Gwangju has 2 festivals in November: Gwangju Biennale (5 Sep – 15 Nov 2026) and Gwangju World Kimchi Festival (expected Oct/Nov 2027). The Gwangju Biennale (광주비엔날레) is Korea's oldest contemporary art biennale, held since 1995, with its main exhibition at the Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall in Buk-gu, Gwangju, and pavilions in museums and historic houses around the city.
| Festival | Dates | Admission | Nearest station | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gwangju Biennale광주비엔날레 | 5 Sep – 15 Nov 2026 | Free entry | Gwangju Songjeong Station (KTX), then taxi or bus | Happening now |
| Gwangju World Kimchi Festival광주김치축제 | Expected Oct/Nov 2027 | Free + paid activities | Sangmu Station, Exit 4 | Expected |
Dates marked “expected” follow the organizer's usual pattern and are replaced when the official announcement comes. Each festival page lists the sources.
The Gwangju Biennale (광주비엔날레) is Korea's oldest contemporary art biennale, held since 1995, with its main exhibition at the Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall in Buk-gu, Gwangju, and pavilions in museums and historic houses around the city. The 16th edition, 'You Must Change Your Life', directed by Ho Tzu Nyen, runs 5 September–15 November 2026, 10:00–18:00, closed on Mondays.
The Gwangju World Kimchi Festival (광주김치축제) is a three-day kimchi festival on the plaza and lawns of Gwangju City Hall, now the Gwangju office of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, held since 1994. The 33rd edition runs 23–25 October 2026, 10:00–20:00 daily, with kimchi-making classes taught by award-winning kimchi masters, a kimchi market and a food zone of kimchi dishes.
These come straight from the Korea Tourism Organization’s public festival database. We have not checked them against the organizer, so dates and details can be wrong or out of date. Confirm on the official page before you book.
November is kimjang (kimchi-making) season and the last month of the autumn festivals. The big night is the Busan Fireworks Festival, a single Saturday evening in the first half of the month, with the fireworks fired from Gwangan Bridge over Gwangalli Beach. The chrysanthemum shows at Hampyeong and Masan run into early November, and food festivals follow one another through the month: kimchi-making in Goesan and yuzu in the orchards of Goheung in the first half, ramyeon outside Gumi Station on a weekend, and from mid-month tteokbokki in Sunchang, yellowtail at Moseulpo on Jeju, gwamegi (half-dried saury) at Guryongpo in Pohang, kimchi with bossam in Jinan and Jangdan beans at Imjingak in Paju. Gimhae's buncheong pottery fair falls in late October or early November. The winter lights begin late in the month or in December: the Haeundae Light Festival along Gunam-ro and Haeundae Beach and the Gwangbok-ro light trees in Busan's old downtown both switch on between mid-November and mid-December.
Tip. For Busan, reserve a paid seat when sales open in September or arrive at the beach by mid-afternoon.
Gwangju has 2 festivals in November: Gwangju Biennale (5 Sep – 15 Nov 2026) and Gwangju World Kimchi Festival (expected Oct/Nov 2027). The Gwangju Biennale (광주비엔날레) is Korea's oldest contemporary art biennale, held since 1995, with its main exhibition at the Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall in Buk-gu, Gwangju, and pavilions in museums and historic houses around the city.
5 Sep – 15 Nov 2026. Happening now. Free entry. Nearest station: Gwangju Songjeong Station (KTX), then taxi or bus. Dates are taken from the organizer's own notice.
Expected Oct/Nov 2027. Expected. Free + paid activities. Nearest station: Sangmu Station, Exit 4. The organizer has not yet confirmed the dates; this page updates when they do.
KTX from Yongsan to Gwangju Songjeong in about 2 hours, then Gwangju Metro Line 1.
60 festivals across Korea fall in November, including Busan Fireworks Festival, Busan Mackerel Festival, Yeongdo Bridge Festival. For Busan, reserve a paid seat when sales open in September or arrive at the beach by mid-afternoon.