Busan hosts month-long festival series and major redevelopment forums

Busan is hosting a wide array of cultural, business, and maritime development events throughout October 2026. Under the integrated brand ‘Festival October,’ the city is connecting 22 different events across three main sectors: music and culture, film and arts, and business and innovation. Key highlights include the Busan International Film Festival, the Busan International Rock Festival, and the Asia Startup Expo (FLY ASIA).

In the business sector, the ‘BOUNCE 2026’ startup festival will be held at BEXCO from October 7 to 8. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the event focuses on global expansion and investment, featuring one-on-one consultations between startups and 25 major corporations and 30 investment firms.

Additionally, the Busan International Performing Arts Market (BPAM) will run from October 1 to 7, showcasing approximately 100 performances from 12 countries to support the distribution and exchange of performing arts.

Regarding urban development, the Busan Port Authority (BPA) is organizing a ‘North Port Landmark Strategy Citizen Forum’ on October 6. The forum aims to present plans for transforming the North Port into a citizen-centered maritime landmark, utilizing a Master Architect system to coordinate large-scale redevelopment and enhance public accessibility to waterfront spaces.