Gwangju has one festival on record in September: Gwangju Biennale, 5 Sep – 15 Nov 2026, free entry. 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. On-site tickets cost ₩20,000 for adults, ₩10,000 for youths and ₩7,000 for children; the 17th edition is expected in autumn 2028.
| 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 |
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.
September starts in the mountains: Muju's firefly festival takes visitors on guided night walks to see fireflies in a protected habitat in the first half of the month, and Bongpyeong in Pyeongchang holds the Hyoseok Culture Festival among white buckwheat fields for ten days. Hanwha's Seoul International Fireworks Festival over the Han River falls on a Saturday between early September and mid-October. In odd-numbered years the Cheongju Craft Biennale opens in early September (2 September–31 October in 2027), and in even-numbered years Gyeonggi's ceramics biennale opens in Icheon, Gwangju and Yeoju. Namdang Port in Hongseong sells king prawns from late August or early September into October or November. The main autumn season starts late in the month: Andong's mask-dance festival, the Baekje cultural festival in Gongju and Buyeo, Cheonan's world dance festival, Geumsan's ginseng festival, the Jeongseon Arirang Festival and Suwon's Hwaseong fortress festival all open between the third week of September and the first week of October, and several overlap the Chuseok holiday.
Tip. Chuseok (the harvest holiday) moves each year; festivals that overlap it are busier, and intercity transport sells out.
Gwangju has one festival on record in September: Gwangju Biennale, 5 Sep – 15 Nov 2026, free entry. 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. On-site tickets cost ₩20,000 for adults, ₩10,000 for youths and ₩7,000 for children; the 17th edition is expected in autumn 2028.
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.
KTX from Yongsan to Gwangju Songjeong in about 2 hours, then Gwangju Metro Line 1.
39 festivals across Korea fall in September, including Andong Maskdance Festival, Baekje Cultural Festival, Busan International Film Festival. Chuseok (the harvest holiday) moves each year; festivals that overlap it are busier, and intercity transport sells out.