Running Sept. 4–5 from 4 to 9 p.m. around Baengnyeon Market and the Uicheon stream, the festival features culinary showdowns among traditional market vendors, waterside performances and a tailored tour program for foreign visitors.
Gangbuk-gu in Seoul will host the 2026 Gangbuk Baengmaek Festival on Sept. 4 and 5, from 4 to 9 p.m. each day, around Baengnyeon Market and the Uicheon stream, the district announced.
Now in its fourth year, the Gangbuk Baengmaek Festival is the district's signature food festival, bringing together "100 kinds of food" and a wide variety of craft beers in one place while showcasing the appeal of traditional markets, alley commerce and the Uicheon waterfront.
This year's theme — "Beyond Ordinary Days, Into a Wonderland of 100 Flavors" — transforms the Baengnyeon Market area and the Uicheon stream into one vast wonderland. More than 90 shops from Gangbuk-gu's traditional markets and alley commercial districts will offer upward of 190 distinctive food items, and craft beer breweries from more than 15 locations nationwide will participate, making this the largest edition of the festival to date.
From Baengnyeon Market to the Uicheon — Six Spaces, One Story
The festival grounds stretch from the entrance of Baengnyeon Market to the waterside stage on the Uicheon stream, divided into six themed zones: Wonder Gate, Maze of Flavors, Upside-Down Garden, Strange Alley, Topsy-Turvy Plaza and Wonder Maru. Visitors can enjoy food, performances and hands-on programs in each zone, creating the feeling of traveling through a storybook wonderland.
Baengnyeon Market will be transformed into the "Maze of Flavors," where visitors can discover a variety of market foods and craft beers. The "Strange Alley" connecting Baengnyeon Market and the Uicheon will feature romantic lighting alongside impromptu performances by "Wonder Performers" dressed as fairytale characters, character caricature booths and photo zones.
A "Mosaic Map of 100 Flavors" sticker-collecting activity will also run throughout the festival — visitors earn stickers with each food or craft beer purchase. Those who collect pieces from Baengnyeon Market, the brewery zone and the food zone will receive a commemorative gift on a first-come, first-served basis.
Eunmoru Children's Park will be transformed into the "Upside-Down Garden" for families. The space will feature a "Bubble Wonderland" combining bubble machines and rabbit-shaped lighting, along with a children's play area and a family lounge, so visitors can enjoy the festival comfortably with their children.
Culinary Showdowns Among Market Vendors, Autumn Night Performances Along the Uicheon
The "Topsy-Turvy Plaza," set up at the Uicheon badminton courts, will host "Baengmaek Chefs" — a live cooking culinary showdown that is the festival's signature program this year.
Vendors representing Gangbuk-gu's traditional markets will cook on-site, showcasing each market's flavors and culinary secrets. The winning market will be determined by combining mobile order sales with on-site public votes, and spectators can watch the cooking process up close, hear the vendors' stories and taste the finished dishes themselves.
Throughout the festival grounds — including the "Wonder Maru" on the Uicheon waterfront — busking performances by singer-songwriters and street acts will take place daily from 5 p.m. On Sept. 4, Jeon Tae-ik will take the stage at 8 p.m. On Sept. 5, an official ceremony at 7:30 p.m. will be followed by a performance by Park Hye-kyung starting at 8 p.m., filling the autumn night along the Uicheon with music.
A Festival for Foreign Visitors Too — Smarter Ordering With QR Codes
This year, the district will also run a tailored tourism program designed to draw foreign visitors hiking Bukhansan naturally toward Baengnyeon Market and the Uicheon stream.
The district will partner with a private tourism operator to offer a tour package combining the Bukhansan Dulle-gil hiking trail and the Baengmaek Festival. A picnic area will be set up so foreign tourists on the tour can comfortably enjoy the Uicheon waterfront night scenery and busking performances. Dining and rest spaces with an autumn evening atmosphere, where residents and foreign visitors can mingle, will be expanded around the Uicheon.
In addition, the mobile QR smart ordering system piloted last year will be expanded this year to cover the entire Uicheon dining zone, improving visitor convenience and reducing on-site congestion. The district plans to increase dining space, reinforce safety and sanitation facilities, and cut waste through the use of reusable containers, creating a cleaner and safer festival environment.
Admission is free for all. Visitors must present identification when purchasing alcohol, and no alcohol will be sold or served to anyone under 19. Given expected congestion around the venue, visitors are encouraged to use public transportation.
Full program details and a venue map are available on the official 2026 Gangbuk Baengmaek Festival website.
"The Baengmaek Festival is Gangbuk-gu's signature event, where you can experience the food that traditional market vendors have prepared with care, a diverse range of craft beers, and the romance of an autumn night along the Uicheon all in one place," Gangbuk-gu District Mayor Jeong Chang-su said. "I hope everyone who visits will discover the charm of Gangbuk-gu and create wonderful memories."
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