Course loops through four bridges, including Gwangan Bridge, and Cheonma Tunnel

Some 4,000 riders from Korea and abroad to tackle 77-kilometer route

A promotional poster for the 2026 Seven Bridge Tour [Busan Metropolitan City]
A promotional poster for the 2026 Seven Bridge Tour [Busan Metropolitan City]

The 2026 Seven Bridge Tour: Riding in Busan, a cycling festival that takes riders over the city's maritime bridges and through its downtown, will be held across Busan on Sept. 20. About 4,000 cyclists from Korea and abroad are expected to take part, showcasing the city's brand as a global sports and tourism destination.

The Seven Bridge Tour is the only large-scale, noncompetitive cycling tour of its kind in the country. It links four of Busan's signature maritime bridges — Gwangan Bridge, Busan Harbor Bridge, Namhang Bridge and Eulsukdo Bridge — along with two underground roadways and one tunnel into a single loop course. This year's edition will run as a single 77-kilometer course, dubbed the "chilchil," or "seven-seven," course, allowing participants to experience all of Busan's major maritime bridges in full.

The full route begins at Bexco, where riders gather before setting off across Gwangan Bridge, then continuing through the Sinseondae underground roadway, Busan Harbor Bridge, Namhang Bridge and Cheonma Tunnel. From there, the course crosses Eulsukdo Bridge, turns back near the airport road area, and returns to Bexco. The course includes the dizzying spiral ramp section of Busan Harbor Bridge, known for its height, which organizers expect to give riders a memorable experience.

Organizers will operate timed sections and rest stops along the route to add both excitement and recovery opportunities. After finishing, riders can enjoy a music performance at the finish line, engraved completion medals, a photo zone for checking their times, and local food offerings.

First held last year, the Seven Bridge Tour drew significant attention at home and abroad for its unique course linking the city's maritime bridges by bicycle. The event was even covered by CNN.

This year, organizers recruited participants from overseas and prepared a range of citizen-participation programs for families to enjoy together. The "Good Morning Bridge Walking" event will take place after the cycling group departs. Some 1,000 participants selected through advance reservations will walk across the deck of Gwangan Bridge for a rare experience above Busan's waters. At Yongho Byeolbit Park, the "Seven Bridge Festival," a wellness event open to citizens featuring everything from exercise to recovery and relaxation, will also be held.

The city will deploy about 1,000 safety and security personnel alongside police and firefighters across the entire course. It will station about 40 specialists and ambulances at the event's signature section, the spiral ramp of Busan Harbor Bridge. An emergency medical system will also be in place, including about 40 medical personnel such as firefighters and doctors, 15 ambulances, two medical booths and links to designated disaster-response hospitals. This is meant to allow rapid response in case of accidents.

The entire course will be fully or partially closed to traffic on the day of the event. Closures will be lifted in stages after safety checks following the passage of the cycling group. The city will also step up advance publicity and on-site guidance to minimize inconvenience for freight and commercial vehicle drivers as well as public transit users.

"We will do our best to showcase Busan's charm, where the sea and the city come together, and to establish this as a global sports tourism festival that draws attention from around the world," Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo said.


kaf2002@heraldcorp.com