KIAF, Frieze buzz continues as Dosan Park transforms into garden of light for Gangnam Art Festival on Sept. 2

Exclusive KIAF, Frieze tie-in creates a midnight treasure hunt linking 49 galleries

Gangnam Art Salon takes place at Dosan Park on Sept. 2, with 26 galleries staying open late and connected by free shuttle buses for an urban arts festival

A night of art in the city gives rise to a boundary-breaking art platform

KIAF·Frieze Seoul (2026 KIAF·Frieze Seoul) is set to open as Seoul’s Gangnam District unveils an arts festival on an extraordinary scale. The centerpiece is 2026 Gangnam Art, which brings museums and galleries across Dosan Park, Cheongdam-dong and Apgujeong together as one vast, interconnected stage. It is a hybrid art festival that goes beyond static gallery visits in broad daylight, inviting visitors to explore the city after sunset while enjoying exhibitions, food and multisensory performances.

The festival’s main event is Gangnam Art Salon, running from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sept. 2 at Dosan Park. Its densely wooded walkways will be transformed into a vast media-art canvas combining pristine white canopies with dreamlike lighting.

The visual spectacle will be accompanied by live sound. YouTube creator Jaykeeout, who has 2.29 million subscribers, and a mystery special guest will take the stage. Trend-leading brands including Bacha Coffee, Hanvino, Seoul Jangsu and Moeve will also join the event, creating hands-on tasting spaces designed to engage visitors’ palates. That same night, Cheongdam Night will bring late-night openings to 26 galleries across Cheongdam and Apgujeong. Free art shuttle buses will circulate among key galleries to make it easier for visitors to get around.

Hidden coins and stamps let visitors complete a work of public art

The highlight of the event is The Find Seoul, an interactive public-art project by the world-renowned British conceptual artist Ryan Gander. Visitors will search for coin-shaped artworks hidden discreetly throughout the festival grounds, taking on the role of art discoverers rather than mere spectators. The Gallery Stamp Tour will also run from Aug. 27 through Sept. 2, linking 49 galleries and museums across Gangnam. Visitors will receive coveted rewards, including tickets to KIAF·Frieze Seoul, according to the number of verification stickers they collect.

Gangnam District Mayor Kim Hyeon-gi said, "We designed the festival so that global art lovers visiting Gangnam for a world-class art fair can step outside closed exhibition halls and experience firsthand the cultural pulse running through Dosan Park and the streets of Cheongdam and Apgujeong." He stressed that the district "will continue to develop distinctive, high-end art content unique to Gangnam and solidify its position as a global center for culture and the arts."