SBS has shifted the SBS Gayo Daejeon to summer for the first time in its history.
On May 25, SBS officially announced that the 2026 SBS Gayo Daejeon Summer will take place on August 9 at KINTEX in Goyang. The year-end festival, traditionally held in December, will debut in August instead.
Since 1996, SBS Gayo Daejeon has aired around the year-end holidays. From 2007 onwards, the awards show and live performance event solidified its December slot, delivering performances and collaborations during the festive season.
KINTEX in Goyang, a convention complex that hosts tech expos and other large events, will host the 2026 edition. The venue's capacity suggests SBS expects major artist participation.
The timing represents a shift in strategy. After nearly two decades of December broadcasts, moving Gayo Daejeon to August aligns with global festival scheduling. Major music events like Lollapalooza and Glastonbury take place during summer months.
Industry observers anticipate the August slot could attract headline artists across all career stages. The timing may enable surprise collaborations and new performance formats.
Reactions from fans are mixed. Some welcome the departure from the year-end tradition, while others prefer the established December schedule.
SBS has not yet released information about artist lineups or ticket sales.
