Ahead of the first long weekend of October, the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo is welcoming visitors by presenting cultural performances and experiential programs that can be enjoyed from day to night.

Visitors can explore islands of the world and enjoy diverse hands-on activities at the exhibition halls, while after sunset, fireworks and large-scale concerts unfold, showcasing a charm of the expo grounds entirely different from the daytime. In particular, free admission benefits and expanded interactive programs for family-visitors are drawing the footsteps of autumn picnic-goers.

■ Over 40,000 Visitors Ahead of October Long Weekend... The Site Heats Up with "Island Island Concert"

On October 2, approximately 44,000 visitors flocked to the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo venue, bringing vibrant energy to every corner of the grounds as they enjoyed exhibitions and performances.

Since early morning on this day, visitors' footsteps continued as exhibition viewings, hands-on programs, and cultural performances took place one after another, thoroughly boosting the long-weekend mood. Especially in the evening, the KBC Celebration Show "Island Island Concert," held to support the bid for COP33, kicked off the start of the October long weekend at the Open Stage in the main venue. Singers Lee Chan-won, Park Seo-jin, Ahn Sung-hoon, and Jung Seo-ju took to the stage, adding to the autumn night heat of Yeosu, while countless audience members gathered even before the show began, completely filling the area around the Open Stage.

After the red sunset descended beyond the Yeosu open sea, lights turned on one by one at the expo grounds, further mellowing the concert atmosphere. The audience sent applause and cheers to the singers' stages, enjoying Yeosu's autumn night together.

Seo Young-chul, who came with his family from Gwangju, said, "Visiting the exhibition halls with the kids during the day and wrapping up with a concert at night completely filled our day. Watching a performance while waving light sticks in front of a sea with a setting sunset feels like an experience you can only have here. Hearing that there are other performances during the holiday, we decided to stay another day." This performance is scheduled to be broadcast via KBC-TV at 10 a.m. on October 10.

■ Meet Islands by Day, Enjoy Performances by Night... Abundant Nighttime Programs

During the first long weekend of October, diverse nighttime programs starting after sunset greeted visitors in abundance. Visitors could enjoy exhibitions and experiential programs meeting islands of the world by day, and once the sunset began, encounter yet another side of the expo grounds through outdoor performances and cultural programs.

On the evening of Saturday, the 3rd, visitors could enjoy fireworks at the main venue, sponsored by the Yeosu Open Sea Minam Cruise, adding to the sentiment of an autumn night. Then, starting at 6 p.m. on the 4th, the "Prime Concert" is held at the Open Stage, hosted by Jang Min-ho and featuring 14 teams including Sungri, Son Tae-jin, Park Ji-hyun, Kim Hee-jae, Park Hyun-ho, Song Min-jun, Kim Tae-yeon, Ryu Won-jung, Park Ji-hoo, Bin Ye-seo, Jang Ha-on, Jung Hye-rin, and Hong Ji-yoon. It is a large-scale trot concert spanning about three hours, bringing together performers enjoyed by diverse generations in one place, matching Yeosu's autumn night atmosphere to continue the holiday heat.

Following this, at 6:30 p.m. on the 5th, "Musical Star Choi Jung-won’s DIVA ON STAGE" runs for about an hour. Hosted by actor Won Ki-joon, f(x) Luna also appears, raising expectations for a musical unfolding in front of the Yeosu sea. In particular, this performance, realized through a connection with Park Myung-sung, artistic director of Shinsi Company and general director of the Expo, is set to present a special cultural arts performance through Choi Jung-won's stage.

Performances continue even after the holiday ends. On the 9th, the Yeosu Jazz Festival meets visitors at the Open Stage.

Moreover, at 6:30 p.m. on October 10—the day after Hangeul Day—a special stage titled "THE BIG SHOW" unfolds to cheer for the successful hosting of the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo. Broadcaster Park Kyung-rim and musical actress Ivy, representing South Korea, joined hands through talent donation to widely spread the significance of the Yeosu World Island Expo and the value of islands while delivering joy to citizens and visitors. Musical actress Kim Kyung-sun and crossover tenor Ryu Ha-na also make special appearances to enrich the stage. This performance, where two individuals active in different fields climb onto a single stage to share their talents, is expected to share the meaning of "sharing and coexistence" and serve as an opportunity for more people to take an interest in and join the Yeosu World Island Expo. General Director Park Myung-sung, who directs this stage, expressed, "The 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo is being created together by everyone sharing their talents and adding their hearts. We hope the participation of Park Kyung-rim and Ivy will make the expo grounds a space that practices sharing and coexistence."

The organizing committee plans to continuously expand nighttime content that allows visitors to feel the exhibition content—which lets them experience the value and future potential of islands—as well as enjoy performances outdoors on a cool autumn evening, fully savoring Yeosu's night sea and island landscapes.

■ Enjoying Autumn Islands with Family... Greatly Expanded Free Admission Including Accompanied Children

Experiential programs for family-unit visitors are also expanding. Various free hands-on programs that both children and adults can participate in together were arranged to add the joy of experience to exhibition viewing, ensuring families can create special memories together.

The scope of free admission has also broadened. Throughout the month of October, "Island Picnic with Children" operates, offering free admission for up to two accompanying visitors when visiting with children under 12. Until October 11, commemorating Senior Citizens' Week, visitors aged 65 and older receive free admission. During the same period, residents of Busan and Jeju are also free, visitors whose birthday falls on the visiting day can enter free along with one companion, and residents of inhabited islands nationwide can visit the expo grounds for free throughout the entire duration of the expo. It lowers barriers for every generation, fitting family holiday outings where grandparents, parents, and children visit together.

In particular, the plan is to provide a fulfilling daily viewing experience where visitors can enjoy exhibitions and experiences during the day, relax in outdoor spaces during sunset, and watch performances in the evening, fully savoring a fruitful day at the expo grounds.

Kim Jong-ki, Secretary General of the organizing committee, stated, "As a cool breeze begins to blow, visiting the Yeosu World Island Island Expo venue will allow you to closely feel the seasonal sentiment held by the islands. We hope this long holiday becomes a time to create special autumn memories with your family through diverse cultural performances and experiential programs."

Meanwhile, the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo is held under the theme "Islands, Connecting the Sea and the Future" until November 4 across the Dolsan Jinmo District main venue, the Yeosu World Expo venue, and Gaedo and Geumodo islands. On October 6, the expo takes a one-day break for remodeling the exhibition zone and inspecting facilities and equipment, and cheerfully welcomes visitors back starting from the 7th.

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