A promotional poster for the "2026 Car-Free Jamsugyo Bridge Festival" / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
The Seoul Metropolitan Government will close Jamsu Bridge to vehicles every Sunday for eight weeks starting Sunday, turning the Han River crossing into a pedestrian festival space through June 14.
The “2026 Car-Free Jamsugyo Festival” will run from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. each Sunday along a 1.1-kilometer stretch of Jamsu Bridge and the adjacent Banpo Hangang Park, with programming focused on walking and leisure activities along the Han River.
The event, now in its fifth year, has drawn a cumulative 5.3 million visitors through 2025. A second run is planned for eight weeks between September and October.
Each of the eight Sundays features a distinct headline program.
The series opens with “Easy Morning,” a walking and running event along a roughly 2-kilometer course organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Sports Council, with pre-registration capped at 2,000 participants.
Subsequent weeks will feature a percussion parade on May 3; a live band concert on May 10; a sports day with team events on May 17; an acoustic guitar flash mob on May 24 led by singer-songwriter Beomjin and about 300 players; an outdoor film screening on May 31; a beach-themed program on June 7 inspired by Paris Plages; and a sunset yoga session on June 14 conducted by an instructor certified by the Indian government in collaboration with the Embassy of India in Seoul.
Permanent attractions throughout the festival will include about 30 food trucks serving international fare, a handicraft market, a local produce market, street performances and a silent disco. An LED photo zone — expanded this year from six to 10 installations — will illuminate the site after dark.
The city’s Moonlight Rainbow Fountain will run three times nightly at 7:30, 8:00 and 8:30 p.m., for 20 minutes each, reduced from five sessions in light of energy constraints.
The city strongly encourages public transit use, as nearby parking is limited and road congestion is expected. Full program details and registration are available at the festival's official website at www.festa-ddooddoo.com and on Instagram at @ddooddoo_festa.
Source: Korea Times News
