Oct. 8–11 at Taehwagang National Garden, Nam-gu riverside

Festival traces city's industrial history and culture

Expanded public participation, AI experience zone among highlights

The 2026 Ulsan Industrial Festival will feature a range of programs, including the "Ulsan Citizens' Gathering," open to local artists, youth and the general public. The image shows a promotional guide for the opening performance, which will be staged by local artists. [Captured from the 2026 Ulsan Industrial Festival website]
The 2026 Ulsan Industrial Festival will feature a range of programs, including the "Ulsan Citizens' Gathering," open to local artists, youth and the general public. The image shows a promotional guide for the opening performance, which will be staged by local artists. [Captured from the 2026 Ulsan Industrial Festival website]

The 2026 Ulsan Industrial Festival, the city's signature annual event celebrating its identity as an industrial hub, will run for four days from Thursday to Sunday at the Nam-gu riverside area of Taehwagang National Garden and surrounding venues.

This year's festival carries the slogan "When Ulsan moves, Korea changes," reflecting the city's commitment to industrial AI transformation. Organizers designed the program to weave together 60 years of Ulsan's industrial growth, 7,000 years of the city's history and a vision of an AI-driven future into a single narrative, with residents and local artists at the center of the event.

Unlike in previous years, the festival has consolidated its scattered venues into the main site at the Nam-gu riverside of Taehwagang National Garden, making it easier for visitors to get around, and has reorganized its program lineup to better reflect the festival's direction.

The festival opens Thursday with a welcoming performance by local cultural and arts figures at 6:30 p.m., followed by the opening ceremony at 7 p.m. Performers joining citizens and local artists on stage include Cha Ji-yeon, Baek In-tae, Park Hye-kyung, Woongsan Band, Soran and band OneWe. A swarm drone show featuring 1,000 drones and a fireworks display will cap the opening night.

Throughout the festival, a daily "Ulsan Citizens' Gathering" will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., open to local artists, youth, office workers and the general public.

A workplace singing competition final will take place Friday at 7 p.m., followed by the U-Culture Festival — a performance showcase by local university students — on Saturday at 8 p.m., and a closing performance on Sunday. Related events include a labor-management community walk on Thursday and a workers' sports day on Saturday.

An AI experience zone at the Nam-gu riverside will offer hands-on activities throughout the festival, including making personalized storybooks using generative AI, virtual reality racing, AI caricature portraits, AI health checkups and robot soccer. An "Ulsan Future Expo" will also run alongside, giving visitors a chance to experience cutting-edge technologies including AI, robotics and extended reality.

Promotional and experience booths will cover a wide range of fields, including a Ulsan city showcase, corporate exhibits, a master craftsman pavilion, social economy enterprises, promising small businesses, and agriculture, fisheries, culture and tourism.


cityblue@heraldcorp.com