Nowon-gu Launches 2026 Neighborhood Festivals and Residents' Assemblies Across 19 Dongs

Seoul's Nowon-gu will hold its "2026 Neighborhood Festivals and Residents' Assemblies" across all 19 dongs from Sept. 5 through Oct. 31.

Now in its 12th year since launching in 2015, the neighborhood festival series is a resident-led initiative in which locals handle every stage of planning — from choosing venues to designing programs. Running concurrently, the residents' assemblies give community members a forum to discuss local issues and vote on self-governance plans for 2027. The two events are deliberately paired so that residents can engage with neighborhood affairs and participate in community decision-making while enjoying the festivities.

The festivals have been held every year except 2020 and 2021, when they were suspended due to COVID-19. Last year, a combined 38,125 people took part in programs spanning performances, exhibitions, hands-on activities, food stalls and sharing markets.

Participation in the residents' assemblies has also grown sharply. Last year, a total of 20,622 people took part, including early voters — roughly four times the 5,170 who participated in 2022. Since the festival-style assembly format was introduced in 2023, turnout has climbed steadily, and a culture of grassroots self-governance — in which residents directly decide on community agendas — has taken hold.

Each dong has been preparing for months through a festival organizing committee made up of local residents. Programs will highlight the history, culture and character of each neighborhood, centered on things to see, eat, do and buy. Family-friendly activities, flea markets, and food and vendor booths run by local small businesses will all feature, and sign-language interpretation will be provided at every dong to ensure the events are accessible to all.

This year, the district is placing greater emphasis on eco-friendliness and local identity. Organizers will encourage the use of eco-friendly containers and run tumbler discount events. Rather than headlining celebrity performers, the festivals will expand the role of local artists and community arts groups, reinforcing the spirit of a celebration made by and for the neighborhood.

The first event is the "Biseokgol Festival Hanmadang," opening Sept. 5 in Wolgye 2-dong. Held at Biseokgol Neighborhood Park — a site steeped in the history of the Joseon-era Choan-san burial grounds — the program will include traditional games and a mountain-spirit ritual at Choan-san, offering residents a natural way to connect with the area's history and culture.

The residents' assemblies held alongside the festivals serve as a public forum where locals directly shape the future of their neighborhoods. Each dong's residents' self-governance council will operate voting booths at the festival grounds in addition to early voting. Residents can express their views on community issues and take part in deciding self-governance plans.

Projects selected through the assemblies will go through review by the participatory budgeting committee before being finalized and incorporated into the 2027 budget. To support well-run assemblies, the district has developed standard operating guidelines and provided tailored consulting for each dong through a residents' self-governance support team.

The range of residents involved in self-governance is also widening. In July, Hagyae 1-dong became the first residents' self-governance council in the country to establish a subcommittee for people with disabilities, while Wolgye 1-dong and Gongneung 1-dong have launched youth subcommittees. The district plans to continue expanding its inclusive self-governance model so that people with disabilities, young residents and other diverse groups can directly propose and decide on local issues.

"The neighborhood festival is a space for communication that residents create and enjoy together, and the residents' assembly is a forum for self-governance where residents themselves decide the future of their community," Nowon-gu District Mayor Seo Jun-o said. "We will further invigorate residents' self-governance so that the distinct charms of all 19 dongs can be shared and more residents can participate in shaping local change and decision-making."