Who will be the protagonist of this year's K-drama? '2026 KDF' opens in October

*This content was translated by AI.

The 19th Korea Drama Awards will be held in October.

The Korea Drama Festival Organizing Committee announced on the 3rd that "the 19th '2026 Korea Drama Festival (hereinafter, 2026 KDF)' will be held from October 9 to 18 in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do," and added that "the core program, 'Korea Drama Awards,' will take place on October 10 at the Grand Performance Hall of the Gyeongnam Culture and Arts Center."

The 'Korea Drama Festival' is South Korea's first drama festival, hosted and organized by the Korea Drama Festival Organizing Committee with support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Gyeongsangnam-do, and Jinju City. Since its launch in 2006, it has served as a platform to highlight achievements in the domestic drama industry and foster exchanges among content creators, actors, and viewers.

This year's Korea Drama Awards will cover dramas released domestically from August 2025 through July 2026. It will broadly recognize the achievements of works, actors, and production teams across all platforms, including terrestrial broadcasters, cable channels, comprehensive programming channels, and online video services (OTT).

Award categories include: Rookie Award, New Star Award, Hot Star Award, Global Star Award, Villain Award, Multi-Entertainer Award, Best Couple Award, Best OST Award, Merit Award, Excellence in Acting Award, Grand Prize for Acting, Best Work Award, and Grand Prize for Acting — totaling 13 categories. Nominees for each category will be selected through fair evaluation by the judging panel and the organizing committee.

The '2026 KDF' will be a comprehensive festival encompassing performances, exhibitions, interactive experiences, and video content beyond just the awards ceremony. Various programs are scheduled to be presented at the Gyeongnam Culture and Arts Center and the Namgang Riverside area in Jangdae-dong, Jinju City.

From October 9 to 17, the 'KDF Concert' will be held on the outdoor stage of the KDF Special Zone at the Namgang Riverside area in Jangdae-dong, Jinju City, Gyeongsangnam-do. Artists spanning generations and singers performing drama OSTs will deliver relay performances, conveying the emotions and lingering impressions left by the dramas through music.

At the Namgang Riverside festival site, a 'Drama Set' reinterpreting spaces from dramas and a 'Drama Art-linked Exhibition' featuring art works and collaborative content themed around dramas will be set up. A 'KDF Promotion Zone' introducing past event records and the history of KDF will also operate.

At night, the 'KDF Music Festa,' which combines drama music, popular music, and DJing, will continue the festival's energy. The event aims to become an open festival enjoyed by citizens and tourists alike through local artists' stages and audience participation programs.

Son Seong-min, chairman of the Korea Drama Festival Organizing Committee, stated, "The 19th Korea Drama Festival this year will be a festival that anyone can enjoy freely through newly introduced diverse programs," and added, "We aim to develop it into a global drama festival where domestic and foreign actors, content professionals, and fans participate together."

Meanwhile, the '2026 Korea Drama Festival' will be held from October 9 to 18 at the Gyeongnam Culture and Arts Center and the Namgang Riverside area in Jangdae-dong, Jinju City, Gyeongsangnam-do.

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*This content was translated by AI.