Travel
Gayageum Festival brings two nights of music to Gimhae Oct. 3-4
haps Magazine Korea
September 10, 2026
Gayageum Festival (Photo by Gimhae City/courtesy of haps Magazine Korea)
The Gimhae Gayageum Festival will return to Sureungwon Park on October 3 and 4, bringing traditional Korean music together with media art, jazz and contemporary crossover performances.
The festival opens at 7 p.m. on October 3 with the Gimhae City Gayageum Orchestra, Korea’s only municipal gayageum ensemble. The performance will combine pieces including Dokkaebibul and Jeokbyeokga with real-time media art displayed on a large outdoor screen.
Events continue October 4 at 6 p.m. with a showcase of emerging traditional Korean musicians, including Kim Hyo-jung, winner of the Presidential Award at the 35th Gimhae Choseondae National Gayageum Competition. A composition by competition winner Kim Ye-jin will also be performed.
The second Park Concert begins at 7 p.m., featuring eight-member ensemble Bulsechul, CelloGayageum, Goo Lee-im and Joseon-pop group sEODo BAND.
Hands-on activities will begin at 4 p.m. on both days. Visitors can try playing the gayageum during one-day classes and make keychains, mother-of-pearl bookmarks and other traditional crafts.
Food trucks will also operate throughout the festival, while participants in a walking-based “Carbon Zero” event can receive a picnic mat for use during the outdoor performances.