Arts & performanceGwangju

Chungjang Festival of Memories 2026 in Gwangju, South Korea

추억의 충장축제 2026

Oct2026
7 –11
Wed–Sun 14:00–22:00 (KTO listing)
Past edition

7 October 2026 to 11 October 2026 · 14:00–22:00 (KTO listing)

This edition has ended. It is kept as a record of what the 2026 festival offered. The current information is on the Chungjang Festival of Memories page (Expected Oct 2027).

Venue this year. Main stage section of Geumnam-ro, from Jeonil Building 245 to Geumnam-ro Park, car-free from 15:00 on 4 October to 06:00 on 12 October; parades on Geumnam-ro 4–5 ga, split into three performance zones with temporary seating in front of the Light Fountain.

Dates7–11 Oct 2026
Hours14:00–22:00 (KTO listing)
VenueGeumnam-ro, Chungjang-ro, 5·18 Democracy Square and the Art Street, downtown Gwangju광주광역시 동구 금남로3가
AdmissionEntry: Free
Previous edition2025: 15–19 Oct 2025
Next edition2027: Five days in early to mid October 2027, most likely Wednesday to Sunday, if the pattern holds (5–9 Oct 2023, 2–6 Oct 2024, 15–19 Oct 2025, 7–11 Oct 2026); dates not announced as of 19 October 2026. The 2026 dates were fixed at the festival committee's first meeting on 22 January 2026, and the 2025 dates were public by 13 February 2025.

Program

  • Wed 7 Octopening show on the main stage in front of Jeonil Building 245, with a marching brass band, the Sky Band aerial show and the rock band YB
  • Thu 8 OctChungjang children's festival (충장 꿈나무 축제), the youth dance contest 젊음의 행진 and the Chungjang Balgwang Night (충장 발광 나이트) on Geumnam-ro with singers Park Nam-jung and Woo Yeon-i and DJs
  • Fri 9 OctAsia Culture Day, with the Asia Culture Street (food and games from migrants and international students), a K-beauty hair show, a hanbok show, an Asia culture show and the Chungjang W (World) Parade of 12 teams from 6 countries, including teams from the Philippines, Japan and a Māori group from New Zealand
  • Sat 10 OctGwangju rice-ball contest using 11 regional ingredients; Chungjang K (Korea) Parade of 20 teams competing for ₩50 million in prizes; Chungjang O (Original) Parade by residents of Dong-gu's 13 neighbourhoods
  • Sun 11 Octresidents' self-governance festival final, the 인생 최고의 대로 wedding on Chungjang-ro's wedding-goods street, the Chungjang Golden Parade, and a closing show with a citizen flash mob and the announcement of the 2027 theme
  • All daysSongs of Memories theme street on Sinseoseok-ro near the Light Eupseong (LP music room, coin karaoke), the roaming 추억유랑단 troupe, food trucks and rest areas on Geumnam-ro, 판판판 street stages on Chungjang-ro and the Art Street; partner event: the 5th Gwangju Busking World Cup

Prices

ItemPriceNote
EntryFree

Notes on the 2026 edition

23rd edition, theme 추억의 노래 (Songs of Memories). Parades ran on three days, up from two in 2025. No visitor total had been published as of 19 October 2026. Festival office 062-608-4672.

About the festival

The Chungjang Festival of Memories (추억의 충장축제) is a free five-day street festival of nostalgia in downtown Gwangju, held since 2004 on Geumnam-ro, Chungjang-ro, the Art Street and 5·18 Democracy Square in Dong-gu. The 23rd edition ran 7–11 October 2026, 14:00–22:00, with three days of street parades, including 12 teams from 6 countries. The 2027 dates have not been announced; expect five days in early to mid October. From Seoul, take the KTX to Gwangju Songjeong (about 2 hours, ₩42,000 from Yongsan), then Gwangju Metro Line 1 to Culture Complex Station or a taxi.

Transport, booking, crowd and accessibility details are on the main Chungjang Festival of Memories page, which covers every edition.

Source

Facts checked
19 October 2026, against the sources listed below.

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