2025 KBS K-Pop World Festival

USA Midwest Regional (Open to all US regions)

The KBS Changwon K-Pop World Festival (KWF) is one of the largest Korean government-sponsored K-pop cover competitions in the world. Hosted by KBS (Korean Broadcasting System), this global competition brings together K-pop cover artists from all over the world to compete for a chance to perform in Korea on an international stage.

The USA Midwest Regional in the Midwest is hosted by the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Chicago, providing local performers the opportunity to showcase their talent and advance through the competition.

How the KWF competition works

  1. Online Registration & Entry Submission

    Participants register online and submit their information to secure their spot in the preliminary round.

  2. Onsite Preliminary Round (The day before the USA Midwest Regional Round)

    Registered participants will perform live on stage. Judges will evaluate each performance in person.

  3. Golden Pass Selection (On the same day of the onsite preliminary round)

    Outstanding performers will receive a Golden Pass, allowing them to advance to the Regional Final. Golden Pass recipients will also be considered for selection to compete in the International Round in Korea.

  4. USA Midwest Regional Round in July

    Golden Pass holders will take the stage to compete for the championship title and a spot on the global stage.

  5. Global Selection Round (KBS Online Round) in August

    The regional champion and three other participants/teams will be selected for evaluation by official KBS judges, competing with winners from around the world.

  6. Grand Final in Korea (All Expenses Covered) in October

    Selected finalists will be flown to Korea (travel and accommodation fully covered by KBS) to compete in the K-pop World Festival global finals.

Eligibility

  1. The contest is open to residents of all U.S. states and territories.

  2. Participants of all ethnicities are welcome to join in the Midwest Preliminaries. However, those of Korean descent are only eligible to advance if they hold U.S. citizenship. Korean participants who hold green cards, other visas, or non-U.S. citizenship, regardless of their residency status, are not eligible to move forward in the global selection process. You are still welcome to participate in the USA Midwest Regional round; however, if selected, you will not be able to proceed to the KBS global selection round.

  3. Applicants must possess an unrestricted capacity to travel overseas and must hold a current passport. If selected as a finalist (winner of the Midwest Preliminary), a copy of your passport must be submitted within one week of selection.

  4. Each participant may submit up to two entries per category, except for the Solo category, which allows only one entry per person. For all other categories, participants may join a maximum of two different teams.

Important Dates

Application Deadline

TBD

Online

Midwest Regional Preliminary Round

July 12

TBD

Midwest Regional Final Round

July 13

TBD

Vocal

Submission Deadline: TBD

Showcase your vocal talent by performing a K-pop song! Contestants will be judged on vocal technique, pronunciation, stage presence, and overall performance. Whether you’re singing solo or in a group, this is your chance to impress the judges and take the stage!

Dance

  • Solo (1 person)

  • Small Group (2-4 people)

  • Large Group (+5 people)

Submission Deadline: TBD

Bring your best K-pop choreography to the stage! Contestants will be evaluated on dance technique, synchronization, stage presence, and energy. Soloists and groups are welcome to perform dynamic routines that capture the essence of K-pop performances!

Guest Performance

Submission Deadline: TBD

Experience exclusive guest performances and showcases from talented artists, special guests, and K-pop cover groups. These performances are non-competitive and designed to entertain, inspire, and highlight the diversity of K-pop culture.

Contact us

Have questions or want to get involved? Reach out to Midwest Kculture Foundation for inquiries about events, partnerships, or participation in the Midwest K-pop Festival and KBS K-pop World Festival Preliminaries. We’d love to hear from you!