This is a guide compiled from official announcements, not a firsthand visit. Character illustrations are GPT-generated.
- Dates
- Sat, Oct 17, 2026 ~ Sun, Oct 18
- Hours
- Main activity booths 09:30–16:00; the event overview lists a 16:30 finish. Performances have separate times.
- Venue
- Gwangju National Science Museum (국립광주과학관) and surrounding grounds235 Cheomdangwagi-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju (광주 북구 첨단과기로 235)
- Fee
- Festival participation is free; free access to permanent exhibitions and separate facilities is unconfirmed.
- Organizer
- Jeonnam–Gwangju Integrated Special City Office of Education / Gwangju Creative Convergence Education Institute
- Official
- Official notice (Korean) ↗
- Updated
- when we last re-checked the official notice
📅 Schedule at a glance
October 2026
Event daysHighlightsTodayKorean public holidays
Korea Meteorological Administration · 10/15, 11 AM issued · forecasts can change
📌 What's on each day
- 10/17SatOpening showToday
- 10/18Sun★ Magic & balloonsToday
🔁 Daily · Booths 09:30–16:00 · check each venue
Gwangju Math & Science Festival 2026 — Dates, Activity Reservations and Parking with Kids
Explore maths and science hands-on at
the 2026 Gwangju Math & Science Festival
(광주 수학·과학축제),
October 17 (Sat)–18 (Sun),
at Gwangju National Science Museum.
Alongside the activity booths,
there are making workshops,
board games and performances.
We checked the education office’s festival website
on October 8 to sort out
reservations and parking.
🎪 What kind of festival is it?
This year’s theme invites visitors
to “Log-in” to the future
through maths and science.
It is hosted by the Jeonnam–Gwangju
Integrated Special City Office of Education
and organized by the Gwangju Creative
Convergence Education Institute.
The audience includes children from preschool
through high school, parents
and members of the public.
Festival participation is listed as free.
We could not confirm whether that also covers
permanent exhibitions and paid museum facilities.
✨ When can we see what?
The booth guide gives 09:30–16:00.
The event overview also lists a 16:30 finish,
so plan activities around the booth closing time.
| Date and time | Programme |
|---|---|
| October 17–18, 09:30–16:00 | Maths and science activities, science play and exhibitions, maths games and missions |
| October 17, 09:30–10:30 | Performance block before the opening ceremony: instrumental music, Gwangtalpe performance team and male choir |
| October 18, 13:30–15:00 | Part 1 performance block: magic and balloon art, student dance |
These performance times cover several acts.
Magic and balloon art is listed
as a 40-minute act within that block.
Check the running order on site
for its exact start time.
🧪 Which activities can kids choose?
Programmes take place in different areas.
If you were expecting only indoor activities,
remember that there are outdoor booths too.
| Programme | Activities and location |
|---|---|
| Maths and science activity area | 130 outdoor activity booths |
| Science play area | 10 booths around the Children’s Science Museum: basic, sports, advanced and interdisciplinary science play |
| Science exhibition area | Electron microscopy, astronomy photographs and insect specimens; AI Hall, floor 2 |
| Maths play area | Indoor maths playground in the Children’s Science Museum; board games in Byeolbit Nuri Hall, floor 2 |
| Maths mission area | Byeolbit Nuri Hall, floor 1; maths problem-solving for elementary and middle school students |
| Maths software and exhibition area | Main building, floor 2; maths software, structure-making and quizzes |
Locations follow the detailed programme pages.
Some differ from the homepage labels,
so check the site map
on the day you visit as well.
📝 Book the making workshops first
The Together Science Inquiry workshops
(더불어과학탐구마당) offer six making programmes
for elementary school students and older.
Applications close October 9 (Fri), 21:00.
A team representative applies first come, first served
through the Naver Form linked
from the festival website.
If a guardian joins the team,
the guardian should apply.
Grade requirements vary by programme.
| Programme | School grade and team size |
|---|---|
| Rolling ball / egg-protection structure | Grade 4 or above; grades 1–3 may join with a guardian. Teams of 3–4 |
| Punching robot | Grade 5 or above; teams of 2 |
| Foam-board aeroplane | Grade 4 or above; teams of 2 |
| Kapla stacking | Grade 3 or above; grades 1–2 may join with a guardian. Teams of 2 |
| Stick-bomb dominoes | Grade 3 or above; grades 1–2 may join with a guardian. Teams of 3–4 |
On the 17th, aeroplane, Kapla, domino
and egg workshops are listed
as three 90-minute sessions each.
Rolling ball and punching robot
have two 120-minute sessions each.
On the 18th, all six programmes
have two 120-minute sessions each.
Check the booking page
for remaining places and start times.
🚇 Getting there and parking
The address is 235 Cheomdangwagi-ro,
Buk-gu, Gwangju
(광주 북구 첨단과기로 235).
The regional map is an overview.
Use the museum’s location map
for actual directions.
The festival website lists these parking areas.
| Parking location | Official guidance |
|---|---|
| Gwangju National Science Museum | Parking gates remain open on festival days |
| Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) | Walk to the museum through side gates near car parks 1 and 4 |
| Gwangju Science High School | Car park and school grounds available; grounds excluded in rain |
| Additional listed locations | Gwangju Industrial Complex outdoor car park, joint information office building and Samsung Electronics Green City Campus 3 |
Naver Place lists the museum’s usual
flat parking fee as 2,000 won,
while the festival guide says
the gates will remain open.
Confirm festival-day charges before setting off.
👨👩👧 Visiting with kids
For preschoolers, check the entry requirements
for science play and the maths playground
instead of immediately booking workshops
aimed at elementary students and older.
For elementary-school families, match the grade,
team size and 90- or 120-minute duration first.
but workshop applications close on the night of the 9th.
Check the grade requirement for your chosen activity first.
⏳ Details not yet confirmed
These details were absent from the guidance checked.
□ Remaining places and individual session start times
□ Outdoor activities in wet weather
□ Free permanent exhibitions and festival parking fees
□ Whether a shuttle operates
Festival enquiries: 062-220-9765.
👍 Who might enjoy it?
✔ Elementary-school families interested in making workshops
✔ Families looking for science play and maths board games
✔ Families combining activities with Sunday’s magic and balloons
Choose the workshop grade and time first,
then plan to explore the nearby booths.
This guide was compiled from official announcements before a visit. Character illustrations are GPT-generated images.
🔄 Updates
- One-week check
- First write-up
📎 Sources
- 2026 광주 수학·과학축제 광주창의융합교육원 · 주최
- 주요 프로그램 안내 광주창의융합교육원 · 주최
- 더불어과학탐구마당 광주창의융합교육원 · 주최
- 공연마당 광주창의융합교육원 · 주최
- 주차장 안내 광주창의융합교육원 · 주최
- 2026 광주 수학·과학축제 행사 안내 광주문화재단 디어마이전남광주 · 관공서
- 국립광주과학관 위치·평상시 주차 정보 네이버 플레이스 · 지도
This is a guide based on official announcements, not a visit review. Schedules, programs and fees can change, so please re-check the official notice before you go.
AI-assisted translation of the Korean draft, checked for matching numbers and structure on October 9, 2026. Reservation availability has not been confirmed. Original post (Korean)