Seongsu-dong in eastern Seoul will host a weeklong festival bringing together art, technology, gaming, fashion, music and other creative industries this October.
Seongdong District will hold 2026 Creative X Seongsu from Oct. 5 through Oct. 11 across venues including S-Factory, PUBG Seongsu, Yeonmujang-gil and Seoul Forest. This year’s edition, themed “Creative Metamorphosis,” will feature programs spanning 13 fields.
The festival has reorganized several of its main programs following its first three editions. Previously separate conference and investment-pitching programs have been combined into a new “Summit,” while the former cultural technology fair has been expanded into a thematic exhibition.
The Summit and thematic exhibition will run at S-Factory from Oct. 8 through Oct. 11 following the opening ceremony. Both programs will be offered free of charge this year, while admission policies for other festival programs vary.
One of the festival’s citywide programs, Play Seongsu, returns with a new storyline titled “Color Adventure.” Participants will move between landmarks across Seongsu-dong while completing app- and web-based missions. Around 11,000 people took part in the urban escape-room-style program last year.
The Seongsu Art Fair will feature an exhibition involving 75 emerging artists, alongside media art by Choi Se-hoon combining architectural engineering with artificial intelligence algorithms.
On Oct. 10, part of Seongsui-ro will be converted into an outdoor runway and performance venue. Fashion Seongsu will stage a show featuring high school student designers and models, while Music Seongsu will bring outdoor performances to streets and alleys across the neighborhood on Oct. 10 and 11.
Food-focused program Tasty Seongsu will offer promotions at local restaurants and a retro-themed chicken-and-beer event at PUBG Seongsu featuring the game PUBG: Battlegrounds.
Other programs include Beauty Seongsu, featuring beauty brands and influencers; Webtoon Seongsu, showcasing works by aspiring webtoon artists; Tour Seongsu, centered on local brand spaces and neighborhood stories; craft market Seongsu Made; and Film Seongsu, which will screen films from Korea and overseas.
Super Junior member Leeteuk has been appointed the festival’s promotional ambassador for the third consecutive year, having served in the role since 2024.
First launched in 2023, Creative X Seongsu has expanded each year. The 2025 edition featured 13 main programs and 102 individual events across 141 venues, drawing more than 230,000 visitors according to organizers.
Seongdong District Mayor Yoo Bo-hwa said the festival is designed to connect businesses, creators, spaces and local residents while creating new opportunities across Seongsu’s creative ecosystem.
SayArt.net
Sharon Jung guhuijeong784@gmail.com
