Citizens, civil servants and the mayor himself all take to the dance floor at the annual Anyang Dance Festival. The event returns this year to blanket the city in dance for a day. Residents who have watched Anyang Mayor Choi Dae-ho perform his signature shuffle dance have joked that his size and his moves are inversely related.
The 2026 Anyang Dance Festival will run for three days, Sept. 18-20, across Pyeongchon Central Park and Samdeok Park.
A "dance zone" set up in front of the waiting area at Pyeongchon Central Park will host random-play dance sessions and shuffle-dance busking that anyone can join, helping to build excitement for the festival.
On the opening day, Sept. 18, Samdeok Park will host "Dance Movie Day," combining film-themed performances with movie screenings. A "movie zone" will also be set up at the badminton court in Pyeongchon Central Park, offering a mix of video and dance performances alongside a rest area.
A "play zone" at the central fountain plaza in Pyeongchon Central Park will run a range of programs for families to enjoy together.
The festival also features plenty of participatory programs that let citizens take center stage themselves. At the sub-stage on the car-free street, the street dance battle "Stain to Groove" will take place alongside "Anyang Golden Dance," held for the first time this year. Amateur dance teams with an average age of 50 or older will compete across genres such as hula and shuffle dance in the event.
The main stage at Pyeongchon Central Park will host performances every evening that draw audiences across generations. On Sept. 18, following an awards ceremony honoring citizens to mark Citizens' Day, the lineup will include performances by Lim Chang-jung, K-pop group ARTMS and dance team Holybang.
On Sept. 19, the street dance competition "Anyang Crown Competition" will feature youth participants and 12 finalist teams. On Sept. 20, a K-pop concert featuring Bada, tripleS, Jadu and idntt, along with a closing ceremony and drone light show, will cap off the festival's final night.
Samdeok Park will also host performances spanning generations. On Sept. 19, the "Anyang Citizens' Song Contest" will feature performers including Park Hye-shin and Park Se-wook. The "Forever Youth Concert" on Sept. 20 will bring added energy with performers including Kang Jin, Ryu Ji-kwang, Chunja, Kim Seung-jin, Classy and Kim Yoo-sun.
"This year's Anyang Dance Festival has expanded its content to blend dance with film, play and hands-on experiences," Choi said. "We will do our best to make sure this becomes a signature Anyang festival where all citizens can dance and enjoy themselves together, crossing generations and genres."
The Anyang Dance Festival was named a winner in the "global premium festival" category at last year's 2026 14th Korea Festival Content Awards, marking its sixth consecutive year receiving recognition.
fob140@heraldcorp.com
![Popular mukbang influencer, 24, dies suddenly: 'ate 70 eggs at a time' [China Pick]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/09/08/news-p.v1.20260908.581b7189494849c3a9f1ade47eb6596d_T1.jpg?type=h&h=120)
