Traffic Restrictions in Effect for 2026 Gangnam Festival on Oct. 3–4

Gangnam-gu will implement phased traffic restrictions ahead of the 2026 Gangnam Festival, set to run along Dosan-daero from Oct. 3 to Oct. 4. The district urged visitors to use the subway or other public transit instead of private vehicles, as road access will be limited in and around the festival area throughout the event.

Hakdong–Dosanpark intersection closure begins midnight Saturday, lifts Oct. 5 at 5 a.m.

The first section to be closed will be Dosan-daero between Hakdong Intersection and Dosanpark Intersection, where the festival's main venue will be set up. Restrictions begin at midnight Friday to allow for venue construction, and all lanes in both directions will be closed to vehicles through the weekend of Oct. 3–4. Buses will also be barred from passing through the section. After the festival ends, crews will dismantle the installations and gradually lift the closures, with normal traffic expected to resume by 5 a.m. on Oct. 5.

To minimize inconvenience for visitors to nearby businesses, side streets will serve as the primary alternative routes on both the north and south sides of Dosan-daero. A dedicated fire department access lane will also be secured on the southern side to handle emergencies and ensure access to nearby facilities. However, side roads may also become congested as vehicles divert, so the district advised those heading to nearby wedding halls and restaurants to use public transit as well.

Six lanes closed for Saturday parade; buses rerouted

On Oct. 3, additional traffic controls will be imposed on the stretch from the southern end of Yeongdong Bridge through Cheongdam Intersection to Hakdong Intersection to accommodate the Grand Parade. The closure will not be total — the six northbound lanes of Dosan-daero will be closed, while the six southbound lanes will be used for two-way traffic. With the usual 12 lanes reduced by half, significant congestion is expected, and drivers are advised to avoid the area if possible.

The Grand Parade was originally planned to run from Galleria department store in Apgujeong through Cheongdam's luxury shopping street to Dosanpark Intersection. However, the district adjusted the route to run from Cheongdam Intersection to Dosanpark Intersection after incorporating feedback from wedding businesses in Cheongdam-dong and nearby merchants and residents seeking reduced traffic disruption.

Bus routes near the main festival venue will be partially adjusted on Oct. 3 and 4. Lines that normally pass through the Dosan-daero section will be rerouted via nearby Apgujeong-ro and Hakdong-ro. Advance notices of the rerouted lines will be posted inside buses and at stops, and staff will be deployed at major stops and traffic control points. Banners and traffic guidance signs will also be installed, and navigation apps will be updated with advance alerts.

32 Pikachu in the parade, Nam Jin and Psy headline concerts

This year's Gangnam Festival will feature a range of programs alongside the Grand Parade, including K-pop and family concerts, fashion and beauty showcases, and food experiences. The Grand Parade will run along an approximately 1-kilometer stretch from Cheongdam Intersection to Dosanpark Intersection from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 3, the opening day. A special highlight will be 32 Pikachu characters marching in the parade, expected to draw crowds of all ages.

A family concert beginning at 7 p.m. the same day will feature trot music legend Nam Jin and a lineup of performers spanning multiple generations. The concert is free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis with no advance reservation required. The K-pop concert on Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. will feature prominent idol groups as well as Psy, who captivated the world with "Gangnam Style," closing out the festival. Tickets for the K-pop concert go on sale through Ticketlink starting at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

Park Sang-won, co-chairman of the 2026 Gangnam Festival organizing committee, said the event marks a fresh start in a new setting. "The 2026 Gangnam Festival is a celebration that introduces everything anew, starting with the Grand Parade on Dosan-daero," he said. "We hope residents of Gangnam-gu and Seoul, as well as visitors from around the world, will experience the unique charm of this festival on the streets of Dosan-daero."

Gangnam-gu District Mayor Kim Hyun-ki said traffic management was designed with minimizing public inconvenience as the top priority. "This is a large-scale festival that requires closing Dosan-daero to vehicles, so we have put together a traffic plan focused above all on reducing disruption for residents," Kim said. "We ask that people use public transit during the festival period as much as possible, and we will ensure thorough on-site management so everyone can enjoy the event safely."