The 2026 Gangneung Coffee Festival runs from Wednesday, October 21 to Sunday, October 25, 2026. It takes place on Gangneung Coffee Street at Anmok Beach (안목해변) and at venues across Gangneung in Gangwon State. This is the festival’s 18th edition, and its coffee programs run every day of the festival from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Some programs charge a fee, but the organizers haven’t announced which ones or how much they cost.
What Is the Gangneung Coffee Festival?
The festival grew out of two local traditions. One is the everyday memory of the coffee vending machines that once lined Anmok Beach. The other is the café and roasting culture that Gangneung’s coffee artisans built over the years. The first festival was held in 2009, and it has since become a link between the city’s natural setting, its local culture, and its small businesses.
Residents, shop owners, people from the coffee industry and visitors all take part. Over coffee, they share Gangneung’s story through talks, art and local content. What began as a cup of coffee with a view of the sea has turned into something the whole city celebrates.
This year’s slogan is “Coffeeful Gangneung”. The lineup has 23 programs in three categories. The festival also reaches well beyond Coffee Street this year, with events in Jumunjin, Jungang Market (중앙시장), Ojukheon and Okgye.
Gangneung Coffee Festival 2026: Dates and Venue
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Edition | 18th |
| Dates | Wednesday, October 21 – Sunday, October 25, 2026 (5 days) |
| Hours | 10:00–20:00 (coffee programs) |
| Venue | Gangneung Coffee Street and venues across Gangneung |
| Address | 20-1 Changhae-ro 14beon-gil, Gangneung, Gangwon State (강원특별자치도 강릉시 창해로14번길 20-1, 견소동) |
| Admission | Some programs charge a fee (amounts not yet announced) |
| Hosts | Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Gangwon State; Gangneung City |
| Organizer | Gangneung Cultural Foundation (강릉문화재단) |
| Contact | 033-647-6802, gncaf@naver.com |
| Official website | https://www.coffeefestival.net/ |
The 2026 ITS World Congress also takes place in Gangneung during the same week. To go with the congress, the city is preparing to welcome international visitors. Its plans include multilingual information, shuttle buses and wider use of reusable cups.
Gangneung Coffee Festival Programs
The festival has three types of programs: core programs on Coffee Street, related programs around Coffee Street, and programs that take the festival across the city.
Core Programs on Coffee Street
| Type | Programs |
|---|---|
| Tastings & hands-on | 100-in 100-mi (100인 100미), Byeorui Byeol Gangneung Coffee (별의별 강릉커피), Coffee Experience Zone, Coffee Master Class, Coffee Therapy |
| Performances & night events | Byeori Binnaneun Bame (별이 빛나는 밤에), Anmok-inneun Coffee RADIO (안목있는 커피 RADIO), Coffee Busking, Coffee Star, Coffee Wave |
| Relaxing & picnics | Coffeenic (커피크닉) |
| Markets | Coffee Festival Market, Handicraft Market, Byeorui Byeol Coffee Bean Shop (별의별 원두상점) |
| Humanities | Coffee and the Humanities (커피와 인문학) |
- Coffee programs such as 100-in 100-mi, Byeorui Byeol Gangneung Coffee and Barista’s Table (바리스타의 테이블) run every day of the festival from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Byeori Binnaneun Bame (“On a Starry Night”) is an evening program on the sand at Anmok Beach, with coffee, music and the sea at night. Anmok-inneun Coffee RADIO also takes place at Anmok Beach. Start times for both haven’t been announced yet.
- The official website has posted booth lists for the Coffee Festival Market and the Handicraft Market (dated 2026.10.10), so you can see who’s selling before you go.
- The site has also posted a recruitment notice for a humanities experience group at the festival, part of the 2026 Humanities City Support Program (dated 2026.10.15).
Related Programs Around Coffee Street
- Festival exchange
- Fireworks
- Kids’ Playground
- Coffee Sports Day (커피운동회)
Fireworks are on the program list, but no date or time has been announced. Check the official website for updates.
Programs Across the City
- Welcome Coffee Shop
- Receipt event
- Stamp Rally (mobile)
- Coffee Festival Neighborhood Branch (커피축제 우리동네점)
These programs let you enjoy the festival away from Coffee Street. Welcome Coffee Shops, the mobile stamp rally and the receipt event bring you to neighborhoods and local shops in Jumunjin, Jungang Market, Ojukheon and Okgye. The schedule for the Coffee Festival Neighborhood Branch events is on the official website.
Gangneung Coffee Festival Admission and Prices
The festival lists admission only as “partially paid.” It hasn’t said which programs charge a fee or how much they cost. If you plan to join a paid program, check the official website or call the Gangneung Cultural Foundation (033-647-6802) before your visit.
Information about food at the 2026 festival is still being updated.
How to Get to the Gangneung Coffee Festival from Seoul and Busan
The venue is at 20-1 Changhae-ro 14beon-gil, Gangneung, Gangwon State (Anmok Coffee Street). The easiest way is to take the train to Gangneung Station. If you’re driving, park at one of the hub parking lots and take the free shuttle bus.
| From | Route | Travel time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul | Seoul Station → Gangneung Station, KTX (Gangneung Line) | Fastest about 114 minutes | Standard class 27,600 KRW (~$20 USD) |
| Busan | Bujeon Station → Gangneung Station, Donghae Line KTX-Eum | About 3 hours 54 minutes on average | Not published |
| Busan | Bujeon Station → Gangneung Station, ITX-Maeum | About 5 hours 4 minutes | 34,900 KRW (~$26 USD) |
- The Seoul KTX travel time and fare are from when the line opened in 2017. Check Korail for the current timetable and fares.
- KTX-Eum trains between Bujeon Station in Busan and Gangneung Station have run since December 30, 2025. The ITX-Maeum fare is from when the service opened in January 2025.
- We couldn’t find reliable information on getting there from the airport or on taxi fares, so they aren’t included here.
- For transportation and tourist information on site, contact the Gangneung Anmok Tourist Information Center at +82-33-640-4928.
Gangneung Coffee Festival Parking and Free Shuttle Bus
Gangneung City says parking around Anmok is a constant problem. Rather than trying to park next to the venue, leave your car at a hub lot and take the shuttle.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Parking | 13 lots near the venue and at key hubs |
| Shuttle bus | Free loop between the hub lots and the venue |
| Hours | Every day of the festival, 10:00–20:00 |
| Buses & frequency | 5 buses, every 15 minutes |
Gangneung Coffee Festival Road Closures
Roads around the venue are closed during the festival. If you’re driving, plan a route around these sections.
| Section | Closure period | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Songjeong-dong section (former Pepsi-Cola site to Songjeong futsal field) | October 19, 05:00 – October 26, 18:00 | Closed to vehicles |
| Anmok Traveler Center to the Anmok restroom intersection | October 21, 08:00 – October 25, 21:00 | Fully closed to vehicles |
| Jukdobong loop road | Construction section | Vehicle traffic restricted |
For full details, see the “18th Gangneung Coffee Festival traffic control” notice on the official website (posted 2026.10.14).
Tips for Visiting the Gangneung Coffee Festival
- Park at a hub lot and take the shuttle. Parking around Anmok is hard to find, and the roads around the Anmok Traveler Center are fully closed during the festival. The free shuttle runs every 15 minutes from 10:00 to 20:00 daily.
- Coffee programs run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Spend the day on tastings and hands-on activities, then stay for Byeori Binnaneun Bame on Anmok Beach in the evening.
- Get off Coffee Street. The mobile stamp rally, receipt event and Welcome Coffee Shops take you around Gangneung, including Jumunjin, Jungang Market, Ojukheon and Okgye.
- Look at the market booth lists before you go. The official website has booth lists for both the Coffee Festival Market and the Handicraft Market.
- International visitors should bring a translation app. Multilingual information is being set up, but the supported languages haven’t been announced. Nothing has been published yet about payment methods or luggage storage either, so contact the Gangneung Cultural Foundation (033-647-6802) or the Gangneung Anmok Tourist Information Center (+82-33-640-4928) ahead of time.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2026 Gangneung Coffee Festival, and what are the hours?
It runs for five days, from Wednesday, October 21 to Sunday, October 25, 2026. Coffee programs run every day of the festival from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Is there an admission fee for the Gangneung Coffee Festival?
Only some programs charge a fee. The festival hasn’t announced which programs are paid or how much they cost, so check the official website or call the Gangneung Cultural Foundation (033-647-6802).
Where can I park for the Gangneung Coffee Festival, and how does the shuttle bus work?
Park at one of the 13 lots near the venue or at the key hubs, then take the free shuttle bus that loops to the venue. Five buses run every 15 minutes from 10:00 to 20:00, every day of the festival.
Which roads near Anmok Beach are closed during the festival, and when?
The section from the Anmok Traveler Center to the Anmok restroom intersection is fully closed to vehicles from 08:00 on October 21 to 21:00 on October 25. The Songjeong-dong section (from the former Pepsi-Cola site to the Songjeong futsal field) is closed from 05:00 on October 19 to 18:00 on October 26. On the Jukdobong loop road, traffic is restricted in the construction section.
How do I get to the Gangneung Coffee Festival from Seoul?
Take the KTX (Gangneung Line) from Seoul Station to Gangneung Station. When the line opened in 2017, the fastest trip took about 114 minutes and a standard-class ticket cost 27,600 KRW (~$20 USD). Check Korail for the current timetable and fares.
How do I get to the Gangneung Coffee Festival from Busan?
The fastest option is the Donghae Line KTX-Eum from Bujeon Station to Gangneung Station, which takes about 3 hours 54 minutes on average. The ITX-Maeum takes about 5 hours 4 minutes. Its fare was 34,900 KRW (~$26 USD) when the service opened in January 2025.
When are Byeori Binnaneun Bame and the fireworks?
Exact dates and times haven’t been announced yet. Byeori Binnaneun Bame is an evening program on the sand at Anmok Beach, and the fireworks are one of the related programs around Coffee Street. Check the official website once the schedule is confirmed.
Is the festival easy for international visitors to enjoy?
Gangneung City is setting up multilingual information as part of its plans for the ITS World Congress. The supported languages haven’t been announced, so bring a translation app. For help on site, contact the Gangneung Anmok Tourist Information Center (+82-33-640-4928).
