Events
Gangneung Coffee Festival 2026 (Oct. 21–25): What's New, How to Get There and What to Check
AT A GLANCE
- Dates
- Wednesday, October 21 – Sunday, October 25 (5 days)
- Place
- Anmok Coffee Street, plus Jumunjin, Jungang Market and other spots around the city
- Cost
- Listed as free entry; coffee and some activities cost money
- Booking
- Coffee seminar, therapy and barista workshops are pre-registration events (official site)
- Inquiries
- Gangneung Cultural Foundation, 033-647-6802
The 18th Gangneung Coffee Festival runs for five days, from Wednesday, October 21 to Sunday, October 25, 2026, centered on Coffee Street at Anmok Beach and spreading across Gangneung. Entry is listed as free, while coffee and some activities cost money. Hours and the detailed program are still waiting for an official notice. The festival now covers the whole city this year, so here are the schedule and the route.
The hero image is AI-generated. It is not a photo of the real festival.
What is new this year
This year’s slogan is “Coffeeful Gangneung.”
- The whole city: The main stage is still Anmok Coffee Street, and the festival is said to spread to Jumunjin, Jungang Market, Ojukheon and Okgye.
- 241 applicants for 160 booths: That is about 150% of the planned size. Roasters and cafes from across Korea gather in one place. Nocut News (in Korean).
- Same time as the ITS World Congress: The 2026 Gangneung ITS World Congress (an international intelligent transport conference) runs October 19–23, overlapping the festival on the 21st to 23rd. The city says it is preparing multilingual guidance and shuttle buses. Gangwon Shinmun (in Korean).
The 21st–23rd overlap with the conference. Hotels and transport can be busier than usual, so book trains and rooms early.
What the official site lists
As of October 7, the official website lists these programs:
- “100 People 100 Tastes” performance: a barista participation program that ran in past years too.
- Coffee therapy, coffee seminars and barista workshops: pre-registration events are open. A barista training session for international students is also listed.
- Coffee stamp rally: a program across local cafes has started. For official questions, call the Gangneung Cultural Foundation at 033-647-6802 or email gncaf@naver.com.
Why Gangneung became a coffee city
Anmok Beach became known for the coffee vending machines lined along the shore, and that grew into today’s Coffee Street. Park Yi-chu, known as a first-generation barista, is also said to have settled in Gangneung and helped hand-drip coffee culture take root. If you want a break from the crowded street, look for older cafes like these.
Getting there
- Train: The KTX from Seoul to Gangneung Station takes about 2 hours. Fares and travel times depend on the train and seat, so check Korail. Train tickets can be booked two months ahead from October. Our guide to the two-month booking change.
- Gangneung Station to Anmok Beach: Take a city bus or taxi. Check routes and times in a map app.
- By car: Parking around Anmok may be hard during the festival.
Who it suits, and who it does not
A good fit
- You want to taste coffee from many roasters at once
- You want sea views with an autumn trip
- You are planning a day trip or one-night trip by KTX
Not a great fit
- If crowds bother you, aim for a weekday morning, though the 21st to 23rd overlap with the conference
- If you plan around activities, check each one’s price and booking notice
- If you drive, look into shuttles and buses before parking
FAQ
Is there an entry fee? Entry is listed as free. Coffee and some activities cost money.
Do I need to book? I found no booking notice for entering the festival. Check notices for activity booking.
What are the opening hours? Check the website.
Is a day trip from Seoul possible? Yes, the KTX takes about 2 hours. Tickets can go fast on weekends and during the conference.
More to read: the autumn festival calendar.
Written October 2, 2026, updated October 7. Hours, programs and shuttle routes can change or be announced later. Also used: Newspim, News1.