Welcome to 2026. As a deep freeze hits Korea, outdoor festivals are rare, but the indoor live scene is heating up with back-to-back shows. K-pop fans are buzzing as the 40th Golden Disc Awards teases a stacked lineup, and the 2026 Sundance Film Festival is set to unveil actor Son Suk-ku's Hollywood debut.
So what must-see events are kicking open the year?
[Festival]
▲ 40th Golden Disc Awards
Date: January 10
Venue: Taipei Dome, Taiwan
Lineup: LE SSERAFIM, IVE, NCT WISH, ENHYPEN, ALLDAY Project, IZNA, ZEROBASEONE, Jo Jjaez, Cortis, MONSTA X, BOYNEXTDOOR, Stray Kids, ARK, ATEEZ, BLACKPINK's Jennie, Close Your Eyes, KIKI, TWS
[Concerts]
▲ 2026 Kickflip Fan-Con 'From Kickflip, To WeFlip' in Seoul
Date: January 17–18
Venue: Blue Square SOL Travel Hall, Yongsan, Seoul
▲ 82MAJOR 5th Concert 'Bibeom: BE Beom'
Date: January 24–25
Venue: Blue Square SOL Travel Hall, Yongsan, Seoul
▲ 2026 10CM Asia Tour 'To 10CM: Chapter 1' in Seoul
Date: January 30; February 1, 5–8
Venue: Blue Square SOL Travel Hall, Yongsan, Seoul
▲ LE SSERAFIM Tour 'Easy Crazy Hot' Encore in Seoul
Date: January 31–February 1
Venue: Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium, Seoul
[Film Festival]
▲ 2026 Sundance Film Festival
Dates: January 22–February 1
In the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 42nd Sundance Film Festival, the American indie film 베드포크 파크 (Bedford Park) by director Stefie An will premiere, starring Son Suk-ku and Choi Hee-seo. The U.S. Dramatic Competition showcases American independent films. Bedford Park follows Audrey (played by Choi Hee-seo), a Korean American in her 30s carrying childhood trauma from abuse, and Eli (played by Son Suk-ku), the man responsible for her mother's car accident, as their lives collide.