COMICON Italy to Host K-Pop Dance Fight Fest European Finals

Rosa Gulliver of TINYGMUSIC | April 30, 2025

Italy reaffirms its pioneering role in the European K-Pop scene with a major new milestone: the launch of the European finals of the K-Pop Dance Fight Fest, organised by COMICON and hosted by Etna Comics at the Le Ciminiere Exhibition Center in Catania.

Italy’s love for K-Pop music began over 15 years ago, well before it became a global phenomenon. While major Korean tours once overlooked the country in favour of cities like Paris, London, and Berlin, Milan is now a regular stop for K-Pop concerts and events. Yet, it is in the realm of K-Pop dance contests that Italy has truly stood out, with professionally organised competitions, a vibrant and cohesive fan community, and a strong network of pop culture festivals that have nurtured the scene.

Launched online during the pandemic, the K-Pop Dance Fight Fest has grown into Italy’s premier K-Pop dance championship. With qualifiers held at dozens of festivals from Sicily to Veneto, the competition spans the entire year, culminating in two national finals: crews compete in Naples (late April/early May) and soloists in Bergamo (June), both events organised by COMICON.

In 2024, Italy took a major step forward with the creation of the European finals of the contest. Thanks to the coordination of the K-ble Jungle collective and the support of local associations across Europe, the K-Pop Dance Fight Fest has become the first event of its kind on the continent. Participating countries in 2025 include Spain, Poland, the Czech Republic, France, Austria, Italy, Slovakia and Latvia, with more nations expected to join in 2026.

From May 30 to June 2, 2025, Catania will become the European capital of K-Pop, hosting a spectacular four-day celebration featuring top-tier dance competitions, artist meetups, random dance, quizzes, parties, and themed panels. It’s not just a contest, it’s a K-Pop party. Think of it as the Olympics. or better yet, the Eurovision Song Contest of K-Pop dance.

Crews from across Europe will compete for the title of Best European K-Pop Dance Crew, cheered on by fans traveling from all over the continent. An international jury, including non-European members, will ensure fairness and give the event a global flavour. DJ Shiru, the official host of the event, will keep the crowd’s energy high between one dance performance and the next.