[Herald Business (Gwangju)=Reporter Seo In-ju] The 2026 Gwangju Street Culture Festa, a major street-dance festival, will run June 4–7 at the Gwangju National Asian Cultural Center. Roughly 1,300 top dancers from South Korea and abroad are expected to attend.
Battle Line Up — a brand started by Gwangju’s young dancers that has grown into one of South Korea’s premier street-dance platforms — sold out within two minutes of registration opening.
Competitors from around the world will square off in one-on-one battles across five styles: hip-hop, waacking, popping, locking and open-style.
The program also includes a Kids & Youth Battle for children and teenagers.
Reflecting the global K-culture surge, organizers have added a K-pop Dance Competition that promises to heat up the stage.
37 teams, divided into youth and adult divisions, will compete in group events that push creative and technical boundaries.
Renowned dancers Rihei, Jinwoo, Love Ran, Denzel and Akanen will serve as judges and deliver celebratory performances.
Top international street dancers, including representatives from France’s Just Debout, will join the judging panel, and veteran MC Durak will host the event.
The venue will feature hands-on booths where visitors can experience street culture, along with promotional booths showcasing Gwangju’s attractions.
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