Gwangju has 3 festivals in October: Gwangju Biennale (5 Sep – 15 Nov 2026), Chungjang Festival of Memories (expected Oct 2027), 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 |
| Chungjang Festival of Memories추억의 충장축제 | Expected Oct 2027 | Free entry | Culture Complex Station | Expected |
| 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 Chungjang Festival of Memories (추억의 충장축제) is a free five-day street festival of nostalgia in downtown Gwangju, held since 2004 on Geumnam-ro, Chungjang-ro, the Art Street and 5·18 Democracy Square in Dong-gu. The 23rd edition ran 7–11 October 2026, 14:00–22:00, with three days of street parades, including 12 teams from 6 countries.
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 We have not checked them against the organizer, so dates and details can be wrong or out of date.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.
October is the busiest month on the calendar, and the festival to plan a trip around is the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival: sixteen nights of floating lanterns on the Namgang River below Jinju's fortress from the first Saturday of the month. The first half of October also brings the Busan International Film Festival, the Busan International Rock Festival on the first weekend, the Silla Culture Festival in Gyeongju, Anseong's Baudeogi festival of namsadang folk performance, Sejong's Hangeul festival from Hangeul Day (9 October), Yeongju's Punggi ginseng festival and fortress festivals at Seosan's Haemieupseong and Gochang's Moyangseong. Mid-month adds Jarasum Jazz, Icheon's rice festival, pine mushrooms and salmon in Yangyang, and silver grass on Haneul Park in Seoul and on Hwangmaesan. In the second half, the chrysanthemum shows open at Hampyeong and Iksan, Gangneung holds its coffee festival, Wonju fills its old downtown with dumpling stalls, and Busan marks UN Day (24 October) with the UN Peace Festival beside the UN Memorial Cemetery.
Tip. October weekends sell out hotels in Jinju and Busan a month ahead; the weekdays in between are the best time to visit.
Gwangju has 3 festivals in October: Gwangju Biennale (5 Sep – 15 Nov 2026), Chungjang Festival of Memories (expected Oct 2027), 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 2027. Expected. Free entry. Nearest station: Culture Complex Station. The organizer has not yet confirmed the dates; this page updates when they do.
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.
106 festivals across Korea fall in October, including Andong Maskdance Festival, Anseong Namsadang Baudeogi Festival, Baekje Cultural Festival. October weekends sell out hotels in Jinju and Busan a month ahead; the weekdays in between are the best time to visit.