A promotional poster for the 2026 Seoul Gugak Festival / Courtesy of the Seoul Metropolitan Government
Traditional Korean music will trade palace courtyards and concert halls for the banks of the Han River this year as Seoul moves its annual “gugak,” Korean traditional music, festival to one of the city’s busiest public spaces in a bid to reach a broader audience.
The eighth Seoul Gugak Festival will be held Friday at Moonlight Square in Banpo Hangang Park, marking the first time the event has taken place along the river.
Organizers said the festival, themed “Gugak Awakens Seoul,” will showcase a wide spectrum of Korean traditional music, from performances by master musicians to genre-blending acts that combine gugak with rock, dance and contemporary performance art.
The event will run from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. and feature a main concert stage, community performances and a range of hands-on cultural programs.
