Daejeon to host 2026 Korea Bam Bam Festa nighttime tourism event

Daejeon's nights will come alive with a mix of performances, exhibitions and experience programs combining culture, arts, rest and healing.

The city of Daejeon announced Friday that it will hold the 2026 Korea Bam Bam Festa in Daejeon together with the Daejeon Tourism Organization from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sept. 19 around the Daejeon Museum of Art.

The Korea Bam Bam Festa is part of a joint promotional project for nighttime tourism-specialized cities led by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization. As part of the initiative, 10 cities nationwide showcase their own regional nighttime tourism programs.

Under the theme "Wellness in the City," Daejeon will present a lineup combining culture, arts, rest and healing. The lineup includes a candlelight performance, extended nighttime hours at the Daejeon Museum of Art, an outdoor library, calligraphy and transcription experiences, singing bowl meditation and yoga sessions.

In particular, the Daejeon Museum of Art will extend its nighttime hours, allowing visitors to view the "Lee Kun-hee Collection: Lee Jung-seob" exhibition until 9 p.m. Outdoor performances and wellness programs focused on rest and healing will also be held around the museum grounds. At an outdoor library run in partnership with Hanbat Library, visitors can freely read books on the grass square and take part in calligraphy and transcription experiences.

The museum's extended nighttime operation and some of the "Delight Wellness" programs will continue through Sept. 20, allowing visitors to enjoy them over the weekend.

The city will also run a "Bam Bam Stamp Tour" connecting Kkumdduri House Branch No. 2, the Daejeon Museum of Art and the second exhibition hall of the Daejeon Convention Center. Participants who complete a stamp-collecting mission using QR codes can receive a local souvenir, encouraging them to explore nearby tourist attractions as well.

Daejeon Mayor Huh Tae-jeong said, "We designed this program by combining Daejeon's nights with a variety of cultural and rest programs — art, music, books and meditation — so that residents and tourists can comfortably stay and enjoy themselves in the heart of the city." He added, "We will continue to consistently develop nighttime tourism content unique to Daejeon."