Gimcheon Gimbap Festival
Oct 23 – Oct 25, 2026 · Gyeongsangbuk-do
Overview
*The information below is based on the 2025 festivals. Details for the 2026 festivals will be updated as they become available.*The Gimcheon Gimbap Festival is a local cultural tourism festival held in Gimcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Gimbap may not be one of the city’s best-known specialties, but the festival was inspired by a playful word association between Gimcheon and “Gimbap Cheonguk (gimbap heaven).” The festival brings residents and visitors together with a lively mix of gimbap-themed activities, exhibitions, performances, and games. Visitors can make and taste gimbap themselves, with performances and hands-on activity zones offering something fun for all ages.
Why go
The Gimcheon Gimbap Festival is a local cultural tourism festival in Gyeongsangbuk-do, built around a playful link between the city's name and gimbap. Visitors can join hands-on gimbap-making and tasting zones alongside exhibitions, performances, and games such as a gimbap-themed special performance and a first-birthday fortune-picking ceremony.
Getting there from Seoul
Take the KTX on the Gyeongbu high-speed line from Seoul Station to Gimcheon-Gumi Station, a journey of roughly 1.5-2 hours. From the station, continue by local taxi or bus to the festival venues at Jikji Culture Park and Samyeongdaesa Park in Daehang-myeon, Gimcheon-si.
Tips
- Admission is free, but the festival runs across two venues (Jikji Culture Park and Samyeongdaesa Park), so plan time to move between them.
- Program hours are 10:00-17:00 each day from October 23-25, 2026; arrive earlier in the day for hands-on gimbap-making activities.
- This listing is based on the 2025 edition, and specific 2026 details may still be updated, so check closer to the date before travelling.
Best for: families, food lovers, cultural tourism, budget travelers.
Program
Gimbap Playlist (Special Performance), Kkodari’s Doljabi (First-Birthday Fortune-Picking Ceremony), and more
Photos
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization 
Photo: Korea Tourism Organization
Other festivals in Gyeongsangbuk-do
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Dates and programs can change. Check the official site before you go. Official site