Pohang Chimaek Festival

August 21–22, 2026: A Night of Chicken and Beer in Front of Yeongildae Marine Pavilion

The Pohang Chicken and Beer Festival is scheduled to take place for two days, from August 21 to 22, 2026, at Yeongildae Square in front of the Yeongildae Marine Pavilion, 1015-6 Duho-dong, Buk-gu, Pohang-si. With the pavilion over the sea directly in view, this summer event combines chicken and beer with nighttime performances, making it a place I would want to tell friends who enjoy the atmosphere of Pohang’s seaside nights.

The main stage is scheduled to feature Chicken & Beer On performances, the Chicken & Beer Star K singing competition, the Pohang Chicken and Beer King Contest, citizen recreation activities, celebratory performances, and the Pohang Chicken and Beer EDM Party in succession. A commemorative ceremony will also be held, and the program includes many opportunities for visitors to join in with songs and games rather than simply watch, so the energy at the venue seems likely to build quickly.

• At the Water Balloon Toss Experience Zone, you can take part casually while getting your hands wet on a hot day.
• The Making Experience Zone is scheduled to offer eco-bag and badge-making activities.
• A receipt lucky draw is scheduled to take place in the Event Zone.
• The Food Zone will feature chicken and beer food trucks, along with a flea market.

Yeongildae Square in front of the Marine Pavilion has an unobstructed view of the sea, so I thought it would be pleasant to keep walking slowly along the pavilion lights and the sound of the waves even after the stage music ends.

How to Walk from Pohang Station on Bus 9000 Along Yeongildae’s 1,750 m Beach

I found it more convenient to use Pohang Station as the starting point rather than looking for a subway exit. From Pohang Station to Yeongildae Beach, the journey takes about 15 minutes by express bus 9000 or about 12 minutes by taxi, according to the information provided. Korea Tourism Organization English Travel Guide

The festival dates, August 21–22, fall within the 2026 swimming season at Yeongildae Beach, which is introduced as running from July 10 to August 23. Since the route follows the 1,750 m beach before entering the square in front of the Marine Pavilion, it was easy to add a seaside walk before or after the performances.

The beach has restrooms, showers, changing rooms, drinking-water stations, a snack shop, and parasol facilities, according to the information provided, so finding a place to freshen up after the water balloon activity should be less of a concern. Yeongildae Beach is also introduced as having available parking. Gyeongbuk East Coast Marine Tourism Portal

English event signage and plans for on-site interpretation have not yet been announced, but tourism inquiries can be handled in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese through 1330. Yeongildae Beach English Guide

Chicken and beer food trucks and a flea market will operate, but the published event information does not specify the admission fee or the extent to which cash, card, or mobile payments will be accepted. If you plan to take part in the water balloon activity, bringing sandals or spare socks that can get wet, as well as a light outer layer to block the sea breeze at night, will make things more comfortable.

Hwanho Park Space Walk is introduced as being about 1.40 km away, and Jukdo Market about 2.49 km away, as places to continue visiting from the beach. After enjoying chicken and beer, a natural itinerary would be to see more of the nighttime scenery toward the sea or travel to Jukdo Market the next day to experience Pohang’s morning atmosphere.

What to Know Before Getting Wet at the EDM Party and Water Balloon Toss Experience Zone

As nighttime performances and the Pohang Chicken and Beer EDM Party are the highlights of this event, comfortable sneakers will be a better choice if you plan to stand near the stage for a long time. The area in front of the Marine Pavilion is ideal for taking in the sea views as well, but once the performance begins, it is better to choose your spot from the start according to the programs you want to see rather than trying to move toward the front.

I recommend looking around the chicken and beer food trucks a little earlier rather than just before the performances begin. After getting your food and drinks, checking the direction where the Chicken and Beer Star K singing competition or Chicken and Beer King Contest will take place and then moving there should reduce the chance of spilling what you are carrying.

It is safer to put your phone and wallet in a waterproof pouch before entering the Water Balloon Toss Experience Zone. Since there are also hands-on activities such as making eco-bags and badges, it is a good idea to decide on an order that leaves your hands free rather than going straight to the experience zone while holding a beer.

The starting times for each main-stage program, the invited performers, how to participate in the Chicken and Beer Star K competition and Pohang Chicken and Beer King Contest, and the festival-only parking area have not yet been included in the published information. However, restrooms and changing rooms are listed at Yeongildae Beach, so once you arrive, noting the locations of the facilities first will make it easier to stay until night.

Travelers Who Will Enjoy the Chicken and Beer Star K Competition and Yeongildae’s Night Views

This festival is a good fit for foreign visitors who like K-chicken and want to enjoy a singing competition, recreation activities, and an EDM party in succession beside the sea. Conversely, if you are expecting only a quiet beach walk, it would be more suitable to walk along Yeongildae Beach separately in the early evening before the performances or the following morning.

The appeal of the Pohang Chicken and Beer Festival does not end with eating chicken and drinking beer. It lies in singing, cheering, and even tossing water balloons yourself against the distinctly Pohang backdrop of the Yeongildae Marine Pavilion. If you want to experience a Pohang-style summer scene where you can naturally laugh and clink glasses even with new friends on a late-summer night still carrying the sea breeze, it is worth remembering.