HanBeat KC 2026: A Celebration of K-Pop Dance in Kansas City

HanBeat KC 2026 brought together 21 incredible K-Pop dance acts from across the Kansas City area for two exciting rounds of competition.

The Preliminary Round, held on September 13 at DISTRIKCT, featured groups, duos, and solo performers who filled the stage with passion, creativity, and energy.

2026 Preliminary Participants

Groups & Duos

• Madeleine Jones & Isabella Montoya

• Only You

• EDIA

• Karisma

• Oblivion

• D&K Dancing

• Impulse

• PRISMATIC

• Addie & Halo

• NOIRE

• Aura

• ViViD

Soloists

• Arya Haralson

• Zora Walker

• Eden

• Kayla K.

• Lee-Ka

• Jack-Lin

• Diana J

• De'Ashia Johnson

• Mito.K

Originally, only five acts were planned to advance to the Grand Finale. However, the level of talent and competition was so impressive that the judges expanded the field to the Final 8:

Impulse • Aura • Jack-Lin • Zora Walker • De'Ashia Johnson • Oblivion • ViViD • EDIA

Grand Finale at KC Arirang

The Final 8 took the stage again on September 19 for the HanBeat KC Grand Finale, held on the main stage of KC Arirang at the UMKC Student Union in front of a festival crowd of nearly 2,000 people.

After an exciting final competition, the 2026 winners were:

🥇 1st Place — Impulse | $500
🥈 2nd Place — Oblivion | $300
🥉 3rd Place — Aura | $200

Judges’ Choice Award — Jack-Lin
Fan Choice Award — Zora Walker

HanBeat KC 2026 was made possible through collaboration with Kansas City’s growing K-Pop community, including KC K-Pop Community, DISTRIKCT, and Rhythm & Seoul Radio on KKFI 90.1 FM.

Special thanks to Kyungho Ahn of Tous les Jours Overland Park for his generous $5,000 sponsorship, helping us provide a bigger stage and more opportunities for local K-Pop dancers.

Every Performer Is a Winner

HanBeat KC is about more than rankings, prizes, or trophies.