"Youngju, yahoo~!" Hit girl group Risenn and trot singer Lee Chan-won will heat up the summer nights in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang.
Yeongju city said on the 23rd that it will hold the 2026 Yeongju Cool Night Festa for three days from the 31st to Aug. 2 at the citizens stadium and surrounding area.
The festival name "Cool" carries the meaning of a refreshing venue where Yeongju (city) becomes one. The plan is to offer various fun, flavors, and rest to citizens and tourists weary from the heat. With performances, local food, an emotional night market, and participatory content, it has established itself as the city's signature summer night festival.
This year's festival will also combine various performances, food, and hands-on programs. A "Romantic Night Market" where visitors can enjoy local food will be set up at the venue, and citizen-participation programs such as a 7080 retro DJ party, a visible radio show, an EDM show, and recreation will be held. The visible radio show will share citizens' stories and song requests to add memories and joy.
In particular, a different performance will unfold every day on the main stage during the event. All performances are free. At the Fresh Concert, which begins at 7:30 p.m. on the 31st, the opening day, Kim Ha-on, Shin Ye-young, Fifty Fifty, and Dynamic Duo will take the stage.
Then at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 1, the opening ceremony day, the Cool Music Festa will be held. Trot singers including Lee Chan-won, Park Eun-kyung, and Song Siljang will appear in force.
On Aug. 2, the closing day, the Yeongju Seocheon Riverside Song Festival, a singing contest for 12 aspiring singers, will be held. Trot singer Park Sang-chul will join the event. Risenn will take the Cool Music Festa stage at 9 p.m. that day to wrap up the festival.
Considering visitor safety and the recent heat wave, Yeongju city will operate a priority-entry wristband system. This is to confirm entry order and does not guarantee reserved seating.
Priority-entry wristbands will be distributed one per person at the distribution point in front of the main gate of Yeongju Citizens Stadium. They will be handed out from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the day of the event, and those who receive wristbands can enter the venue first starting at 4 p.m. Wristbands cannot be picked up by a proxy or transferred to others. Reissuance is not available.
General entry begins at 5 p.m. Note that queues formed before staff are deployed near the venue will not be recognized.
Mayor Hwang Byung-jik of Yeongju said, "In the time left before the opening, we will meticulously review all preparations once more to create a festival that citizens and tourists alike can enjoy with peace of mind."