London’s First Korean Food Festival Is Coming to King’s Cross This May
Korean Food Festival Kings Cross 2026. King’s Cross has just announced one of the most exciting food events on London’s spring calendar: JUNG Festival, a four-day celebration of Korean food, culture and community that will take over Canopy Market and The Crossing from 1–4 May 2026. Official listings say the event will bring together more than 30 Korean traders, with food, desserts, crafts and festival dishes across the early May Bank Holiday weekend.
And the headline hook is a strong one. King’s Cross is billing JUNG Festival as London’s first Korean food festival, while the festival’s own website describes it as the UK’s first dedicated Korean food festival. Either way, it immediately gives the event real weight — and makes it one of the most interesting forward-looking food stories in your orbit right now.
For readers in Islington, King’s Cross, Clerkenwell and nearby North and East London neighbourhoods, this is exactly the kind of event worth knowing about early. It is free to enter, easy to reach, highly visual, and ideal for a long-weekend plan that feels more exciting than the usual market wander.
A big new food event is landing in King’s Cross
JUNG Festival will run from Friday 1 May to Monday 4 May 2026 at West Handyside Canopy and The Crossing, King’s Cross, N1C 4BH. Official timings are listed as Friday 12pm–8pm and Saturday to Monday 11am–6pm, with free entry throughout.
That alone would be enough to make it one of the more useful events to bookmark for May. But what makes it feel especially compelling is that this is not being framed as a standard pop-up food market. Organisers say the festival is designed to explore Korea’s food culture in a broader, richer way, moving beyond the small handful of dishes most Londoners already know.
What to expect at JUNG Festival
According to the official event page, visitors can expect 30+ Korean traders serving everything from cult Korean fried chicken and iconic desserts to bold interpretations of traditional dishes, alongside Korean crafts and other creative brands. King’s Cross has already highlighted names including Chickenhaus, Hoho London, Hongdae Pocha and Kiwa.
Other previews suggest the festival will lean into both familiar favourites and lesser-seen dishes, with media coverage mentioning foods such as gimbap, bulgogi and kkwabaegi as examples of the kinds of flavours visitors may find. That gives the event broader appeal: accessible enough for casual visitors, but still interesting for people who want to discover something new.
Why this feels bigger than a usual market event
London gets a lot of food events, but not all of them feel genuinely new. JUNG Festival does, partly because of the first-of-its-kind positioning, and partly because it is rooted in a more thoughtful concept than a trend-led tasting weekend. The festival takes its name from Jeong (정), a Korean idea linked to warmth, emotional connection and the sense of closeness that grows through sharing food.
That matters because it gives the event a stronger identity. It suggests this will not just be a quick stop for viral snacks, but a more immersive celebration of Korean food culture and community. The event is also being organised in collaboration with Korean food creator Rollin Lee and Market Root, adding some credibility to the idea that this is a properly curated cultural event rather than a surface-level themed
Final word
If the line-up and atmosphere live up to the promise of the announcement, JUNG Festival could easily become one of London’s standout food events of the spring. It is free, distinctive, culturally rich, and happening in one of the city’s best-connected neighbourhoods. For anyone who loves Korean food, discovering new London events, or planning ahead for the May Bank Holiday, this is one to have firmly on the radar now.
Where: Canopy Market and The Crossing, West Handyside Canopy, King’s Cross, N1C 4BH
When: 1–4 May 2026
Opening hours: Friday 12pm–8pm, Saturday to Monday 11am–6pm
Entry: Free
Expect: 30+ Korean traders, street food, desserts, crafts
FAQ section
When is JUNG Festival in King’s Cross?
JUNG Festival runs from 1 May to 4 May 2026.
Where is JUNG Festival happening?
It is taking place at Canopy Market and The Crossing, West Handyside Canopy, King’s Cross, N1C 4BH.
Is JUNG Festival free?
Yes, the event is listed as free entry.
What will be at JUNG Festival?
Official previews say there will be 30+ Korean traders offering food, desserts, crafts and creative takes on traditional Korean dishes.
Why is JUNG Festival notable?
King’s Cross says it is London’s first Korean food festival, while the festival site calls it the UK’s first dedicated Korean food festival.
What’s On in Kings Cross this week
Written and edited by Islington Local Guide
Islington Local Guide is a discovery-led local editorial platform covering Islington and nearby North and East London. We publish curated guides to what’s on, restaurants, bars, brunch, culture, hidden gems, neighbourhood spots and notable new openings, with a focus on helping readers find what is genuinely worth doing, booking and knowing about.
