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Busan Nights Become a Journey: “Korea Night Festa Busan” Illuminates the City with Films and Candlelight

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, and the Busan Tourism Organization announced that the “2026 Korea Night Festa Busan” will take place from July 18 to 19 at the Busan Cinema Center.

The event is part of a collaborative nighttime tourism program hosted sequentially by the 10 cities selected by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as specialized nighttime tourism destinations.

The participating cities are Busan, Tongyeong, Gangneung, Jeonju, Gongju, Daejeon, Incheon, Jinju, Seongju, and Yeosu.

As the first host city of the nationwide Korea Night Festa series, Busan will showcase its distinctive nighttime tourism programs at the Busan Cinema Center, a nighttime tourism hub designated by the Korea Tourism Organization for 2026. The programs will combine films, performances, and relaxation to create a uniquely Busan experience.

As immersive local experiences that allow visitors to engage directly with regional culture and everyday life continue to emerge as a major tourism trend, the festival will offer visitors a new way to experience the charm of Busan after dark.

Held under the slogan “A Midsummer Night’s Rest—Pause, Recharge, and Stay,” the festival invites visitors to slow down amid their travels and enjoy Busan’s evening atmosphere through a variety of programs, including an outdoor urban library, a candlelight concert, and the Night Convenience Store.

The Outdoor Urban Library will feature a book lounge with more than 500 books, along with beanbags, camping chairs, and other comfortable seating to create a relaxing midsummer nighttime retreat. Visitors will also be able to participate in a film quote transcription activity by handwriting their favorite movie lines on traditional manuscript paper.

The Candlelight Concert will be held on July 18 alongside the opening ceremony of the Busan Travel Film Festival. The Fever Candlelight Concert will take place in an outdoor theater illuminated by LED candles, presenting classical performances of famous movie original soundtracks in two sessions. In conjunction with the screening of the festival’s opening film, The Fall: Director’s Cut, the concert will provide audiences with a memorable cultural experience.

The Fever Candlelight Concert will be canceled in the event of rain.

Schedule:
Part 1: 19:00–19:30
Opening Film: 19:30–21:30
Part 2: 21:30–22:00

The Night Convenience Store will feature an instant noodle station where visitors can sample a variety of ramyeon, including Busan’s signature Pork Rice Soup Ramyeon souvenir. Local traditional liquors and beer from Busan will also be available. In addition, international visitors will have the opportunity to experience Korea’s food delivery culture through a dedicated K-Delivery experience zone.

The event will be held together with the 2026 Busan Travel Film Festival at the Busan Cinema Center, creating a comprehensive nighttime tourism experience that combines culture and travel.

Commemorating the hosting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee session in Busan, the Busan Travel Film Festival will present a wide range of programs, including film screenings, World Heritage-themed performances, and invited speaker talk shows titled “Trip Talk.”

In conjunction with the screening of Buena Vista Social Club, Korea Night Festa will also present a live Latin jazz performance, offering residents and visitors an even richer cultural experience.

Meanwhile, the Korea Tourism Organization will operate the Korea Night Festa Stamp Tour across all 10 specialized nighttime tourism cities through October, beginning with Busan.

Detailed information about the event and the Stamp Tour, including participation methods, is available on the Busan Tourism Portal at www.visitbusan.net or through Busan’s official nighttime tourism channel at @starry_night_busan.kr.

Na Yoon-bin, Director General of the Tourism and MICE Bureau, said, “Nighttime tourism is one of the essential pillars of Busan’s tourism industry and a key source of urban competitiveness enjoyed by both residents and visitors. We will continue to develop diverse nighttime tourism content that makes Busan’s evenings even more memorable while further enhancing the city’s brand value as a global nighttime tourism destination.”