Beyond K-pop, this year’s K-Music Festival brings together traditional Korean instruments and shamanic music with hip-hop, gaming soundtracks, jazz and experimental music, showcasing the diversity of Korea’s contemporary music scene across London from September 28 to November 23.
Pablo Muñoz
London’s celebration of Korean music and culture returns this autumn as the K-Music Festival marks its 13th edition.
Running from 28 September through 23 November, 2026, the festival will bring artists from across South Korea’s contemporary music scene to venues across the capital, including the Southbank Centre, Royal Albert Hall, Rich Mix, EartH Theatre, Stone Nest, Jazz Café, and Upstairs at Ronnie’s.
Organised by the Korean Cultural Centre UK, this year’s festival features hip-hop, art pop, video game soundtracks, shamanic music, post-rock and cross-cultural jazz. The programme also retains a strong emphasis on traditional Korean sounds and instruments, including the gayageum, a traditional Korean plucked zither.
The festival opens on 28 September at EartH Theatre with a triple-bill showcase featuring folk innovators ADG7, sibling hip-hop duo Lil Cherry & Goldbuuda, and singer-songwriter Chang Kiha.
Additional autumn highlights include Korean Games in concert on 11 October at the Purcell Room, Southbank Centre, where the National Gugak Center orchestra will reimagine music from games including Black desert and Lies of P using traditional Korean instruments, accompanied by visual backdrops inspired by historic Seoul and Gyeongbokgung Palace.
“This year’s programme reflects the breadth of Korea’s musical landscape, from deeply rooted folk practices to forward-thinking voices,” says Jaeyeon Park, Artistic Director of the K-Music Festival. “We are delighted to return to London for our 13th edition and to share these artists with audiences across the city”, he adds.
Cross-genre and international collaborations remain part of the programme. On 3 October, Korean and French artists present “Wind alone, sand alone – Make no sound” at Stone Nest, an acoustic performance featuring Eunyong Sim of Korean post-rock group Jambinai. On 29 October, gayageum player and composer Kyungso Park pairs with Swedish bassist Björn Meyer at the Royal Albert Hall’s Elgar Room for an intimate performance drawing on Korean, jazz and contemporary influences.
Other highlights include Chudahye Chagis on 17 October at Rich Mix, whose latest album Sosuminjok won Album of the Year and Best R&B/Soul Song at the 2026 Korean Music Awards, post-rock trio
Dongyang Gozupa on 11 November, returning to London after their 2022 K-Music Festival appearance and previewing new material, and Baroque in Blue, who close the festival on 23 November at Upstairs at Ronnie’s. The ensemble reinterprets Charlie Parker’s compositions through influences including Romanticism, Impressionism and Shostakovich.
For more information, visit the Korean Cultural Centre UK and BaxterPr websites.
(Photos supplied by Baxter PR)
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