The 2026 Gangnam Festival opened Saturday with a large street parade through Gangnam-gu, the affluent district in southern Seoul known internationally through Psy’s 2012 hit “Gangnam Style.”
The Grand Parade moved along Dosan-daero, a major road running through some of Gangnam’s best-known commercial and fashion areas. About 2,000 residents from all 22 administrative neighborhoods in the district took part in the procession, according to the festival organizers. It was the first large-scale street parade held as part of the annual Gangnam Festival.
The route stretched from Cheongdam Intersection to Dosan Park Intersection. Cheongdam-dong and the surrounding area are widely associated with luxury retail, fashion and entertainment businesses, making the avenue a fitting setting for a festival intended to present different sides of contemporary Gangnam.
Large balloons of Korean and international characters moved through the streets alongside costumed performers and local residents. Children dressed as Peter Pan and Tinker Bell were also among the participants. The parade was organized around seven themes based on the seven letters in “GANGNAM,” covering subjects from Korean heritage and family entertainment to fashion and street performance.
Now in its 15th year, the festival runs through Monday at several locations across Gangnam. This year, its main events shifted from Yeongdong-daero to the Dosan-daero area, with concerts, fashion programs and food events scheduled alongside the parade.
mjh@heraldcorp.com
