The 17th Gwangju International Art Fair “Art Gwangju”

The 17th Gwangju International Art Fair, “Art Gwangju,” will be held from October 22 to 25, 2026, in Halls A, B, and C of the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center, 30 Sangmunuri-ro, Seo-gu, Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City. The 2026 PUBLIC docent tour costs 5,000 won per person, while detailed reservation procedures for general admission should be confirmed through the official Information. PUBLIC docent tours primarily require advance registration, but on-site registration and payment are available if seats remain, and the experience booths operate by advance reservation. The event is expanding from 94 galleries in 11 countries at the 16th edition in 2025 to approximately 110 galleries from 12 countries at this year’s edition.

Art Gwangju expanding from 94 galleries in 2025 to approximately 110 in 2026

At the 16th edition in 2025, 94 galleries from 11 countries participated, operating 105 exhibition booths, while approximately 600 artists submitted more than 4,000 works. At the 17th edition in 2026, approximately 110 galleries from 12 countries are expected to participate and present painting, sculpture, and media art, increasing both the number of participating countries and galleries compared with the previous year.

The 16th edition in 2025 recorded 28,023 visitors. This year, visitors can see carefully selected artworks in the “Masterpiece Special Exhibition,” collections owned by local art enthusiasts in the “Proposal Exhibition,” and works by four young artists from Gwangju and Jeonnam selected through an open call in the “Rising Star Exhibition.” Based on the recruitment notice for participating Rising Star Exhibition artists, the inquiry telephone numbers are 062-670-7421 and 062-670-7425.

Visitor flow beginning at 17:00 on October 22 at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center

On October 22, the VIP opening runs from 14:00 to 17:00, and the opening ceremony takes place from 17:00 to 18:00 that same day in the lobby of the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center. General admission hours are 17:00–19:00 on October 22, 10:30–19:00 on October 23–24, and 10:30–18:00 on October 25.

The transportation options and travel times from the nearest major city to the venue, temporary shuttle services and traffic controls for 2026, and parking locations and fees have not yet been announced. Based only on the event operating hours, a same-day visit from within Gwangju is possible, but travelers departing from outside Gwangju should calculate their return transportation separately.

D-37 experience booths and 12 PUBLIC docent tours per day

PUBLIC docent tours are divided into Courses A and B and run 12 times a day during the event, with each session lasting approximately 60 minutes. The fee is 5,000 won per person. On Thursday, sessions begin at 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, and 17:00; from Friday through Sunday, they begin at 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, and 17:00. On-site registration and payment are available if seats remain for a given session.

VIP docent tours run three times a day from October 22 to 25, 2026, with each session lasting approximately 60 minutes, led by docent Park Min-jeong. Thursday sessions are at 14:30 and 17:30, while sessions from Friday through Sunday are at 11:30, 13:30, and 15:30. A VIP card is required, and advance registration or on-site registration is available only when seats remain for the relevant session.

Art Class, operated together with Chirnsivil, offers activities at the D-37 experience booth to make pouring-object key rings and fabric calendars. Operating hours are Thursday 14:30–18:30, Friday and Saturday 10:30–18:30, and Sunday 10:30–17:30, with a limit of eight participants per time slot. This is a paid program available only to Art Gwangju admission holders and requires advance reservation, but the 2026 participation fee has not yet been announced.

VIP visitors may enter freely with one accompanying guest during the event and use the Collectors’ Lounge, and they can receive a 50% discount on the Art Gwangju catalog. The art shop is also included among the main programs, but its 2026 operating hours have not been announced.

Information gaps to check separately before viewing 110 galleries

The detailed 2026 gallery list, exhibited works in the “Masterpiece Special Exhibition” and “Proposal Exhibition,” and operating, cancellation, and refund policies in case of rain have not yet been announced. The availability of English Information and interpretation, as well as wheelchair and stroller accessibility, has also not been confirmed, creating planning limitations for travelers who require English explanations or mobility assistance.

Travelers who want to calmly compare the artworks and gallery booths should allow sufficient time before the 19:00 closing on October 23–24, while those who find late returns difficult should first plan their transportation after the 19:00 or 18:00 closing. No separate operating information regarding cleanliness or safety has been released, so anyone wishing to participate in Art Class should complete advance reservations for their preferred date, taking into account the eight-person limit per time slot.

• Can I register for the PUBLIC docent Courses A and B on-site? — On-site registration and payment are possible if seats remain for the session, and the fee is 5,000 won per person.
• Can I attend the October 22 opening ceremony and general admission consecutively? — The opening ceremony is held in the lobby from 17:00 to 18:00, while general admission runs from 17:00 to 19:00, so visitors can attend them consecutively.
• Can I participate in the D-37 pouring-object key-ring class immediately on-site? — It requires advance reservation, is limited to eight people per time slot, and is available only to Art Gwangju admission holders.
• How does the scale of Art Gwangju differ between 2025 and 2026? — In 2025, there were 94 galleries from 11 countries and 105 booths; in 2026, approximately 110 galleries from 12 countries are expected to participate.