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Opening of the 2025 Busan International Performing Arts Market (BPAM), a Platform for Performing Arts Distribution

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that the “2025 Busan International Performing Arts Market (BPAM)” will be held from September 24 to 28 for five days across Busan, centered at the Busan Cultural Center and Busan Eurasia Platform.

Launched in 2023, BPAM is a “global festival-type performing arts distribution market” that expands the distribution opportunities of performing arts works and provides a venue for both citizens and performing arts professionals to enjoy. It is hosted by Busan Metropolitan City and organized by the Busan Cultural Foundation (President Oh Jae-hwan).

This year’s BPAM, themed “A New Wave of Performing Arts,” will feature a wide range of programs including the Opening Ceremony, Performing Arts Distribution, and Networking. Approximately 60,000 participants, including performing arts professionals, artists, and citizens from 35 countries, are expected to take part.

The Opening Ceremony will be held at 7:30 p.m. on September 24 at the Busan Cultural Center Grand Theater. Vice Mayor for Administrative Affairs Lee Jun-seung and key domestic and international guests will attend to announce the start of BPAM, followed by a 60-minute gala performance combining five works.

The gala performance will showcase harmony across genres, featuring: [Dance] Ryu Jang-hyun and Friends, [Theater] Theater Company Actor, Audience and Space, [Music] Insoo Kim & Gugak Jazz Society, [Multidisciplinary Arts] Ongals and Umbilical Brothers.

[Performing Arts Distribution Program] More than 100 performances in dance, music, theater, and multidisciplinary arts from 15 countries will be presented by over 600 artists. This year, at least one Busan-based work per genre has been selected among the official invitations, with a particular focus on discovering local works through the “Regional Creation Project.”

Among the highlights, 26 officially invited full-length works carefully selected by BPAM’s five artistic directors will be staged, including four “BPAM Choices” and 22 “BPAM Showcases.” In addition, audiences can enjoy over 100 works across categories such as BPAM Project (3 works), BPAM Pick (10 works), BPAM Show Up (6 works), BPAM Street (32 works), and BPAM Link (21 works) throughout the city.

The newly established “Regional Creation Project” aims to discover competitive, locally based content. During BPAM, three selected works will be showcased, and one will be chosen for a full-length performance at the end of the year. The selected work will be further developed for international distribution, laying the groundwork for continuous growth of local creations.

[Networking Programs] Aimed at fostering exchanges, collaborations, and information sharing among domestic and international performing arts industry professionals, BPAM will provide opportunities to focus on the distribution and sales of works through the following events:

• ●“BPAM Booth” (September 24, 13:00–17:00) at the Asti Hotel Busan Station Grand Ballroom Hall, where 33 arts organizations will promote their works and content, creating opportunities for networking and cooperation.

• ●“BPAM Just Ten Minutes” (September 25–28, 09:30–12:00) at Busan Eurasia Platform, where performing arts organizations will hold 10-minute one-on-one business meetings with domestic and international industry delegates who are otherwise difficult to meet.

• ●“BPAM Next Talk” (September 25–28, 10:00–12:00) at Busan Eurasia Platform, a program where international performing arts experts will discuss diverse strategies and case studies under four themes: Global Markets, Private Theaters, Regional Festivals, and Asia. Open to anyone interested in the performing arts industry.

This year’s BPAM will also welcome around 300 domestic and international figures, including 105 overseas performing arts industry professionals from 34 countries, to discuss performing arts distribution and international cooperation.

Key attendees include: Lisa Richards Toney, CEO of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP, USA); Tony Lankester, CEO of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (UK); and Anne Chan, Co-Director of the Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo (HKPAX), among others. Representatives from major performing arts festivals such as the Avignon OFF Festival (France), Market for African Performing Arts (MASA, Côte d’Ivoire), Palacio Libertad (Argentina), and Tanec Praha (Czech Republic) will also be present.

Vice Mayor for Administrative Affairs Lee Jun-seung stated, “BPAM will continue to grow as a distribution platform that connects creators, producers, arts organizations, and markets from diverse countries. We kindly ask for your interest and participation in the five-day performing arts market programs unfolding across the entire city of Busan.”