiest places to start conversations. A familiar album or favorite group printed on a shirt was often enough to get two strangers talking, and the market naturally fed into another major part of the convention: photocard trading.

The photocard trading area gave collectors a dedicated place to open their binders, compare collections, search for missing cards, and make trades. Of course, anyone familiar with K-Pop collecting knows that a photocard trade rarely stays just a photocard trade. Conversations quickly turn into questions about biases, favorite albums, recent comebacks, and which cards someone is still desperately looking for. Giving trading its own space made that part of fandom feel like a real piece of the convention rather than something happening between vendor tables.

The panels and guest programming gave fans a chance to step away from the movement of the convention floor and spend time hearing directly from the people behind some of the weekend's featured entertainment. Sam and Alan, known to fans of KPop Demon Hunters, spoke about their beginnings in voice acting and the paths that eventually brought them into the industry. Alan shared that his own start was heavily influenced by his brother, who had already established a career as a professional voice actor. He also recalled watching a movie that helped put his own situation into perspective. Rather than continuing to leave himself an easy way out, Alan realized he needed to cut everything else off and take voice acting seriously because he knew himself well enough to recognize that, if another option remained available, he would find a way to take it. The story offered a surprisingly personal look at what it can mean to decide that a creative career is no longer something to keep at arm's length.

The conversation made the panel more than a chance for fans to hear stories from two recognizable voices. It gave some context to the amount of work that exists before an actor's voice becomes familiar to an audience. For fans who know Sam and Alan through KPop Demon Hunters, hearing about where their careers started added another layer to the performances that brought those characters to life.

ICHILLIN' also had a presence throughout the weekend that extended well beyond their concert. Fans of all ages came out to see the group, and the excitement surrounding them could be felt throughout the convention. Even fellow artists participating in MINNECON shared in the excitement whenever ICHILLIN' was around, creating one of those moments where an artist's appearance became something the wider convention could react to together. Between fan sign, hi-wave, selfie opportunities, and their other scheduled appearances, fans had several chances to interact with the group before their Sunday night performance.

The convention also gave space to artists whose paths into K-Pop and Korean-inspired music do not follow the traditional idol route. JTR, the trio made up of Ramiro Brave, Toshi, and JJANG.E, brought three individual backgrounds together under one name. Ramiro Brave has spent years developing his own pop and R&B music while also building experience through K-Pop dance covers and competitions. Toshi brings a stronger rock and emo-punk influence, while JJANG.E's background as a fashion and entertainment creator adds another element to the trio's personality. JTR came together through the K-Pop event scene, but each member had already been developing his own identity before the trio formed.

That made JTR a natural fit for a convention where so much of the weekend revolved around people finding their own way into K-Pop culture. Their appearance also gave fans a chance to see how three different personalities work together rather than presenting them as interchangeable performers. That story continues in K Fuse's upcoming interview with JTR, where Ramiro Brave, Toshi, and JJANG.E talk about the trio, their individual backgrounds, and what brought them together.

AIDEN brought another kind of journey to the weekend. His background began with dance, spending more than a decade developing as a dancer before moving deeper into music. That experience remains an important part of how he performs, particularly as he has transitioned into releasing his own songs and building a career around both movement and music. His time at MINNECON gave fans the opportunity to see that side of him away from a traditional concert setting before he returned to the stage later that weekend. K Fuse will continue that conversation in an upcoming interview with AIDEN, where he talks about his journey, his current work, and his experience connecting with fans at MINNECON.

Saturday Night

Saturday's concert brought together Hohyun, JTR — JJANG.E, Toshi, and Ramiro Brave — AIDEN, and Justin Park, who was joined by dancers Jonny and Mark. The lineup moved through several different sounds and performance styles, but JTR's set established an unexpectedly emotional tone early in the night before the rest of the evening gradually opened back up into something more celebratory.

JTR began with JJANG.E, the trio's most reserved member, who has a particular appreciation for older Korean ballads and trot music. Having lost his grandfather only a few days earlier, JJANG.E took a moment before his performance to tell the crowd that his set would be dedicated to him. He then performed Jung Seung Hwan's The Snowman, allowing the weight of the song to speak for itself rather than trying to turn the moment into something bigger than it was. There was a quietness to JJANG.E's performance that made the dedication feel personal, especially coming from someone whose personality within JTR tends to be more reserved.

JJANG.E continued with his own single, Rainy Days, before shifting into trot with Unconditional Love. The change in sound also gave the audience a better sense of the range of music that influences him. Rather than treating his love for older Korean music as a side detail, JJANG.E brought it directly into his set, placing his own music alongside the sounds he has grown to admire.

Up next was Toshi, who wanted to keep the set connected to the K-Pop roots of KPOP MINNECON while still putting their own personality into the music. Their selections included DEAN's Not Sorry, NewJeans' ETA, and DPR IAN's No Blueberries, with each song receiving Toshi's own spin instead of simply being performed as a straight cover. The familiarity of the songs gave the crowd plenty to latch onto, but it was the way Toshi reshaped them around their own sound that kept the performances from feeling like a simple trip through a playlist of favorite idols.

The mood shifted again toward the end of Toshi's set. With both JJANG.E's grandfather and a close friend having recently passed, Toshi made a small but impactful change to the night's selections by closing with Just A Guy. What had been an energetic set rooted in some of Toshi's favorite Korean influences suddenly became much more reflective. The change in atmosphere was felt throughout the room, with the song bringing a quieter, heavier feeling to the audience and moving some fans to tears as they connected the performance to their own experiences of losing someone close to them.

The members of JTR continued to support one another throughout the night, whether they were watching from the crowd, standing at the side of the stage, or moving closer to the front to cheer during one another's performances. That support was especially noticeable because the three members each have such different personalities and musical influences. They were not simply waiting for their own turn to perform; they were visibly present for each other's moments.

Ramiro Brave brought the energy back up when he took the stage, and his performance reflected a confidence that has been building for some time. Ramiro has been releasing music since 2017, drawing from pop, R&B, and hip-hop while also carrying years of dance experience into his performances. More recently, that confidence has become increasingly visible in the way he carries himself as an artist. After opening for WAY BETTER's GLOBAL WARMING tour stop in Atlanta, that growth continued to build into the performer who stepped onto the MINNECON stage with a much stronger comfort in his own skin.

That confidence was impossible to miss as Ramiro moved through songs from his own repertoire, including fan favorites Life 2 Short and 0417. There was a sense that he was no longer second-guessing how much space he was allowed to take on stage. The personality, confidence, and larger-than-life energy were all there, and the crowd responded accordingly, cheering him through the songs and giving back the same enthusiasm he was putting into the performance.

Before JTR left the stage, the three friends came together once more for a fun and energetic performance of 88rising's Midsummer Madness. Toshi described the moment simply as three friends being there to have a good time and make memories with both the fans and each other, and watching the three of them together made it easy to understand what they meant. During their final stage together, JTR looked completely comfortable in one another's company, with a bond that did not feel like something easily separated once the music stopped.

Ramiro's growing confidence, Toshi's genuine love for their friends and desire to see them succeed, and JJANG.E's naturally shy personality played off one another throughout the performance. At one point, the other two decided to have a little fun at JJANG.E's expense, ripping open his shirt and leaving him visibly caught off guard. JJANG.E immediately tried to hide and cover himself back up, drawing even more laughter and reaction from the crowd. Eventually, though, the initial shyness gave way to the same playful energy as the rest of the trio, with JJANG.E deciding to let loose and even trying to rip the rest of the shirt himself.

It was a small moment, but it said more about JTR than a perfectly choreographed ending could have. The three members were comfortable enough to tease one another, support one another, and let their individual personalities come through without worrying about keeping everything perfectly polished. After the more emotional moments earlier in the set, ending with the three of them simply being friends on stage gave the performance a warmth that stayed with the audience as they left the stage together.

AIDEN opened his set with DNN (Day N Night), immediately putting his dance background into the performance before moving into A to B, a song he describes as his favorite among the tracks he has created. The progression gave fans an early look at both sides of AIDEN's artistry: the performer who has spent more than a decade developing through dance and the musician who is continuing to build his own catalog.

AIDEN also took time during his stage for a short Q&A with fans. When asked about the hardest part of being an artist, his answer was less about the work itself and more about the uncertainty that can come with putting something personal into the world. He explained that one of the hardest parts is worrying about whether he is doing enough, particularly because he makes music for his fans. It was a simple answer, but one that made the relationship between AIDEN and the people standing in front of him feel especially clear. The songs are not being created in a vacuum; there is an audience he genuinely wants to reach.

He continued through the set with Unbreakable (I.J.M.A.), giving the audience another opportunity to hear the music he has been developing as a recording artist. For his final stage, AIDEN took that connection one step further during Y.o.Y, stepping away from the stage and interacting directly with fans while continuing the performance. After spending the rest of the set performing for the audience, the change in distance made the final moments feel more personal and interactive. It also fit naturally with what he had shared during the Q&A: the fans were not simply watching the performance; they were part of the reason he was there in the first place.

Hohyun took the stage next with a mix of fan favorites and more personal tracks, immediately grabbing the attention of attendees who were meeting him for the first time while giving longtime HOHMIES, the name Hohyun uses for his fans, plenty of reasons to sing along. He opened with Better Days, setting the tone for a performance that was just as much about having fun with the crowd as it was about sharing pieces of his story. The first song had the audience jumping from the start, but Hohyun quickly made it clear that the night would not stay in one place for long.

Cast Iron brought another interactive moment when Hohyun stepped off the stage to exchange high fives with fans. It was the kind of interaction that made the distance between performer and audience feel considerably smaller, especially for attendees seeing him perform for the first time. Hohyun also worked Cry for You into the night's set, adding another personal track to a performance that moved between the more energetic moments and songs that allowed him to show a more vulnerable side of himself. For longtime HOHMIES, however, the set had another surprise waiting. Hohyun reached back into his catalog for A.E.I.O.U, a track from his 2019 debut EP, Stage Fright, giving longtime fans a moment that felt especially personal while introducing newer listeners to an earlier part of his music.

Before continuing into the next portion of his set, Hohyun took a moment to talk about something that has become an important part of the way he connects with his audience: mental health. His advocacy extends to individuals and idols, with a particular focus on male idols and the pressure surrounding the expectation that they are supposed to appear perfect. Hohyun spoke about recognizing that he was struggling himself and reaching the point where he understood that asking for help was necessary. Rather than keeping that experience separate from his music, he has continued to use his platform to remind fans that they do not have to pretend that everything is fine simply because they are expected to look fine from the outside.

That conversation led directly into the next portion of the performance, beginning with his 2024 track Tomorrow before moving into idk and Flawed. The songs carried a noticeably heavier emotional weight, but Hohyun made sure the audience understood what he wanted those moments to mean. Whenever fans see him or come to one of his shows, he wants them to know that it can be a safe space regardless of what they may be dealing with in their own lives. During Flawed, that message became something the entire room could participate in as Hohyun encouraged the crowd to shout the song's title with him, turning the word into an outlet for the frustrations, worries, and anxieties people may carry with them.

After allowing the audience to sit with those emotions, Hohyun closed his stage with SUNSET BOULEVARD, and the shift was immediate. The laid-back, more lightweight, melodic feel remained, but Hohyun's energy climbed as he let himself completely loose onstage. After the vulnerability of the previous songs, there was something almost cathartic about watching him reach this point in the set. Even the threat of getting splashed became part of the fun as Hohyun checked the crowd to see if they were ready, only for the audience to enthusiastically accept the challenge.

When the chorus peaked, Hohyun followed through and showered the crowd with water, sending the room into another burst of energy. It was a fitting way to close a set that had moved through so many different emotions. The water, the laughter, and Hohyun's visibly heightened energy felt like a physical release after the heavier conversations and songs that came before it, as though the performer and audience were both allowed to let go of some of what had been weighing on them. By the end of SUNSET BOULEVARD, the emotional heaviness had not disappeared, but it had been given somewhere to go.

Justin Park was ready to take the final stage of Saturday night, but before the performance could begin, a delay while the stage was being prepared unexpectedly turned into something of a mini Jonny Tran fan meet. The Los Angeles-based dancer and choreographer already had a dedicated group of fans at MINNECON, and while everyone waited, those fans began asking Jonny for selfies and signatures. What could have easily been an awkward pause instead became a small fan moment of its own, with Jonny taking the time to interact with the people who had come out to see him.

Once the stage was ready, Justin was joined by Jonny Tran and Mark Tullen, and the three immediately brought the energy back into the room. Justin moved through fan-favorite tracks including HUSH and SHADY, giving the audience the chance to settle back into the performance after the unexpected wait. His opening stages carried a stronger hip-hop-influenced energy, with Justin's vocals sitting comfortably over the production while Jonny and Mark added another layer through their choreography.

The set eventually shifted into something more subdued with JOJI's Glimpse of Us, giving Justin the opportunity to show a completely different side of his voice. The contrast between the more energetic opening performances and the slower, more melodic track made the range in his performance particularly noticeable. Justin's vocal delivery remained steady even as the mood changed, moving from the rhythmic energy of his earlier songs into something more restrained without losing the audience's attention.

Justin also made sure the night did not belong solely to him. Throughout the performance, he took several moments to shout out Jonny and Mark and give them space to be recognized by the crowd. For attendees who had already been asking Jonny for selfies and signatures before the performance even started, seeing both dancers receive their own spotlight felt like a natural extension of the connection they had already built with the audience. Jonny's presence in particular made it clear that his fans had not simply shown up because he was dancing behind Justin; they had come specifically to support him as well.

Both FASTEST and On the Low appeared during the final stretch of Justin's set, bringing the performance back toward its more energetic side as the night came to a close. With Jonny and Mark moving across the stage, the audience had another chance to watch the dancers' fluid choreography while keeping their attention on Justin's vocals and stage presence. The combination gave the final portion of the performance a strong sense of momentum, bringing together the different sides of Justin's set without forcing the songs into a sequence that the night itself did not necessarily follow.

Sunday Night

Sunday's concert brought Hohyun and AIDEN back before ICHILLIN' closed the weekend. Hohyun returned to the stage on Sunday with another performance that gave fans a different side of his music. Among the songs he shared was Faded, a beautiful performance that brought the room into a quieter space after the energy of the convention and the previous night's concert. For fans who had already seen Hohyun on Saturday, the song offered something new to hold onto, while those experiencing him for the first time got another glimpse into the more vulnerable side of his music.

AIDEN also returned for Sunday's concert, giving fans who had followed his Saturday performance another opportunity to see him onstage. His appearance helped carry some continuity between the two nights, particularly for attendees who had spent the entire weekend moving between the convention floor and the concerts. Rather than needing to repeat every moment from Saturday, his return was another reminder that MINNECON's two concert nights were connected pieces of the same weekend.

After seeing the group around the convention throughout the two days, fans had already had plenty of opportunities to get excited about seeing them perform. That excitement was especially noticeable because ICHILLIN' had drawn fans of different ages throughout the weekend, while even fellow artists had shared in the enthusiasm surrounding the group. As ICHILLIN' took the stage Sunday night, there was no question who a good portion of the room had been waiting for. The group had been everywhere throughout MINNECON, with fans lining up for their fan sign, hi-wave, and selfie opportunities, and their presence had even gotten reactions from the other artists attending the convention. Fans of all ages had been excited to see them throughout the weekend, so when it was finally time for ICHILLIN' to have the stage to themselves, that excitement carried straight into the concert.

Opening with KICK START, ICHILLIN' immediately had the crowd moving. The song got the room into the performance from the beginning before the group continued with GOT'YA. By the time DEMIGOD came around, it was clear that the audience was not just there to watch. Fans were singing along to the song, adding their own voices to the performance and showing just how familiar they were with ICHILLIN''s music. Glass Heart brought another side of the set into the room before the anticipation surrounding LA LUNA began to build. The song was one fans had clearly been waiting for, and when it finally arrived, the reaction reflected that anticipation. After spending the weekend meeting ICHILLIN', taking photos with them, and seeing the excitement surrounding their appearances, getting to hear the songs live gave fans another reason to celebrate having the group at MINNECON.

For ICHILLIN', the Sunday performance also gave the group a chance to see just how much of their music had connected with the people standing in front of the stage. The crowd knew the songs, sang along when they could, and made their excitement known throughout the set. After two days of convention activities, it was a fitting way for the weekend to end: fans who had spent the weekend trading photocards, dancing, shopping, meeting artists, and chasing down their favorite convention moments were now gathered together singing along to the music they had come to hear.

Following the performances, fans had another opportunity to meet the artists during the weekend’s meet and greet sessions, bringing the stage experience back into the more personal side of MINNECON. After spending the night singing along, cheering, and watching the performers take the stage, attendees could meet them face-to-face, take photos, and have a few more moments to connect. That mix is what made KPOP MINNECON. The music was a major part of the weekend, but so were the fans themselves and all the little things they came together to do around it.