The Korea Arts and Culture Education Service (Arko) announced on September 2 that the lineup and main programs for the '2026 Art Forest Festival WITH Background Live' will take place at the Seoul Children's Grand Park on October 3.
This year's festival will feature surprise live performances by Urban Zakapa, 10CM, and a hidden artist who will be revealed on the day of the event, all without a separate stage.
Experience programs with artists such as pianist Yoon Han, DJ Joseph, AnnoyingBox, artist Han Wan-jeong, and gryeobori will enrich the festival.
The festival will also incorporate the Background Drive directing style from the YouTube channel 'J.K. Out,' which breaks down the barriers between the stage and the audience, allowing artists to appear unexpectedly in various moments and locations. This approach aims to provide a fresh experience of encountering art as if by chance.
Three YouTube channels—'Kwon Tto Tto,' 'Jo Hyun-a's Ordinary Thursday Night,' and 'J.K. Out'—will also be present at the festival to promote the value of cultural arts support through on-site programs.
These channels are running a project where they donate 10 won to the 'Theater Tomorrow Fund' for every view of their released content. The 'Theater Tomorrow Fund' is a fundraising campaign initiated by actors Shin Gu and Park Geun-hyung to support the growth of young theater artists.
The Art Forest Festival will not sell tickets but will invite cultural arts supporters. Donations of 5,000 won or more to the 'Theater Tomorrow Fund' through the festival's website by September 18 will automatically enter donors into a lottery for participation. A total of 300 donors, along with one guest each, will be invited, totaling 600 attendees.
Chairman Lee Beom-hun stated, “This year’s Art Forest Festival is significant in that it lowers the barriers to cultural arts support by meeting the familiar platform of YouTube. We will continue to enhance accessibility so that everyone can enjoy and participate in supporting the arts without burden.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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