▲ This poster for the 2026 Gwangju Street Culture Festa, a street dance festival, is provided by Gwangju. The event is set to be held June 4-7, 2026, at the National Asian Culture Center and nearby venues in Gwangju. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)

SEOUL, June 2 (Yonhap) -- The 2026 Gwangju Street Culture Festa, a street dance festival, will be held from June 4-7 at the National Asian Culture Center and nearby venues in Gwangju, organizers said Tuesday.

More than 1,300 top dancers from South Korea and abroad are expected to take part in the event.

"Battle Line Up," a street dance competition that began as a grassroots initiative by young dancers in Gwangju and has since grown into one of the country's leading street dance brands, drew strong interest ahead of the festival, with registration selling out within two minutes of opening.

Dancers from around the world will compete in one-on-one battles across five genres -- hip-hop, waacking, popping, locking and open style.

A "Kids & Youth Battle" competition for children and teenagers will also be held.

Reflecting the global popularity of K-culture, the festival will introduce a new K-pop dance competition. A total of 37 dance teams in youth and general divisions will perform group routines in the contest.

Well-known dancers, including Rihey, Jinwoo, Love Ran, Danzel and Akanen, will participate as judges and performers.

Judging will be conducted by internationally renowned street dancers, including participants from France's "Juste Debout," while veteran MC Durak will host the event.

The festival will also feature experiential booths showcasing street culture, as well as promotional booths highlighting Gwangju's attractions.

The event is jointly organized and hosted by the Gwangju metropolitan government, Dong-gu District Office, the National Asian Culture Center, KBS Gwangju Broadcasting Station and Bitgoeul Dancers.

Lee Seung-gyu, head of Gwangju's Vitality Promotion Headquarters, said, "The Street Culture Festa is a global cultural festival where young people and dancers from around the world gather in Gwangju to enjoy street culture together."

"We will do our utmost to help it grow into a festival that showcases Gwangju's cultural dynamism and youthful energy," he added.

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