| Dates | 23–25 Oct 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hours | 09:00–18:00; 10:00–18:00 on Friday 23 October (ministry and KTO listings). KTO's Chinese listing, which says it still shows 2025 content, gives 10:00–17:00. |
| Venue | Jikji Culture Park, Samyeongdaesa Park and Eco-friendly Ecological Park (Jikjisa temple area)경상북도 김천시 대항면 직지사길 118 |
| Admission | Entry: Free |
| Previous edition | 2025: 25–26 Oct 2025 |
| Next edition | 2027: Late October 2027 is likely: all three editions have been held on a weekend in the second half of October (26–27 Oct 2024, 25–26 Oct 2025, 23–25 Oct 2026), and the festival is in the ministry's preliminary cultural tourism festival scheme. No 2027 dates had been announced as of 18 October 2026. |
Program
- Jikji Culture Park (Gimbap Plaza): gimbap factory, premium local gimbap, Gimcheon desserts and local produce, main stage
- Samyeongdaesa Park (Gimbap Heaven): novelty gimbap from around Korea, Cook King contest zone, gimbap art hall, gimbap mailbox, busking and cosplay
- Peace Pagoda area of Samyeongdaesa Park: Gimcheon signature gimbap, Kkodal-i goods shop, gimbap-and-cider zone with Lotte Chilsung, hanbok experience, fringe stage
- Eco-friendly Ecological Park (Gimbap Playground, new venue for 2026): gimbap air bounce, arcade, maze and train
- Gold prize of the 3rd Gimbap Cook King contest (spicy stir-fried pepper gimbap) shown for the first time; about three finalist teams sell their rolls on site
- More than 60 kinds of gimbap, including gimbap bread and triangle gimbap bread; Gimcheon grape and walnut booths; a new Gimcheon dessert category
- Stage performances; KTO's listing names Bobby Kim, Jadu and Cheese among the performers (zone layout and line-up as shown on KTO's listing)
Prices
| Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Free | |
| Gimbap | — | 2026 prices not published; vendors were selected partly on fair pricing, and 2025 vendors were praised for low prices |
| Festival shuttle bus from Gimcheon(Gumi) Station, Gimcheon Station or Gimcheon Sports Town | — | Fare not stated for 2026; in 2025 the shuttles from both railway stations were free |
| Sopung Taxi from the shuttle boarding points to the venue | — | ₩5,000–8,000; whether per person or per car was not stated |
| Kakao T Shuttle direct coach (Seoul, Daejeon, Daegu, Gwangju, Busan) | — | Fares not published in the articles read; each rider gets two Kkodal-i goods and one gimbap roll |
Notes on the 2026 edition
3rd edition and the first over three days. About 80 vendors in four categories (gimbap, snacks, Gimcheon desserts, flea market and hands-on booths), 52% more places than in 2025. Kakao Pay QR ordering with staffed kiosks; about 60 shuttle buses from three boarding points with no intermediate stops; a festival Kakao Map with booths and stage times; five information centres and a desk for foreign visitors with interpreters; extra women's toilets and luggage storage.
About the festival
The Gimcheon Gimbap Festival (김천김밥축제) is a free food festival devoted to gimbap, held in the parks at the entrance to Jikjisa temple in Gimcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do. The third edition runs Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2026, 09:00–18:00 (from 10:00 on Friday), with more than 60 kinds of gimbap and about 80 food, dessert and flea-market vendors; entry is free and you pay for what you eat. From Seoul, take the KTX to Gimcheon(Gumi) Station (about 1 h 30 m, ₩31,900) and a festival shuttle bus, and arrive early: about 150,000 people came over two days in 2025 and popular rolls sold out.
Transport, booking, crowd and accessibility details are on the main Gimcheon Gimbap Festival page, which covers every edition.
Source
Facts checked
22 October 2026, against the sources listed below.