At the opening ceremony, the festival formalized a partnership with the Youth Artists’ Coalition, reaffirming its dedication to supporting emerging creators.
LA, CA, UNITED STATES, August 17, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The combined event URBAN BREAK & TOY CON SEOUL 2026 came to a close on Sunday, August 2, after a four-day exhibition at COEX in Seoul, attracting approximately 58,000 attendees from both domestic and international locations.
Running from July 30 to August 2 in COEX Hall D, the gathering featured about 355 artists from 15 countries. For the first time, URBAN BREAK and TOY CON SEOUL operated as a fully integrated event with a single admission ticket, enabling visitors to explore both shows without restriction.
The 2026 edition also expanded its support for emerging creators through artist programs, industry collaborations, and partnerships designed to increase opportunities for young artists. During the opening ceremony, organizers signed a cooperation agreement with the Youth Artists’ Coalition to bolster creative activities, confirming the festival’s role as a platform for artist development.
This year’s event showcased around 40 artists from Japan, the guest-of-honor nation, and 25 artists from Indonesia, the invited country.
In its second year, TOY CON SEOUL increased its international footprint with 126 artists from 10 countries and 29 creative brands participating.
The Japan Pavilion presented works spanning a wide range of genres, from Buddhist-inspired paintings to traditional textiles. Other featured programs included “BRAVE JOURNEY,” a collaboration with Devsisters, and “URBK SHOWCASE: THE ART OBJET,” a program selected by the Korea Arts Management Service.
At TOY CON SEOUL, long lines formed daily at the INSTINCTOY booth, which sold out all its stock.
Korean artist B98C took part in an IP-based object showcase via “SUPERMARKET,” an installation that invited visitors to find the artist’s character “Powerless” hidden among the shelves of a simulated grocery store.
Meanwhile, ISLANDOO’s “EASY” and “BACK” exhibitions drew multiple collaboration requests during the event, underscoring possibilities to expand visual-art intellectual property into physical products and wider commercial partnerships.
During the “Brave Street” talk on July 30, participating artists B98C and Slinky joined Cookie Run designers Artist SEO and Artist SODA for a live iPad drawing session reimagining how Cookie Run characters might appear in a contemporary urban setting.
The session also featured a Q&A with visitors interested in creative careers and the work of professional character designers.
On July 31, Devsisters’ CIPO joined artist Vance for a discussion centered on art and creative collaboration.
Around 400 attendees gathered on the evening of August 1 for “BREAK PARTY Vol. 3,” a networking event that united participating artists and members of the creative community.
On August 2, URBAN BREAK signed a cooperation agreement with Mokwon University’s Department of Formative Art Contents to support creative activities and opportunities for emerging artists.
Japanese artist Kamakiri also delivered a live drawing performance on the festival’s final day, completing his signature piece “GABULIEN” in roughly one hour using Posca markers without a preliminary sketch.
With 355 artists from 15 countries and programming spanning contemporary art, art toys, creative IP, live performances, and artist networking, URBAN BREAK & TOY CON SEOUL 2026 concluded its first fully integrated edition while strengthening its role as a platform for artists and emerging creators.
◼️ About URBAN COMPLEX Corp.
URBAN BREAK & TOY CON SEOUL 2026 took place from July 30 to August 2, 2026, at COEX Hall D in Seoul. The four-day event featured approximately 355 artists from 15 countries, including about 40 artists from guest-of-honor country Japan and 25 from invited country Indonesia. TOY CON SEOUL gathered 126 artists from 10 countries and 29 creative brands. The event was hosted and organized by the URBAN BREAK Organizing Committee and URBAN COMPLEX Corp., with support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Science and ICT, Arts Council Korea, and the Korea Arts Management Service.
Dojune Lee
URBAN COMPLEX Corp.
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