The 2026 SBS Gayo Daejeon date and venue are now official: December 24 and 25 at KINTEX in Ilsan, South Korea. SBS announced the news on October 1, confirming that the year-end music festival will run across two days for the first time in its history. The two-day format marks the 30th anniversary of the Gayo Daejeon, which first aired in 1996. Special stages will look back at three decades of K-pop, with veteran artists and current global stars sharing the stage for cross-generation collaborations.
What SBS Confirmed About the 2026 SBS Gayo Daejeon Date and Venue
SBS confirmed that the 2026 SBS Gayo Daejeon will take place on Thursday, December 24, and Friday, December 25, at KINTEX in Ilsan, located in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. This is the first time the event will be held over two consecutive days.
The show has historically been a single-day broadcast, usually airing around Christmas. Since 2017, it has been held on Christmas Day. The move to a two-day format is tied to the show’s 30th anniversary milestone.
SBS shared the announcement through its official social media accounts. A post from @SBSNOW on X read: “The 2026 SBS Gayo Daejeon, marking its 30th anniversary, will visit you over two days on December 24 and 25! <2026 SBS Gayo Daejeon> December 24 [Thu] ~ December 25 [Fri] KINTEX, Ilsan.”
“Marking its 30th anniversary this year, the ‘2026 SBS Gayo Daejeon’ will take place over two days on Thursday, December 24, and Friday, December 25, at KINTEX in Ilsan.” – SBS
The announcement was also covered by major Korean outlets including Yonhap News, Dispatch, and SBS Entertainment News, all confirming the same dates and venue.
30th Anniversary Special Stages and Cross-Generation Performances
The 2026 edition will feature special stages that trace the 30-year history of K-pop. Artists who helped build the foundation of the Korean music industry will perform alongside acts currently leading the global music market.
These cross-generation collaboration stages are planned as one-time performances exclusive to the SBS Gayo Daejeon. The production team aims to create a festival that brings together audiences across generations.
“To repay the support and love sent to us over the past 30 years, we are preparing a Christmas gift that is more special and diverse than ever before. We will create a festival where everyone can come together and celebrate across generations.” – SBS Gayo Daejeon production team
The “G30” logo was first shown during the 2026 SBS Gayo Daejeon Summer broadcast on August 17. The logo carries the keywords “GLOWING, GROOVE, GRAND” alongside the English title “GAYODAEJEON.” Past logos dating back to 1996 were also displayed during the summer broadcast, leading into the first teaser reveal of the anniversary logo.
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Artist Lineup and Broadcast Details
The performing artist lineup for the 2026 SBS Gayo Daejeon has not yet been announced. SBS stated that the lineup will be revealed sequentially in the coming weeks. No MCs have been confirmed for the December event at this time.
For context, the 2026 SBS Gayo Daejeon Summer was held on August 9 at KINTEX in Goyang. It featured 28 teams, including Stray Kids, BABYMONSTER, Red Velvet, RIIZE, NCT WISH, and Hearts2Hearts. RIIZE’s Sungchan, NCT WISH’s Sion, and Hearts2Hearts’ Ian served as hosts for the summer show.
The summer event ran for 180 minutes and included special unit stages such as “SUMMER ANGELS” and “SUMMER QUEENS,” plus a rookie boy group joint cover stage titled “Red Summer Night.”
History of the SBS Gayo Daejeon
The SBS Gayo Daejeon first launched in 1996. It became a regular year-end event from 2007 and has aired around Christmas since 2017. A summer edition was added in 2024, making the Gayo Daejeon a twice-a-year event. The winter edition has traditionally been held at venues including Gocheok Sky Dome in past years.
The 2026 SBS Gayo Daejeon will be the 30th edition of the year-end show. The shift to a two-day format is the biggest structural change in the event’s history. SBS has not yet shared details about ticket sales, broadcast time, or international streaming options for the December shows.
“The ‘2026 SBS Gayo Daejeon’ will be held on December 24-25 at KINTEX in Ilsan, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province.” – SBS TV
Also Read: 2025 SBS Gayo Daejeon Records Low Ratings Despite Major K-Pop Performances
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