Poster for the 2026 Pohang Craft Beer Festival. [Pohang City]
Poster for the 2026 Pohang Craft Beer Festival. [Pohang City]

Pohang, in North Gyeongsang Province, will hold the 2026 Pohang Craft Beer Festival in front of the maritime pavilion at Yeongildae Beach on Friday and Saturday.

Now in its third year, the festival combines craft beer with local food to offer residents and tourists a range of activities, while also aiming to boost sales for small local businesses and revitalize the surrounding commercial district.

The festival grounds will feature 14 craft beer booths from across the country alongside 15 booths run by Pohang-area restaurants, offering a wide variety of food and drink.

A lineup of performances will add to the autumn evening atmosphere, including celebratory concerts, busking acts, and an EDM and DJ party.

Interactive events are also planned for visitors. These include a "BeerBTI" personalized beer sampler matching service that recommends brews based on individual taste, a beer-stein holding endurance challenge, a brewery quiz show, and a retro arcade zone.

The venue will also feature a camping-themed lounge area and a starlit umbrella photo zone decorated with illuminated umbrellas, offering visitors a distinctive backdrop for memories.

A consumer promotion tied to the local commercial district is another draw. Visitors who verify a receipt from a Pohang store can enter a roulette event for a chance to win prizes including craft beer vouchers.

The Pohang Love Card — a local payment card — will be accepted at food booths to encourage spending within the city.

Pohang city is also committed to running the festival in an environmentally responsible and safe manner. Reusable containers will be provided and a separate collection station will be set up to reduce single-use waste, while age verification wristbands will be issued after ID checks to tighten alcohol sales management.

"Through this festival, we hope to showcase the appeal of Pohang to tourists visiting Yeongildae, extend their stay and spending, and provide real, tangible support to local small business owners and the surrounding commercial district," Pohang Mayor Park Yong-seon said.


kbj7653@heraldcorp.com