Looking for a Korean food festival in 2026? This calendar brings together major food festivals in South Korea plus Korean food and culture events in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe. Use it to plan a trip around kimchi, bibimbap, fried chicken, strawberries, ginseng, fermented sauces, and regional specialties.
Last verified: August 19, 2026. Festival dates, venues, fees, and programs can change. Follow the official link and confirm the final schedule before booking transportation or accommodation.
Next major dates after this update: Vancouver’s Kimchi & K-Food Festival on August 28–29; the LA Korean Festival on October 1–4; Geumsan World K-Insam Festival on October 2–11; Houston’s Korean Festival on October 10–11; Sunchang Fermented Food Festival on October 16–18; and the Gwangju Kimchi and Gimcheon Gimbap festivals on October 23–25.
2026 Korean Food Festival Calendar at a Glance
| 2026 Dates | Korean Food Festival | Location | Main Food or Experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 10–Feb 1 | Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival | Hwacheon, South Korea | Trout fishing, grilled fish, winter food |
| Mar 26–29 | Nonsan Strawberry Festival | Nonsan, South Korea | Strawberries, desserts, picking experiences |
| May 1–4 | JUNG Festival | London, UK | Korean street food and independent food brands |
| May 22–24 | K-PLUS Festival | Paris, France | Korean products, tastings, fermentation |
| Jul 1–5 | Daegu Chimac Festival | Daegu, South Korea | Korean fried chicken and beer |
| Aug 14–16 | Chimac Fest | Irvine, California | Korean fried chicken, beer, music |
| Aug 28–29 | Kimchi & K-Food Festival | Coquitlam, British Columbia | Kimchi classes, street food, Korean culture |
| Oct 1–4 | Los Angeles Korean Festival | Los Angeles, California | Korean regional foods, market stalls, performances |
| Oct 2–11 | Geumsan World K-Insam Festival | Geumsan, South Korea | Ginseng foods, digging, markets, wellness experiences |
| Oct 10–11 | Korean Festival Houston | Houston, Texas | Korean food vendors and cultural performances |
| Oct 16–18 | Sunchang Fermented Food Festival | Sunchang, South Korea | Gochujang, doenjang, fermentation culture |
| Oct 23–25 | Gwangju Kimchi Festival | Gwangju, South Korea | Kimchi making, food court, kimchi masters |
| Oct 23–25 | Gimcheon Gimbap Festival | Gimcheon, South Korea | Gimbap, local vendors, family activities |
| Nov 4–7 | Food Week Korea | Seoul, South Korea | Large food exhibition and industry showcase |
Some entries above have already taken place but remain useful for annual trip planning. Events do not always return on the same weekend, so use the official organizer’s current page for 2027 and later dates.
Korean Food Festivals in South Korea by Season
❄️ January–February: Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival
2026 dates: January 10–February 1
Location: Hwacheon, Gangwon-do
What to eat: Freshly caught sancheoneo trout, grilled fish, sashimi-style preparations, and warming winter snacks
This is broader than a conventional Korean food festival, but food is central to the experience: visitors catch trout through the ice and have it prepared nearby. It is useful for travelers searching for winter food events in Korea. Extreme weather can affect programming, so check conditions before traveling.
Check Hwacheon festival information →
🌸 March: Nonsan Strawberry Festival
2026 dates: March 26–29
Location: Nonsan Citizen’s Park, Chungcheongnam-do
What to eat: Fresh Nonsan strawberries, strawberry desserts, drinks, and seasonal products
Nonsan is one of Korea’s best-known strawberry-growing areas. The festival combines fruit sales with dessert cafés, family programs, and strawberry-picking experiences. It is one of the easiest spring festivals for international visitors to understand and enjoy without deep knowledge of Korean cuisine.
Check the official tourism listing →
🌿 May: Boseong Green Tea Festival
Typical timing: Early May; confirm each year
Location: Boseong, Jeollanam-do
What to try: Korean green tea, tea desserts, green-tea ice cream, and regional foods
Boseong’s tea fields are a major spring travel destination. The festival commonly includes tea picking, preparation demonstrations, tastings, and products using local tea. VisitKorea or the Boseong tourism site should be checked for the final annual schedule.
☀️ July: Daegu Chimac Festival
2026 dates: July 1–5
Location: Duryu Park and surrounding areas, Daegu
What to eat: Korean fried chicken and beer
Chimac combines chikin (chicken) and maekju (beer). This large summer event mixes food booths, performances, water attractions, and nightlife. Daegu is extremely hot in July, so bring sun protection and water. Alcohol purchase and consumption are subject to Korean law and event rules.
Check Daegu Chimac Festival details →
🌿 October 2–11: Geumsan World K-Insam Festival
2026 dates: October 2–11
Location: Geumsan World Insam Expo Square, Chungcheongnam-do
What to try: Fresh ginseng, red-ginseng products, ginseng dishes, drinks, and medicinal-food experiences
Geumsan has a long association with Korean ginseng. Visitors can shop at ginseng markets, join digging experiences, see a harvest ritual, and explore how the root is used beyond samgyetang.
Check Geumsan festival information →
🍂 October 16–18: Sunchang Fermented Food Festival
2026 dates: October 16–18
Location: Sunchang Gochujang Village and Fermentation Theme Park, Jeonbuk-do
What to try: Gochujang, doenjang, ganjang, fermented-food dishes, and regional products
This is the best fit for readers who want to understand the fermented sauces behind Korean cooking. Sunchang is especially famous for gochujang, making the event both cultural and practical for ingredient-focused travelers.
Check Sunchang festival details → · Read the gochujang guide →
🍂 October 23–25: Gwangju Kimchi Festival
2026 dates: October 23–25
Location: Gwangju, South Korea
What to try: Regional kimchi, kimchi dishes, food-court menus, and kimchi-making experiences
The Gwangju Kimchi Festival is one of Korea’s signature food events. Programs listed for 2026 include kimchi making, a large shared table, chef demonstrations, exhibitions, and a competition featuring skilled kimchi makers.
Check Gwangju Kimchi Festival details →
What actually happens across the three days in Gwangju, including which sessions you can join without a reservation.
🍙 October 23–25: Gimcheon Gimbap Festival
2026 dates: October 23–25
Location: Gimcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do
What to try: Gimbap, local specialties, creative fillings, and family-friendly food activities
The event plays on Gimcheon’s name and Korea’s affection for gimbap. It is a highly accessible choice for families and first-time visitors because gimbap is portable, varied, and rarely difficult to recognize.
Check the VisitKorea festival listing →
🍚 October: Jeonju Bibimbap Festival
Typical timing: October; 2026 dates should be confirmed with the organizer
Location: Jeonju, Jeonbuk-do
What to try: Jeonju bibimbap, regional banchan, sauces, and local dishes
Jeonju is one of Korea’s strongest food destinations. The annual festival commonly features giant bibimbap-making, a Jeonju food zone, cooking programs, and performances. Combine it with Jeonju Hanok Village and traditional liquor experiences.
Read VisitKorea’s Jeonju bibimbap guide →
🍽️ November 4–7: Food Week Korea
2026 dates: November 4–7
Location: COEX, Seoul
Best for: Food products, trends, exhibitors, buyers, and industry visitors
Food Week Korea is more trade exhibition than local street festival, but it is valuable for serious food shoppers, businesses, and readers interested in new Korean products. Check public-entry conditions and registration before visiting.
Visit the Food Week Korea website →
Korean Food Festivals in the USA, Canada, UK & Europe
Not every overseas event is exclusively about food. Korean cultural festivals are included when they have a substantial K-food market, street-food area, tasting program, or kimchi activity.
| Event | 2026 Date & Place | Food Highlights | Official / Current Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| JUNG Festival | May 1–4 Canopy Market, King’s Cross, London | Korean street food, desserts, packaged foods, independent brands | 2026 event completed. Check organizer updates for the next edition. |
| K-PLUS Festival | May 22–24 Paris, France | Tastings, fermented foods, Korean premium products, workshops | K-PLUS Festival website → |
| Chimac Fest | Aug 14–16 Great Park Live, Irvine, California | Korean fried chicken, beer, food vendors, music | Chimac Fest website → |
| Kimchi & K-Food Festival | Aug 28–29 Coquitlam Town Centre Park, British Columbia | Kimchi-making classes, K-street food, vendors, performances | Vancouver-area festival website → |
| Los Angeles Korean Festival | Oct 1–4 Seoul International Park, Los Angeles | Large Korean food court, agricultural products, regional foods, market booths | LA Korean Festival information → |
| Korean Festival Houston | Oct 10–11 Discovery Green, Houston | Korean food vendors, cultural programming, performances | Korean Festival Houston website → |
UK planning note: London event schedules changed during 2026, including the originally announced London Hallyu Festival dates. Do not rely on an old social post or ticket page. Confirm directly with the current organizer before traveling.
What Is the Best Month for a Korean Food Festival?
October is the best overall month. Korea’s autumn harvest creates a dense festival season for ginseng, rice, beef, bibimbap, fermented sauces, seafood, and kimchi. Weather is also generally more comfortable than midsummer.
- March–May: Best for strawberries, green tea, spring produce, and lighter crowds.
- July–August: Best for fried chicken, beer, samgyetang, seafood, and energetic outdoor events—but expect heat and rain.
- September–October: Best for the widest choice of Korean food festivals and harvest foods.
- November–February: Best for kimjang, food exhibitions, winter seafood, ice fishing, and warming street food.
To understand what Koreans eat throughout the year, pair this calendar with the Korean Seasonal Foods guide.
How to Plan a Korean Food Festival Visit
- Verify the date again. Check the organizer within a week of travel because weather and venue changes happen.
- Search both English and Korean names. Korean-language pages often receive schedule updates first.
- Check reservation rules. Entry may be free while workshops, tastings, premium seats, or food require separate payment.
- Arrive early. Popular food items and hands-on sessions can sell out before the evening.
- Carry more than one payment method. Large booths often accept cards, but small vendors or temporary systems may vary.
- Check allergens yourself. Ask about shellfish, fish sauce, soy, wheat, sesame, nuts, and alcohol. Busy festival kitchens may have cross-contact.
- Bring weather protection. Korean summer festivals can be extremely hot and humid; autumn nights can become cool.
- Plan transportation home. Large events create traffic, and parking may fill early. Public transportation is usually easier.
What to Buy at a Korean Food Festival
- Fermented pantry staples: gochujang, doenjang, ganjang, and regional kimchi
- Local agricultural products: ginseng, rice, strawberries, tea, mushrooms, and dried fruit
- Easy gifts: tea bags, snacks, seaweed, sauces, traditional sweets, and sealed shelf-stable products
- Tools: small onggi jars, serving bowls, chopsticks, and regional kitchenware
For products you cannot bring home, use the Korean ingredient buying guide or check these Amazon searches:
- Gochujang on Amazon →
- Doenjang on Amazon →
- Kimchi-making supplies on Amazon →
- Korean ginseng tea on Amazon →
Shopping from outside the US? how the same order ships outside the US is the part most guides skip.
Korean Food Festival FAQs
What is Korea’s most famous food festival?
The answer depends on the food. The Gwangju Kimchi Festival is one of the strongest choices for traditional food culture, while the Daegu Chimac Festival is one of the largest and most accessible contemporary events. Jeonju is ideal for bibimbap, and Sunchang is best for fermented sauces.
Are Korean food festivals free?
Many festivals offer free general entry, but visitors pay for food, products, classes, or reserved programs. Always check the current event page because ticket policies can change.
Are Korean food festivals good for English-speaking visitors?
Major events are increasingly visitor-friendly, but English support varies. Save the Korean event name and address on your phone, use a translation app, and ask the tourist information booth about English programs.
When should I book a hotel for an October festival?
Book refundable accommodation as soon as the official date is confirmed. Regional cities can have limited rooms near festival venues, especially when several autumn events overlap.
How often is this Korean food festival calendar updated?
The goal is to review it whenever organizers release dates and again before the main autumn festival season. Readers should still verify each event through its official link before making travel plans.
Plan Your 2026 Korean Food Festival Trip
For the widest selection, plan a South Korea trip in October and choose two or three events by region rather than trying to visit everything. Outside Korea, major Korean community festivals in Los Angeles, Houston, Vancouver, London, and Paris offer an easier way to explore K-food closer to home. Bookmark this Korean food festival calendar and confirm every date before you go.
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