The '2026 Fantasia Daegu Festa' spring festival kicks off on May 8. Over 10 days, this citywide celebration weaves together six festivals—tradition, performances, exhibitions and youth arts—into an integrated urban circuit that invites you to explore Daegu.
Branded "Season 8: SPACE HITCHHIKER," the festival is designed as a roaming city experience, encouraging residents and visitors alike to wander from spot to spot and discover surprise performances and events.
This year’s theme—"Urban Festival: Space Exploration"—turns alleys, streets, theaters and parks into interactive stages, with a stronger focus on participatory programming.
First up, the Daegu Yakryeongsi Traditional Korean Medicine Culture Festival runs May 7–10 in the Yakryeongsi area of Jung-gu. It’s a flagship historical and cultural event rooted in traditional Korean medicine.
May 8–10 brings the 37th Dongseong-ro Festival along Dongseong-ro, where the city’s main shopping strip becomes an open-air stage for street performances and pop-up events.
The Daegu Top Band Competition takes place May 9 at the Kolon Outdoor Music Hall. The band festival features both youth and middle-aged musicians performing together.
From May 15–17, "When the Roses Bloom" at Igok Rose Park in Dalseo-gu will present "Rose Fantasy in Dalseo" and "A Day in the Rose Kingdom." Expect an opening concert, busking, hands-on workshops, a flea market and plenty of photo zones.
"Dongseong-ro Youth Busking FREEISM 2026," a street-performance program spotlighting young artists, will run May 8, 13 and 15 across Dongseong-ro and the 2ㆍ28 Memorial Central Park area.
At the Daegu Gansong Museum of Art, the special exhibition "Chusa's Painting Lessons" continues through July 5.
Bang Seong-taek, head of culture and arts at the Daegu Cultural Foundation, said, "Fantasia Daegu Festa matters because it organically links individual festivals and expands the whole city into a single festival space. This spring festival will give residents and visitors a fresh way to enjoy Daegu—like touring the entire city."
Daegu — Reporter Song Ji-na sjna1114@viva100.com
