2026 Gangnam Festival rolls in with parade, K-pop, fashion and food

Gangnam-gu will hold the 2026 Gangnam Festival from Oct. 3 to Oct. 5 along Dosan-daero and other locations across the district.

Now in its 15th year, the festival is expanding its venue from Yeongdong-daero to the Dosan-daero area. This year's event centers on the first grand parade featuring residents from all 22 dong. It weaves together K-pop, fashion, food and performances to turn Gangnam's streets into one massive festival ground. Daytime will bring parades and street programs, while nighttime will feature large-scale concerts, making it an urban-style festival.

Residents from all 22 dong take center stage, spelling out "GANGNAM" along the street.

The biggest change is the grand parade, which will run for about 2 kilometers from the Cheongdam intersection to the Dosan Park intersection. It will take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 3. This marks the first time the Gangnam Festival has featured a large-scale street parade. Above all, residents from the 22 dong will march in the procession themselves, turning what was once a festival to watch into one they help create.

The parade unfolds across seven themes spelling out the letters of "GANGNAM": noble heritage (Great Heritage), childhood and family (Animation & Family) and innovation that opens tomorrow (New Wave Innovation). The remaining themes are the pinnacle of style (Global Fashion & Luxury), education that designs the future (Navigate Future), explosive energy (Active Street) and the finale (Master of Stage).

The procession opens with a children's military band and a traditional parade. Large character balloons such as Pororo follow, along with parade floats modeled on games, robots, fashion models and street performances. Residents from the 22 dong will join the march dressed in costumes and props reflecting their neighborhood's character and theme. The parade closes with a finale bringing together residents from all 22 dong and the cast. A giant Pikachu balloon, a procession of characters and dance performances round out the spectacle, turning the entire street into a single stage.

Parades by day, concerts by night — from Nam Jin to PSY.

The parade's energy carries into the "Family Concert" at 7 p.m. on Oct. 3. Nam Jin, Kim Won-jun, Roo'ra, Space A, Lim Chang-jung, Hong Kyung-min and Hong Ji-yoon will take the special stage on Dosan-daero for a show that spans generations. The concert is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, with no reservation required.

A K-pop concert will follow at 6 p.m. on Oct. 4. LUN8, SAY MY NAME, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, ZEROBASEONE, KiiiKiii and P1Harmony will take the stage, with PSY — who introduced Gangnam to the world through "Gangnam Style" — closing out the show.

Music, fashion and food — all day long on Dosan-daero.

Over the two days, visitors can enjoy fashion, food and K-content all day long at various spots along Dosan-daero, in addition to performances. A K-pop dance workshop and a global cover dance challenge, fashion and beauty programs, a beer and food festival, and street performances will run throughout. Around Dosan Park, fashion and beauty programs featuring designers and celebrities will be held, while streets throughout the area will offer K-food and dishes from around the world.

From traditional music to a marathon and a temple concert — the festival spreads across Gangnam.

The festival extends beyond Dosan-daero to locations across Gangnam. KBS's Gugak Hanmadang, a traditional Korean music program, will be held at Maru Park at 7 p.m. on Oct. 3. The Gangnam International Peace Marathon will take place along Bongeunsaro at 8 a.m. on Oct. 5. A temple concert at Bongeunsa at 6 p.m. that same day will bring the festival to a close.

Anticipating large crowds, the district plans to arrange traffic control and vehicle detours along the parade and event routes, map out visitor movement routes and deploy safety personnel.

Gangnam-gu District Mayor Kim Hyun-ki said, "The Gangnam Festival is a local festival that residents create and enjoy together, as well as a global festival that draws visitors from around the world." He added, "This year, for the first time, we will present a festival on Dosan-daero that brings together Gangnam's culture, K-pop, fashion and food." He continued, "Through this festival, we will offer experiences and memories that can only be found in Gangnam."