The Daejeon Metropolitan Government announced on the 6th that it will hold the "2026 Daejeon Science Festival" over three days from April 17 to 19 across the Expo Science Park area.
Under the theme of "Coexistence of AI and Humans," the festival will be an urban science and culture event combining cutting-edge science and technology with citizen-participatory cultural content.
This year's festival will be held jointly with the "Korea Science Festival" hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and operated in conjunction with the "Science Day" festival at the National Science Museum, making it the nation's premier science and culture celebration bringing together a wide range of science events.
The event will be centered on six major venues: DCC Exhibition Hall 2, Expo Science Park, Expo Bridge, Expo Citizens' Plaza, Hanbat Arboretum, and the National Science Museum. Each space is organized by function — exhibitions, forums, hands-on experiences, and performances — and connected along a single visitor route to offer diverse experiences.
Indoor areas will feature artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technology exhibitions and forums, while outdoor areas will host citizen-participatory science and culture experiences and performance programs. The event is designed so that visitors can move between spaces and enjoy a continuous stream of content.
DCC Exhibition Hall 2 will house the World Science Culture Forum, an AI Station, and an advanced technology exhibition hall, along with programs allowing visitors to directly experience future technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and robotics.
The forum, featuring leading scholars and experts from Korea and abroad, will offer an opportunity to explore the latest AI and digital technologies in one place, providing insights into how society is changing and where science and technology are headed.
Expo Science Park and Expo Citizens' Plaza will host the opening ceremony, performances, and experience booths, with programs for all generations including RC car racing, a paper airplane challenge, and the "Black and White Scientist" quiz. The focus is on encouraging participation by family visitors and increasing on-site engagement and time spent at the festival.
The festival also blends cultural and artistic content such as science magic shows and busking performances to add fun and variety. Notably, Lee Eun-gyeol, one of Korea's leading illusionists, will deliver an AI-based opening performance presenting a special stage that fuses science and magic.
The World Science Culture Forum will feature participants including Kim Kyung-il, a leading cognitive psychologist in Korea; Bartosz Grzybowski, group leader at the Institute for Basic Science; Jeon Won-kyung, a Western art expert; film director Chae Su-eung; Chef Im Hee-won of the TV show "Black and White Chef"; and science YouTuber궤도 (Gwedo). They will explore the intersections of science and technology, human life, and culture and art from multiple perspectives.
Through the event, the city plans to strengthen the brand value of "Daejeon, the Science Capital" and boost its competitiveness as a science, culture, and tourism city.
"This festival will serve as a platform for communication where science and technology meet citizens, and an opportunity to widely promote Daejeon's science infrastructure," a Daejeon city official said. "We have prepared a celebration that everyone can enjoy, from families to experts."