Festivals in Korea

180 festivals, sorted by what is on soonest. Dates marked “expected” follow the organizer's usual pattern and are replaced when the official announcement comes.

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Korea's best-known festivals, by season

Korea's festival year follows the seasons. In winter: Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival (Jan/Feb) and Seoul Lantern Festival (Dec/Jan). In spring: Jinhae Gunhangje Festival (Mar/Apr) and Yeon Deung Hoe (Lotus Lantern Festival, Apr/May). In summer: Gangneung Danoje Festival (May/Jun), Boryeong Mud Festival (Jul/Aug) and Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival (Jul/Aug). In autumn, the busiest season: Andong Maskdance Festival (Sep/Oct), Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival (Oct) and Busan Fireworks Festival (Nov). 8 of these 10 are free to enter, some with paid activities, and dates shift a little every year, so the table gives the next confirmed or expected dates.

10 of Korea's best-known festivals, all checked on or after 16 October 2026. “Expected” dates follow the organizer's usual pattern.

FestivalWhereUsuallyNext datesEntry
Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival Hwacheon, Gangwon State Jan/Feb Expected Jan/Feb 2027 Paid admission
Jinhae Gunhangje Festival Changwon (Jinhae-gu), Gyeongsangnam-do Mar/Apr Expected Mar/Apr 2027 Free + paid activities
Yeon Deung Hoe (Lotus Lantern Festival) Seoul Apr/May Expected Apr/May 2027 Free entry
Gangneung Danoje Festival Gangneung, Gangwon State May/Jun Expected May/Jun 2027 Free entry
Boryeong Mud Festival Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do Jul/Aug Expected Jul/Aug 2027 Free + paid activities
Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival Incheon Jul/Aug Expected Jul/Aug 2027 Paid admission
Andong Maskdance Festival Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do Sep/Oct Expected Sep/Oct 2027 Free + paid activities
Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do Oct Expected Oct 2027 Free + paid activities
Busan Fireworks Festival Busan Nov 7 Nov 2026 Free + paid activities
Seoul Lantern Festival Seoul Dec/Jan 11 Dec – 31 Jan 2027 Free entry
180 festivals
Calendar All year

Happening now

Nokdong Coastal Ferry Terminal at Nokdong Port in Goheung, where the drone show is held Happening now
Apr – Oct2026
4 –31
Sat–Sat
LightsGoheungFreeEnds todayAbout 4 h 40 min from Seoul

Goheung Nokdong Port Drone Show

The Goheung Nokdong Port Drone Show (고흥 녹동항 드론쇼) is a free drone light show over Nokdong Port in Goheung, Jeollanam-do, with Sorok Bridge behind it, held every Saturday at 21:00 from 4 April to 31 October 2026 (900 drones, busking from 20:00) and on the last Friday of each month in Goheung-eup. As of 19 October 2026 the season's last shows are Saturday 24 October, Friday 30 October (Goheung-eup) and Saturday 31 October; the 2027 season is expected from April.

Jeonju Hanok Village, where the parade runs, in 2022 Happening now
Apr – Oct2026
18 –31
Sat–Sat
TraditionJeonjuFreeEnds todayAbout 1 h 55 min from Seoul

Jeonju Hanok Village Traditional Performing Arts Parade

The Jeonju Hanok Village Traditional Performing Arts Parade (노상놀이야) is a free, one-hour folk parade along Taejo-ro, the main street of Jeonju Hanok Village, led by the giant dragon banners of Jeonju Gijeop-nori and pungmul drummers, with comic street plays on the way and a closing communal play in front of Gyeonggijeon Shrine. The 2026 season runs every Saturday, 15:00–16:00, from 18 April to 31 October, so the last two dates are 24 and 31 October; the 2027 season had not been announced as of 19 October 2026.

Happening now
Apr – Oct2026
25 –31
Sat–Sat
LightsWonjuFreeEnds todayAbout 50 min from Seoul

Naora Show

The Naora Show (나오라쇼, "Night of Light Show") is a free evening show at the Ganhyeon Tourist Area below Sogeumsan Grand Valley in Wonju, Gangwon: a media façade projected onto a river cliff about 250 m wide and 70 m high, with a music fountain that shoots up to 60 m. The 2026 season runs 25 April–31 October on Saturdays and public holidays only (none in July and August), 19:50–21:00, so the last 2026 shows are on Saturday 24 and Saturday 31 October; the 2027 season is expected from late April.

Hwaseong Haenggung Palace in Suwon by day; the night opening takes place here after dark Happening now
May – Nov2026
1 –1
Fri–Sun
LightsSuwonEnds tomorrowAbout 1 h 15 min from Seoul

Hwaseong Haenggung Night Opening

The Hwaseong Haenggung Night Opening (화성행궁 야간개장) keeps the royal palace at the heart of Suwon's UNESCO-listed Hwaseong Fortress open after dark, lit with flower installations and hologram and laser media art under the 2026 theme 'Dalbit Hwadam'. The 2026 season runs 1 May–1 November on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, 18:00–21:30 (last entry 21:00), so the final nights are 23–25 October and 30 October–1 November.

Happening now
Aug – Nov2026
25 –15
Tue–Sun
ArtsJeju CityUntil 15 NovBy air from Seoul

Jeju Biennale

The Jeju Biennale (제주비엔날레) is Jeju Island's contemporary art biennale, run by Jeju Museum of Art. The 5th edition, 'Iyahong: The Art of Metamorphosis', runs 25 August–15 November 2026 with 69 artists and teams at Jeju Museum of Art on the 1100 Road, the Obaekjanggun Gallery in Jeju Stone Park and three galleries in Jeju City's old town; in October and November the venues open 10:00–18:00.

Lotus flowers at Semiwon, the festival's venue Happening now
Sep – Oct2026
1 –31
Tue–Sat
NatureYangpyeongEnds today

Semiwon Water Lily Festival

The Semiwon Water Lily Festival (세미원 수련문화제) is a two-month autumn festival at Semiwon, Gyeonggi-do's first designated local garden, on the Han River at Yangsu-ri in Yangpyeong, where Victoria, Australian and tropical water lilies take over from the summer lotuses. The 2026 edition runs 1 September to 31 October, 09:00–18:00 daily, with Saturday janggu-and-guitar performances, lotus-themed exhibitions and craft classes.

Deep-fried king prawns at the 2015 Namdang Port King Prawn Festival in Hongseong Happening now
Sep – Nov2026
4 –8
Fri–Sun
FoodHongseongFreeUntil 8 Nov

Hongseong Namdang Port King Prawn Festival

The Hongseong Namdang Port King Prawn Festival (홍성남당항 대하축제) is a two-month seafood festival at Namdang Port on Cheonsu Bay in Seobu-myeon, Hongseong, Chungcheongnam-do, where the port's restaurants and stalls sell in-season daeha prawns, usually salt-grilled, with weekend shows and bare-hand prawn catching. The 31st edition runs 4 September–8 November 2026, 09:00–24:00, with free entry; prawns are sold at one festival price of ₩45,000 per kg to take away or ₩60,000 per kg in restaurants.

Paldalmun Gate of Suwon Hwaseong Fortress at night, next to the market Happening now
Sep – Oct2026
5 –31
Sat–Sat
FoodSuwonFreeEnds todayAbout 1 h 10 min from Seoul

Bulchwimugwi Night Market

The Bulchwimugwi Night Market (왕의 야시장 불취무귀) is a free Saturday-evening night market in Suwon's Nammun Market district, beside Paldalmun, the south gate of Hwaseong Fortress, with food from market merchants and food trucks, a flea market, busking and a themed programme each night. First held in 2026, its second season runs 17:00–22:00 on four Saturdays, 10, 17, 24 and 31 October 2026; after 19 October the nights left are 24 October (Sundae Day) and 31 October (Joseon Ghost Day).

Inside an exhibition at the 2018 Gwangju Biennale Happening now
Sep – Nov2026
5 –15
Sat–Sun
ArtsGwangjuFreeUntil 15 NovAbout 2 h from Seoul

Gwangju Biennale

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.

Happening now
Sep – Oct2026
11 –31
Fri–Sat
NatureYeosuFreeEnds todayAbout 3 h from Seoul

Namdo K-Garden Festival

The Namdo K-Garden Festival is a provincial garden festival that Jeollanam-do started in 2025 and moves between counties; the 2026 edition is a free night garden show of about 40 gardens on Yeomun Culture Street and Yeoseo Mikwan Plaza in central Yeosu. It runs every day from 11 September to 31 October 2026, 15:00–21:00, with the gardens lit after dark.

Basalt columns at Bidulginang Falls on the Hantan River in Pocheon, near the festival site Happening now
Sep – Nov2026
12 –1
Sat–Sun
FamilyPocheonEnds tomorrow

Pocheon Hantangang Garden Festa

The Pocheon Hantangang Garden Festa is a seasonal garden festival on a lava plateau of about 260,000 m² above the Hantan River gorge in Gwanin-myeon, Pocheon, in northern Gyeonggi-do, beside Korea's longest Y-shaped suspension bridge (410 m). The 2026 autumn season runs 12 September–1 November, 09:00–18:00 (last entry 17:00).

Ceramics on display at Icheon Cerapia, the biennale's main venue, in 2012 Happening now
Sep – Nov2026
18 –1
Fri–Sun
ArtsIcheonEnds tomorrowAbout 49 min from Seoul

Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale

The Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale (경기도자비엔날레) is Korea's international ceramic art biennale, held in three museums in Icheon, Gwangju and Yeoju, ceramics towns south-east of Seoul. The 13th edition, 'Earth Makes', runs 18 September–1 November 2026, 10:00–18:00 every day (last entry 17:00), with the main exhibition at Icheon Cerapia.

Life-size dinosaur models in an exhibition hall at Danghangpo, the expo's site, in 2010 Happening now
Sep – Nov2026
22 –1
Tue–Sun
FamilyGoseongEnds tomorrowAbout 3 h 51 min from Seoul

Gyeongnam Goseong Dinosaur World Expo

The Gyeongnam Goseong Dinosaur World Expo is a 41-day dinosaur exhibition and show park at Danghangpo Tourist Site in Goseong, Gyeongsangnam-do, a county known for its dinosaur footprint fossils. The 10th edition runs 22 September–1 November 2026, 09:00–18:00 (until 22:00 on night-opening days); gate tickets are ₩19,000 for adults and ₩13,000 for children, and parking is free.

Jinnamgwan, the long 1599 naval hall in Yeosu and a National Treasure, seen across its lawn Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
9 –8
Fri–Sun
LightsYeosuFreeUntil 8 NovAbout 3 h from Seoul

National Heritage Media Art at Jinnamgwan, Yeosu

National Heritage Media Art at Jinnamgwan is a free evening light show in Yeosu's old harbour district: projections and media façades on Jinnamgwan, a 1599 naval hall and National Treasure, on the Gosodae memorial site and on the turtle-ship replica in Yi Sun-sin Square tell the story of Admiral Yi Sun-sin. It runs 9 October–8 November 2026, 19:30–21:30 nightly except Tuesdays and special closure days around the 19 October Yeosu–Suncheon memorial, with an AI 'Yi Sun-sin', a stamp tour and weekend flea markets.

The main hall of the Tripitaka Koreana Theme Park in Hapcheon, the festival's venue Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
9 –1
Fri–Sun
TraditionHapcheonEnds tomorrowAbout 2 h 36 min from Seoul

Tripitaka Koreana Cultural Festival

The Tripitaka Koreana Cultural Festival (대장경기록문화축제) is Hapcheon County's autumn festival at the Tripitaka Koreana Theme Park in Gaya-myeon, Gyeongsangnam-do, about 5 km from Haeinsa Temple, where the 81,258 Tripitaka Koreana woodblocks are kept. The 2026 edition runs 9 October–1 November, 09:00–18:00, with autumn-flower sculptures, chrysanthemum bonsai, Tripitaka exhibitions and family craft workshops.

Happening now
Oct2026
10 –31
Sat–Sat
ArtsSeocheonFreeEnds todayAbout 3 h 20 min from Seoul

Janghang 1931 Night Tour

Janghang 1931 Night Tour is a new evening culture event, first held in 2026, at the old Janghang Station in Seocheon County, South Chungcheong, a 1930 railway station that is now a culture space called Janghang Urban Exploration Station. It runs on four evenings only, 17:00–21:00 on 10, 17, 30 and 31 October 2026, each with its own theme drawn from the port town's modern history; the last two are Friday 30 October (old-style tearoom café night) and Saturday 31 October (food night).

Pinwheels on the hill at Imjingak Peace Nuri Park in Paju, one of the festival's main sites Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
12 –29
Mon–Sun
ArtsPajuFreeUntil 29 NovAbout 2 h from Seoul

DMZ OPEN Festival

The DMZ OPEN Festival (DMZ OPEN 페스티벌) is Gyeonggi Province's multi-week season of art, music and talks about the Demilitarized Zone, centred on Imjingak Peace Nuri in Paju and the former US Army base Camp Greaves across the Imjin River. The 2026 edition runs 12 October–29 November, with the exhibition "Staging" (26 works by 14 artists), the International Music Festival in Goyang on 23–25 October and a forum on 28 October.

Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
16 –8
Fri–Sun
LightsSeoulFreeUntil 8 Nov

Nowon Moonlight Walk

The Nowon Moonlight Walk is a free public-art light festival along Danghyeoncheon stream in Nowon-gu, northern Seoul, where about 30 light sculptures by Korean artists line the stream path after dark. The 7th edition, 'New Moon', runs 16 October–8 November 2026, lit daily from 17:30 to 22:00.

Mungyeong Saejae Provincial Park seen from above in November, where the apple festival is held Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
17 –1
Sat–Sun
FoodMungyeongFreeEnds tomorrowAbout 2 h 30 min from Seoul

Mungyeong Apple Festival

The Mungyeong Apple Festival (문경사과축제) is a free harvest festival at Mungyeong Saejae Provincial Park in Mungyeong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, built around the Gamhong apple, a local variety that is in season only in October and averages 16.5 Brix. The 21st edition is running now, 17 October–1 November 2026, 09:00–18:00 daily, with growers' sales and tastings, orchard picking, an apple exhibition hall and family games.

Chrysanthemum displays around a pond at Hampyeong Expo Park during the 2012 festival Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
23 –8
Fri–Sun
NatureHampyeongFreeUntil 8 NovAbout 3 h from Seoul

Hampyeong Grand Chrysanthemum Festival

The Hampyeong Grand Chrysanthemum Festival (대한민국 국향대전) fills Hampyeong Expo Park in Hampyeong, Jeollanam-do, with giant chrysanthemum sculptures, bonsai halls and autumn flower fields. The 2026 edition, themed 'Chrysanthemum Garden of Myths', runs 23 October–8 November, 10:00–18:00.

Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
23 –1
Fri–Sun
NatureIksanFreeEnds tomorrowAbout 1 h 20 min from Seoul

Iksan Ten Million Chrysanthemum Festival

The Iksan Ten Million Chrysanthemum Festival is a free ten-day flower show in downtown Iksan, Jeonbuk State, filling Jungang Sports Park, Sinheung Neighbourhood Park and the Iksan Station area with giant chrysanthemum sculptures, bonsai and lit night gardens. The 23rd edition runs 23 October–1 November 2026, 10:00–21:00, with fireworks on 31 October and the displays left up until 8 November.

Baekbeom Square on Namsan in autumn, where the festival is held Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
23 –14
Fri–Sat
NatureSeoulFreeUntil 14 Nov

Namsan Night Festival

The Namsan Night Festival is a free, booking-only evening festival run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in Namsan Park, in the centre of Seoul, on Fridays and Saturdays from 23 October to 14 November 2026. It has three parts: Campnic picnic pitches with live music and open-air films on the lawn of Baekbeom Square (17:00–22:00 on six evenings to 7 November), guided Autumn Foliage Walks of 3.8–4.2 km on 23–24 October and 6–7 November, and a silent-disco Palgak Club by N Seoul Tower on 14 November.

A boardwalk through the reed beds of Gangjin Bay Ecological Park, the festival's venue Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
24 –1
Sat–Sun
NatureGangjinFreeEnds tomorrowAbout 4 h 27 min from Seoul

Gangjin Bay Dancing Reed Festival

The Gangjin Bay Dancing Reed Festival (강진만 춤추는 갈대축제) is a free nine-day autumn festival in the reed beds of Gangjin Bay Ecological Park in Gangjin, Jeollanam-do, where the Tamjin River estuary meets the sea. The 11th edition runs 24 October–1 November 2026, 10:00–19:00 daily, with guided eco walks, children's programs and weekend concerts (Song Ga-in on 25 October).

The Yeongildae pavilion on Yeongildae Beach in Pohang, the festival's base from 2023 to 2025 Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
24 –15
Sat–Sun
ArtsPohangFreeUntil 15 Nov

Pohang Steel Art Festival

The Pohang Steel Art Festival (포항스틸아트페스티벌, PSAF) is a free public-art festival in Pohang, Korea's steel city in Gyeongsangbuk-do, showing sculpture, photography and architecture made with or about steel. The 2026 edition runs 24 October–15 November 2026 at Dongbin Culture Warehouse 1969, Songdo Beach, Art436 and downtown Pohang; KTO lists 10:00–21:00 Tuesday to Saturday and 10:00–18:00 on Sunday.

Suseong Lake (Suseongmot) in Daegu ringed by autumn foliage, seen from above; the biennale is set around the lake Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
27 –22
Tue–Sun
ArtsDaeguFreeUntil 22 Nov

Suseong International Biennale

The Suseong International Biennale (수성국제비엔날레) is a free architecture and landscape biennale run by Suseong-gu, the Daegu district around Suseongmot Lake. The 2nd edition, 'Living Ground', runs 27 October–22 November 2026 on Sanghwa Hill by the lake, open 12:00–21:00 on weekdays and 10:00–21:00 at weekends, with an opening programme on 27 October from 14:00.

A gate of Hongjueupseong, the old walled town in Hongseong where the festival is held Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
29 –1
Thu–Sun
FoodHongseongFreeEnds tomorrowAbout 2 h 10 min from Seoul

Hongseong Global Barbecue Festival

The Hongseong Global Barbecue Festival (홍성글로벌바비큐페스티벌) is a four-day barbecue and meat festival held in and around Hongju-eupseong, the walled old town in the centre of Hongseong, Chungcheongnam-do, with grill zones, visiting barbecue teams, discounted local beef and pork, and evening concerts. Hongseong County has confirmed the fourth edition for Thursday 29 October to Sunday 1 November 2026.

Crowds on Songdo Beach watching fireworks over the water at the 2025 Busan Mackerel Festival Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
30 –1
Fri–Sun
FoodBusanFreeEnds tomorrowAbout 2 h 47 min from Seoul

Busan Mackerel Festival

The Busan Mackerel Festival (부산고등어축제) is a free three-day seafood festival on Songdo Beach in Seo-gu, Busan, held since 2008 in honour of mackerel, the city's fish. The 17th edition runs 30 October–1 November 2026, 10:00–21:00, with bare-handed mackerel catching, a kayak mackerel hunt, surprise mackerel auctions, a seafood market and evening concerts.

The Duryunsan cable car in Haenam, close to the provincial park lawn where the festival is held Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
30 –1
Fri–Sun
FoodHaenamEnds tomorrowAbout 4 h 46 min from Seoul

Haenam Minam Festival

The Haenam Minam Festival (해남미남축제; 'minam', 味南, means 'taste of the south') is a three-day food festival of Haenam's farm and sea produce, held in Duryunsan Provincial Park on the road to Daeheungsa Temple in Haenam, Jeollanam-do. Haenam County has announced the 2026 edition for Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November, with Haenam rice as its theme and, this year, no opening ceremony, township parade or VIP seating.

Mokpo Modern History Museum 1 in the old town, one of the festival's venues Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
30 –1
Fri–Sun
TraditionMokpoFreeEnds tomorrowAbout 3 h 5 min from Seoul

Mokpo National Heritage Night

Mokpo National Heritage Night (목포 국가유산야행) is a free three-evening festival in the old town of Mokpo, Jeollanam-do, where the modern-history district around the Modern History Museums, Gyeongdong Cathedral and the Mokpo-jin fort site stays open after dark with lighting, media art, walking tours, a parade, concerts and a food-truck night market. The 2026 edition, themed on Mokpo's port opening in 1897, runs Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, 18:00–22:00 each night, with no booking listed.

The granite ridges of Wolchulsan National Park in Yeongam, the mountain at whose foot the festival is held Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
30 –15
Fri–Sun
NatureYeongamFreeUntil 15 NovAbout 4 h 27 min from Seoul

Wolchulsan Chrysanthemum Festival

The Wolchulsan Chrysanthemum Festival (월출산 국화축제) is a free autumn flower show at Wolchulsan Gichan Land, a park at the foot of Wolchulsan in Yeongam, Jeollanam-do, where more than 200,000 chrysanthemums of 23 varieties are set out as bonsai, flower sculptures, a flower tunnel and garden paths. The 2026 edition runs 30 October–15 November, 10:00–18:00.

Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
30 –1
Fri–Sun
TraditionYecheonFreeEnds tomorrowAbout 2 h 38 min from Seoul

Yecheon Bow Festival

The Yecheon Bow Festival (예천활축제) is a free archery festival at Hancheon Sports Park in Yecheon-eup, Gyeongsangbuk-do, the home county of archers Kim Jin-ho, Yun Ok-hee and Olympic champion Kim Je-deok: you can try Western and traditional Korean archery, a team bow battle and children's bow games. The 2026 edition runs Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November, 10:00–21:00, together with the Yecheon Agricultural Festival; as of mid-October it was going ahead as planned despite foot-and-mouth cases in Yecheon in 2026.

Yeongdo Bridge in Busan with its drawbridge span raised Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
30 –1
Fri–Sun
TraditionBusanFreeEnds tomorrowAbout 2 h 30 min from Seoul

Yeongdo Bridge Festival

The Yeongdo Bridge Festival (영도다리축제) is a free three-day district festival in Yeongdo-gu, Busan, celebrating Yeongdo Bridge, which opened in 1934 as Korea's first drawbridge. The 34th edition runs 30 October–1 November 2026, 10:00–20:00, on two sites: the Bongnae-dong wharf beside the bridge (opening ceremony, retro shows) and Amir Park by the National Maritime Museum (song contest, cooking show, closing ceremony).

Sunrise over Yedang Reservoir, where the festival is held, seen from Bongsusan in October 2014 Happening now
Oct2026
30 –31
Fri–Sat
FoodYesanFreeEnds todayAbout 1 h 55 min from Seoul

Yesan Apple Festival

The Yesan Apple Festival (예산사과축제) is a free two-day harvest festival for the apples of Yesan, Chungcheongnam-do, held in 2026 around the Yedangho suspension bridge, a 402 m footbridge over Yedang Reservoir. The 23rd edition runs Friday 30 October (10:00–20:00) and Saturday 31 October 2026 (10:00–18:00), with a discounted growers' apple sale, apple games, music and fireworks over the lake.

Chrysanthemum displays along the Masan waterfront seen from above during the 2019 festival Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
31 –8
Sat–Sun
NatureChangwon (Masanhappo-gu)FreeStarts todayAbout 3 h from Seoul

Masan Gagopa Chrysanthemum Festival

The Masan Gagopa Chrysanthemum Festival (마산가고파국화축제) is Changwon's free autumn flower festival on the Masan Port waterfront, where about 100,000 chrysanthemum plants are shaped into themed sculptures and displays at 3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park and Hapo Waterfront Park. The 26th edition runs 31 October–8 November 2026, 10:00–22:00, with multimedia fireworks on opening day and a sea nakhwa fire show at 19:00 on 4 November.

The riverwalk along the Miryang River, the festival's riverside setting Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
31 –1
Sat–Sun
FoodMiryangFreeStarts todayAbout 2 h 30 min from Seoul

Miryang Spicy Food Festival

The Miryang Spicy Food Festival (밀양 매운맛 축제) is a free two-day festival of spicy food and heat challenges on the Miryang River riverside in Samun-dong, Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do, the city where Samyang Foods runs its Buldak noodle export plants. The first edition is on Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November 2026, 11:00–21:00, with spicy food zones, a chef's table, a One Chip Challenge and a brand zone that includes Samyang.

Coming up

Ripe red Cheongsong apples hanging on a tree in an orchard Upcoming
Nov2026
4 –8
Wed–Sun
FoodCheongsongFreeStarts in 4 daysAbout 3 h 58 min from Seoul

Cheongsong Apple Festival

The Cheongsong Apple Festival (청송사과축제) is a five-day harvest festival on the Yongjeoncheon stream beside Hyeonbiam cliff in Cheongsong-eup, Gyeongsangbuk-do, a mountain county known for its apples. The 20th edition runs 4–8 November 2026 (Wednesday–Sunday), 09:00–20:00 per KTO, with growers' apple sales, an apple parade, hands-on games and evening concerts.

Hands rubbing red pepper seasoning into salted cabbage during kimjang, Korea's winter kimchi-making (photo taken in Seoul) Upcoming
Nov2026
5 –8
Thu–Sun
FoodGoesanFreeStarts in 5 daysAbout 1 h 54 min from Seoul

Goesan Kimjang Festival

The Goesan Kimjang Festival (괴산김장축제) is a four-day kimchi-making festival on the Organic Expo Square in Goesan, Chungcheongbuk-do, the county where Korea's pre-salted cabbage trade began in 1996. The 2026 edition runs 5–8 November, 10:00–20:00.

Walkers on a Jeju Olle trail in 2009 Upcoming
Nov2026
5 –7
Thu–Sat
NatureJeju CityStarts in 5 daysBy air from Seoul

Jeju Olle Walking Festival

The Jeju Olle Walking Festival is a three-day group walk on Jeju Island's Olle trail, with village performances, traditional games and local lunches along the route. The 16th edition runs 5–7 November 2026 on Courses 19 and 20 on the north-east coast, opening at Jocheon Stadium near Jocheon Manse Hill and covering about 13 km, 11.5 km and 12.9 km on successive days.

A traditional kiln at the Gimhae Buncheong Ceramics Museum in Jillye, home of the city's buncheong potters Upcoming
Nov2026
6 –10
Fri–Tue
ArtsGimhaeStarts in 6 days

Gimhae Buncheong Ceramics Festival

The Gimhae Buncheong Ceramics Festival (김해분청도자기축제) is a sale and showcase of buncheong stoneware by Gimhae potters, held every autumn since 1996. The 31st edition runs 6–10 November 2026, 10:00–20:00 (closing at 18:00 on Monday and Tuesday), and for the first time leaves its home in Jillye-myeon for Lotte Garden Park beside Lotte Premium Outlets Gimhae in Jangyu.

Ramyeon booths and crowds filling a downtown Gumi street at the 2025 Gumi Ramyeon Festival Upcoming
Nov2026
6 –8
Fri–Sun
FoodGumiFreeStarts in 6 daysAbout 3 h from Seoul

Gumi Ramyeon Festival

The Gumi Ramyeon Festival (구미라면축제) is a free three-day street-food festival around Gumi Station in Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do, the city where Nongshim fries most of Korea's Shin Ramyun. Local chefs serve creative ramyeon dishes along a 475 m 'ramyeon street' opposite the station, and Nongshim sells packs fried that morning.

Upcoming
Nov2026
6 –10
Fri–Tue
NatureSeogwipoFreeStarts in 6 daysBy air from Seoul

Jeju Garden Culture Expo

The Jeju Garden Culture Expo (2026 대한민국 제주정원문화박람회) is a free five-day garden show in the Baramoru Park area of Jeju Innovation City in Seogwipo, hosted by the Korea Forest Service, Jeju Province and Seogwipo City, and described by the Korea Tourism Organization as the first garden culture expo held in Jeju. It runs 6–10 November 2026, 09:00–19:00 daily, with Korea Garden Show designer gardens, residents' and corporate gardens, garden concerts and talks, and a garden market.

The Haean Basin, known as the Punchbowl, seen from the Eulji Observatory in Yanggu Upcoming
Nov2026
6 –8
Fri–Sun
FoodYangguFreeStarts in 6 daysAbout 1 h 44 min from Seoul

Yanggu Punchbowl Siraegi Apple Festival

The Yanggu Punchbowl Siraegi Apple Festival (청춘양구 펀치볼 시래기사과축제) is a free three-day harvest fair for the dried radish greens (siraegi) and highland apples of the Haean basin, the 'Punchbowl', a farming valley on the edge of the DMZ in Yanggu, Gangwon State. The 2026 edition runs Friday 6 to Sunday 8 November, 10:00–17:00, in front of the Punchbowl Healing House in Haean-myeon.

Fireworks over Gwangan Bridge and Gwangalli Beach during the Busan Fireworks Festival Upcoming
Nov2026
7
Sat
LightsBusanStarts in 7 daysAbout 3 h 15 min from Seoul

Busan Fireworks Festival

The Busan Fireworks Festival is a one-night fireworks show over Gwangalli Beach and the Gwangan Bridge in Busan. The 21st edition is on Saturday 7 November 2026, with the main show 19:00–20:00.

Unjusa Temple in Hwasun, the festival's venue Upcoming
Nov2026
7 –8
Sat–Sun
TraditionHwasunFreeStarts in 7 daysAbout 3 h 30 min from Seoul

Hwasun Unju Culture Festival

The Hwasun Unju Culture Festival (화순운주문화축제) is a free two-day festival at Unjusa, the "thousand Buddhas, thousand pagodas" temple in Doam-myeon, Hwasun, Jeollanam-do. KTO lists the 2026 edition for Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November, 10:00–17:00, with temple bell-ringing, pungmul and music, the unveiling of a Buddha statue, a local market and hands-on crafts.

Upcoming
Nov2026
7 –8
Sat–Sun
NatureGuryeStarts in 7 daysAbout 3 h 13 min from Seoul

Jirisan Piagol Autumn Foliage Festival

The Jirisan Piagol Autumn Foliage Festival (지리산 피아골 단풍축제) is a two-day weekend festival in Piagol, a valley on the Gurye side of Jirisan National Park in Jeollanam-do whose autumn leaves are among the 'ten views of Jirisan'. Gurye County's site gives Saturday–Sunday 7–8 November 2026 for the 50th edition, at Piagol Maple Park in Toji-myeon, opening with a commemorative tree planting at 10:00 and the traditional foliage rite at 11:00 on 7 November.

Visitors walking a path between yuzu trees heavy with ripe fruit at the 2025 Goheung Yuzu Festival Upcoming
Nov2026
12 –15
Thu–Sun
FoodGoheungFreeAbout 4 h 24 min from Seoul

Goheung Yuzu Festival

The Goheung Yuzu Festival (고흥유자축제) is a four-day harvest festival in the yuzu orchards of Handong-ri, Pungyang-myeon, in Goheung, Jeollanam-do, the county that grows most of Korea's yuzu. The 6th edition runs 12–15 November 2026, 10:00–22:00, with yuzu picking, a yuzu foot spa, lit-up orchards and nightly concerts.

The twin peaks of Maisan, Jinan's best-known landmark (not the festival venue) Upcoming
Nov2026
14 –15
Sat–Sun
FoodJinanAbout 2 h 26 min from Seoul

Jinan Highland Kimchi Bossam Festival

The Jinan Highland Kimchi Bossam Festival (진안고원 김치보쌈축제) is a two-day weekend kimjang festival in Jinan-eup, Jinan County, Jeonbuk State, where families make winter kimchi together and eat it fresh with boiled pork (bossam). The 2026 edition, its eighth, is on Saturday–Sunday 14–15 November, confirmed on the organizer's site; the official poster places it around the Jinan Local Food store in Jinan-eup.

Fishing boats moored at Moseulpo Port on Jeju's southwest coast, the festival's venue Upcoming
Nov2026
19 –22
Thu–Sun
FoodSeogwipoBy air from Seoul

Moseulpo Southernmost Yellowtail Festival

The Moseulpo Southernmost Yellowtail Festival (최남단방어축제) is a four-day harbour festival at Moseulpo Port in Daejeong-eup, on the southwest tip of Jeju, built around bangeo (Japanese amberjack, sold in English as yellowtail), which fattens in these waters from November. The 26th edition runs 19–22 November 2026 (Thursday to Sunday): the dates are confirmed on the organizer's site (bangeofestival.com), which announced the festival on 3 September 2026.

Fireworks at Yeongildae Beach during the Pohang International Fireworks Festival Upcoming
Nov2026
19 –21
Thu–Sat
LightsPohangFree

Pohang International Fireworks Festival

The Pohang International Fireworks Festival (포항국제불빛축제) is a free three-day festival on the waterfront of Pohang, Korea's steel city in Gyeongsangbuk-do, held since 2004 and built around an international fireworks show over the sea, with a street parade and, in recent years, drone shows and concerts. The 2026 edition runs Thursday 19 to Saturday 21 November, moved from its planned June slot because of the local elections: an opening media-art lighting ceremony at Songdo Pier on 19 November, a fireworks street parade on 20 November and the international fireworks show over Yeongildae Beach on 21 November, 20:00–21:00, with teams from France, Japan and Korea.

Bowls of gochujang and other fermented pastes in Sunchang, the county known for its red pepper paste Upcoming
Nov2026
21 –22
Sat–Sun
FoodSunchangFreeAbout 3 h 19 min from Seoul

Sunchang Korea Tteokbokki Festa

The Sunchang Korea Tteokbokki Festa (순창 코리아 떡볶이 페스타) is a free two-day street-food festival of tteokbokki made with Sunchang gochujang, held at the Sunchang Fermentation Theme Park and the Traditional Gochujang Folk Village in Sunchang, Jeonbuk State. The third edition runs 21–22 November 2026, from 10:00 on Saturday (with overnight camping) and 10:00–17:00 on Sunday.

A carpet of blue lights across Haeundae Beach with a glowing crescent moon at the 2020 Haeundae Light Festival Upcoming
Nov – Jan2026
28 –10
Sat–Sun
LightsBusanFreeAbout 3 h 35 min from Seoul

Haeundae Light Festival

The Haeundae Light Festival (해운대 빛축제) is Haeundae-gu's free winter illumination along Gunam-ro, the street from Haeundae Station down to the sea, and on the sand of Haeundae Beach in Busan, held every winter since 2014. The 13th edition runs 28 November 2026–10 January 2027, as listed in Haeundae-gu Office's 2026 events calendar, which notes that dates may change; lighting hours and the programme are not yet published.

The statue of King Sejong on Gwanghwamun Square, where the market is held Upcoming
Dec – Jan2026
11 –10
Fri–Sun
LightsSeoulFree

Gwanghwamun Market

Gwanghwamun Market (광화문 마켓) is Seoul's free Christmas market: a European-style "Santa Village" of red-roofed stalls, a 15 m tree, photo zones and a carousel on Gwanghwamun Square, run every evening by the Seoul Tourism Organization since 2022. The 2026 edition is scheduled for 11 December 2026–10 January 2027; daily hours are not yet published (17:30–22:00 in 2025).

Giant sneaker-shaped lanterns lit up in Cheonggyecheon stream during the Seoul Lantern Festival Upcoming
Dec – Jan2026
11 –31
Fri–Sun
LightsSeoulFree

Seoul Lantern Festival

The Seoul Lantern Festival is a free winter light display along Cheonggyecheon stream in central Seoul, from Cheonggye Plaza to Samilgyo; in 2025 it was lit nightly from 18:00. The 17th edition ran 12 December 2025–18 January 2026.

Visitors on the snow-covered grounds of the 2012 Daegwallyeong Snow Festival in Pyeongchang Upcoming
Jan – Feb2027
30 –9
Sat–Tue
NaturePyeongchangAbout 2 h 21 min from Seoul

Daegwallyeong Snow Festival

The Daegwallyeong Snow Festival (대관령눈꽃축제) is a ten-day snow-sculpture and sledding festival run by local residents beside the Songcheon stream in Hoenggye, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang, about 2 h 10 min by direct bus from Dong Seoul. Held since 1993, it last ran 13–22 February 2026, and the 35th edition is planned for 30 January–9 February 2027, 09:30–17:30.

A view of the 2015 Cheongju International Craft Biennale Upcoming
Sep – Oct2027
2 –31
Thu–Sun
ArtsCheongjuAbout 1 h 52 min from Seoul

Cheongju Craft Biennale

The Cheongju Craft Biennale (청주공예비엔날레) is an international contemporary-craft exhibition held every two years since 1999 and, since 2011, at the Culture Factory, a converted tobacco plant in Cheongju, North Chungcheong. The 15th edition is planned for 2 September–31 October 2027, according to the organizer's 2027 competition notice; the 2025 edition ran 60 days, 10:00–19:00 and closed on Mondays, and drew more than 400,000 visitors.

Jarasum island in the Bukhangang River in Gapyeong, the festival grounds, seen from above Upcoming
Oct2027
9 –11
Sat–Mon
MusicGapyeongAbout 1 h from Seoul

Jarasum Jazz Festival

The Jarasum Jazz Festival is Korea's largest jazz festival, held every October on Jarasum, a river island beside Gapyeong Station about 70 km north-east of Seoul. The 23rd edition ran 9–11 October 2026, and the 24th is set for Saturday 9 to Monday 11 October 2027.

Expected — dates not yet announced

Rows of gwamegi (half-dried Pacific saury) hanging on drying racks in Pohang Expected
Expected2026
Nov / Dec
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FoodPohangFree

Guryongpo Gwamegi Festival

The Guryongpo Gwamegi Festival (포항 구룡포 과메기 축제) is a free two-day weekend food festival on Ara Plaza, on the Gwamegi Culture Street of Guryongpo in Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Guryongpo is Korea's largest producer of gwamegi, saury dried in the winter sea wind.

Gwangbok-ro lit up at night for the 2018 Busan Christmas Tree Culture Festival, as the festival was then called Expected
Expected2026
Nov / Dec / Jan / Feb
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LightsBusanFreeAbout 2 h 35 min from Seoul

Gwangbok-ro Winter Light Tree Festival

The Gwangbok-ro Winter Light Tree Festival (광복로 겨울빛 트리축제), held since 2009 and long known as the Busan Christmas Tree Festival, lights about 1.1 km of Gwangbok-ro, the shopping street of Busan's old downtown in Nampo-dong, with a large media tree and light sculptures for about 80 nights each winter. The 2025 edition ran 5 December 2025–22 February 2026, lit 17:30–22:00 daily; 2026 dates are not announced yet, but the lights usually go on between mid-November and early December and stay up into February.

Pinwheels on the hill at Imjingak Peace Nuri Park in Paju, beside the festival grounds Expected
Expected2026
Nov
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FoodPajuFreeAbout 2 h from Seoul

Paju Jangdan Bean Festival

The Paju Jangdan Bean Festival (파주장단콩축제) is a three-day farmers' festival at the Imjingak Tourist Area in Paju, Gyeonggi-do, beside the Imjin River near the inter-Korean border, where growers sell the new crop of Jangdan soybeans alongside fresh tofu, meju-making and bean threshing. The 29th edition ran 21–23 November 2025, 09:00–17:00.

Expected
Expected2026
Nov / Dec
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NatureSeocheonAbout 3 h 15 min from Seoul

Seocheon Migratory Bird Festival

The Seocheon Migratory Bird Festival (서천철새여행, 'Seocheon bird journey') is a small weekend festival at the Seocheon Bird Ecology Center by the Geum River estuary barrage in Seocheon, Chungcheongnam-do, where the county says about 500,000 birds of some 40 species winter each year. It runs guided birdwatching tours, family booths and shows.

Cheonjangho Lake frozen over in winter, with its red-towered suspension bridge, near the Alps Village festival site Expected
Expected2026
Dec / Jan / Feb
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FamilyCheongyangAbout 3 h from Seoul

Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival

The Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival (칠갑산 얼음분수축제) is a village-run winter festival at Alps Village (Cheonjang-ri) below Chilgapsan in Cheongyang, Chungcheongnam-do, where about 90 giant ice fountains, snow sculptures of cartoon characters and snow and ice sledding make a family day out, about three hours from Seoul by bus. The 2025–26 season, its 18th, ran 24 December 2025–22 February 2026; the 2026–27 season is expected from late December 2026 (in past years the full programme opened on 1 January) to mid or late February 2027, with dates not yet announced.

The Metasequoia Road in Damyang in autumn, beside Metaland where the festival is held Expected
Expected2026
Dec
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LightsDamyangAbout 2 h 35 min from Seoul

Damyang Santa Festival

The Damyang Santa Festival (담양산타축제) is a two-day Christmas festival in Damyang, Jeollanam-do, with a Santa parade, a lighting ceremony, fireworks and free outdoor concerts, held in 2025 at Metaland on the Metasequoia Road. The 7th edition ran 24–25 December 2025; the 2026 edition has not been announced but is expected on 24–25 December 2026.

A drone light show over the Han River in Seoul, photographed in May 2023 Expected
Expected2026
Dec
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NatureSeoul

Hangang Festival (Winter)

The Hangang Festival (Winter) is the Seoul city government's year-end run of its Han River parks festival, built around the Romantic Hangang Christmas Market, photo and rest domes, kite flying and the Hangang sledding parks. The 2026 run is planned for 19–27 December in the city's April 2026 schedule, with a winter rest area and kite festival at Yeouido and the Christmas market at Ttukseom, but the programme was not out as of 18 October 2026.

Homigot in Pohang, the festival's venue, in January 2024 Expected
Expected2026
Dec / Jan
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TraditionPohangFree

Homigot New Year Sunrise Festival

The Homigot New Year Sunrise Festival (호미곶 한민족 해맞이축전) is Pohang's free all-night New Year's Eve festival at Homigot Haemaji Plaza, the cape at the eastern tip of the Korean Peninsula, where crowds watch the year's first sunrise beside the bronze Hand of Harmony rising from the sea. The 2026–27 edition is expected on 31 December 2026–1 January 2027 (not yet announced as of 19 October 2026), with sunrise at about 07:33.

Jeongdongjin on the east coast, the festival's venue, in October 2015 Expected
Expected2026
Dec / Jan
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TraditionGangneungFreeAbout 2 h 10 min from Seoul

Jeongdongjin New Year Sunrise Festival

The Jeongdongjin New Year Sunrise Festival is Gangneung City's free New Year's Eve and first-sunrise event at Sandglass Park beside Jeongdongjin Station on Korea's east coast, where an 8 m hourglass is turned over at midnight. In 2025–26 it ran 20:00–00:30 on 31 December and 06:00–08:00 on 1 January, with sunrise at 07:39; the 2026–27 edition is expected on the night of 31 December 2026 but had not been announced by 19 October 2026.

The Garden of Morning Calm in Gapyeong seen from above on a spring day; the lighting festival is held here in winter Expected
Expected2026
Dec / Jan / Feb / Mar
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LightsGapyeongAbout 1 h 5 min from Seoul

Lighting Festival at the Garden of Morning Calm

The Lighting Festival at the Garden of Morning Calm (아침고요수목원 오색별빛정원전) fills a 100,000-pyeong private arboretum in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi-do, about 65 km north-east of Seoul, with LED light displays every winter, lit from sunset (about 17:00) to 21:00 and to 23:00 on Saturdays. The 19th edition ran 5 December 2025–15 March 2026; 2026–27 dates are not announced, but recent editions opened on the first Friday of December and closed on a Sunday in mid-March.

The exterior of Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), the festival's venue, illuminated at night Expected
Expected2026
Dec
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LightsSeoulFree

Seoul Light DDP

Seoul Light DDP (서울라이트 DDP) is a free winter media-art show projected onto the 222 m curved façade of Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in central Seoul, run by the Seoul Design Foundation since 2019; recent winter runs end with a New Year's Eve countdown and fireworks. The 2025 winter run was 18–31 December, 18:00–21:30, with shows every 30 minutes; Seoul says the 2026 winter run opens on 17 December 2026, with the countdown on 31 December, but the closing date and hours are not yet published.

The Seoul Plaza ice rink at night, with a Christmas tree, in December 2010 Expected
Expected2026
Dec / Jan
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LightsSeoulFree

Seoul Winter Festa

Seoul Winter Festa (서울윈터페스타) is the Seoul city government's free December–January umbrella festival in central Seoul, joining the Cheonggyecheon lanterns, the Gwanghwamun Market, the Seoul Light media-art shows at Gwanghwamun and DDP, the Seoul Plaza ice rink (about ₩1,000 an hour) and the New Year's Eve bell-ringing at Bosingak. The 2025 edition ran 12 December 2025–4 January 2026 and counted 10.98 million visits.

Suseongmot Lake in Daegu by day in spring; the light art festival is held around the lake after dark Expected
Expected2026
Dec / Jan
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LightsDaeguFree

Suseong Light Art Festival

The Suseong Light Art Festival (수성빛예술제) lines Suseongmot Lake in Daegu's Suseong district with light sculptures and media art made by local residents, students and artists, with drone shows over the water, every Christmas and New Year season since 2019. The 2025 edition ran 24 December 2025–4 January 2026, lit 17:00–22:00 daily; 2026 dates are not announced yet, but it usually opens between 20 and 24 December.

Ginkgo trees turning gold at Marronnier Park in Daehak-ro, Seoul's theatre district, where the festival is held Expected
Expected2027
Dec / Jan
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ArtsSeoul

ASSITEJ Korea Winter Festival

The ASSITEJ Korea Winter Festival (서울 아시테지 겨울축제) is a winter-holiday festival of Korean theatre for children and teenagers, held every year since 2005 in the Daehak-ro theatre district of Jongno-gu, central Seoul. The 22nd edition ran 26 December 2025–4 January 2026 with seven main shows; dates for 2026–27 had not been announced by 18 October 2026, but the last two editions ran ten days from late December into early January.

Expected
Expected2027
Jan
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NatureHongcheonAbout 1 h 7 min from Seoul

Hongcheon River Kkongkkong Festival

The Hongcheon River Kkongkkong Festival (홍천강 꽁꽁축제) is a January ice-fishing festival on the frozen Hongcheon River in Hongcheon-eup, Gangwon, where visitors fish for trout raised on feed mixed with six-year-old ginseng; Hongcheon is about 1 h 07 m by intercity bus from Dong Seoul Terminal. The 14th edition ran 9–25 January 2026; 2027 dates have not been announced, and the festival usually opens on a Friday or Saturday between 5 and 18 January.

Visitors crouched over holes in the ice, fishing for trout at the 2012 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival Expected
Expected2027
Jan / Feb
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NatureHwacheonAbout 3 h 20 min from Seoul

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival

The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival (얼음나라화천 산천어축제) is Korea's largest winter festival: three weeks of ice fishing for mountain trout through holes in the frozen Hwacheon stream in Hwacheon, Gangwon, about 3 h 30 m by direct bus from Seoul. The 2026 edition ran 10 January–1 February; 2027 is expected 9–31 January.

Trout grilling in foil at the 2015 Pyeongchang Trout Festival Expected
Expected2027
Dec / Jan / Feb
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NaturePyeongchangAbout 1 h 40 min from Seoul

Pyeongchang Trout Festival

The Pyeongchang Trout Festival is a month-long ice-fishing event on the frozen Odaecheon stream at Jinbu, Pyeongchang, Gangwon, about 1 h 40 min from Seoul by KTX. The 17th edition ran 9 January–9 February 2026, 09:00–17:00; ice fishing cost ₩25,000, tent fishing ₩39,000 and bare-hand catching ₩20,000.

Snow sculptures at the Taebaeksan Snow Festival on 4 February 2019 Expected
Expected2027
Jan / Feb
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NatureTaebaekFreeAbout 2 h 49 min from Seoul

Taebaeksan Snow Festival

The Taebaeksan Snow Festival (태백산눈축제) is a free winter festival of large snow sculptures, sledding and a snow-flower hike, held since 1994 around Dangol Plaza in Taebaeksan National Park, Taebaek, Gangwon, about 2 h 50 m by bus from Dong Seoul. The 33rd edition ran 31 January–8 February 2026, 10:00–17:00, with the sculptures lit until 22:00.

A stage performance at the 2018 Gangjin Celadon Festival, watched by an audience seated under the canopy Expected
Expected2027
Feb / Mar
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ArtsGangjinFreeAbout 4 h 42 min from Seoul

Gangjin Celadon Festival

The Gangjin Celadon Festival (강진청자축제) is a ten-day pottery festival around the Goryeo Celadon Museum in Daegu-myeon, Gangjin, Jeollanam-do, the heartland of Goryeo-era celadon kilns. Held since 1973 and once a summer event, it has run in late February since 2023: the 54th edition was 21 February–2 March 2026, 10:00–18:00, and the 55th is expected in late February 2027 (dates not yet announced).

The moon house burning at the 2012 Haeundae Dalmaji Hot Spring Festival Expected
Expected2027
Feb / Mar
usual window음력 기준
TraditionBusanFreeAbout 3 h 35 min from Seoul

Haeundae Dalmaji Hot Spring Festival

The Haeundae Dalmaji Hot Spring Festival (해운대달맞이온천축제) is Haeundae's Jeongwol Daeboreum festival: on the first full moon of the lunar year, a large pine moon house (daljip) hung with people's wishes is set alight on Haeundae Beach in Busan at the minute of moonrise, after an afternoon of folk dance and rituals. The 41st edition was on 3 March 2026, with the burning at 18:11.

Sansuyu (cornelian cherry) trees in yellow bloom around a reservoir and pavilion in Gurye's sansuyu village Expected
Expected2027
Mar
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NatureGuryeFreeAbout 3 h 10 min from Seoul

Gurye Sansuyu Flower Festival

The Gurye Sansuyu Flower Festival is a free nine-day spring festival in the sansuyu (cornelian cherry) villages of Sandong-myeon, Gurye, Jeollanam-do, where more than 110,000 trees turn the foot of Jirisan yellow. The 27th edition ran 14–22 March 2026 around the Jirisan Hot Spring Tourist Site; the 28th is expected in mid-March 2027, with dates set by the bloom and not yet announced.

Plum trees in blossom on the hillsides of Gwangyang Maehwa Village at sunset Expected
Expected2027
Mar
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NatureGwangyang

Gwangyang Maehwa Festival

The Gwangyang Maehwa Festival is one of Korea's first spring blossom festivals each year: ten days in mid-March in Maehwa Village, a hillside plum orchard above the Seomjin River in Gwangyang, Jeollanam-do. The 25th edition ran 13–22 March 2026; the 26th is expected in early-to-mid March 2027.

Cherry blossoms near Bulguksa in Gyeongju (not the festival's Daereungwon stone-wall road) Expected
Expected2027
Mar / Apr
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NatureGyeongjuFreeAbout 2 h 35 min from Seoul

Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Festival

The Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Festival, billed in 2026 as the Gyeongju Daereungwon Stone-Wall Road Festival (경주 대릉원돌담길 축제), closes the cherry-lined road along the walls of the Daereungwon royal tomb park for three days at peak bloom, with street performances, a night light show, food trucks and a craft market. The 2026 edition ran 3–5 April, 13:00–22:00, with free admission; the 2027 edition is expected on a Friday-to-Sunday weekend in late March or early April, with dates set by the bloom.

Saebyeol Oreum ablaze during the fire-setting at the 2015 Jeju Fire Festival Expected
Expected2027
Mar
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TraditionJeju CityFreeBy air from Seoul

Jeju Fire Festival

The Jeju Fire Festival (제주들불축제) is Jeju City's March festival at Saebyeol Oreum, a 519 m grassy volcanic cone in Aewol-eup, rooted in the island's old custom of burning off dead pasture. The famous burning of the whole hillside was abolished in 2023; in 2026 the slope was lit instead by a laser, fireworks and media-art 'digital fire', alongside torch parades and a bonfire.

Cherry trees in full bloom arching over the Yeojwacheon stream during the 2024 Jinhae Gunhangje Festival Expected
Expected2027
Mar / Apr
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NatureChangwon (Jinhae-gu)About 2 h 45 min from Seoul

Jinhae Gunhangje Festival

Jinhae Gunhangje is Korea's largest cherry-blossom festival, held across the Jinhae district of Changwon on the south coast, an hour by bus from Busan. The 64th edition ran 27 March–5 April 2026; the 65th is expected in late March–early April 2027.

Canola flowers in full bloom on Jeju in April (not the festival's canola road itself) Expected
Expected2027
Mar / Apr
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NatureSeogwipoFreeBy air from Seoul

Seogwipo Canola Flower Festival

The Seogwipo Canola Flower Festival is a free weekend festival in the canola fields of Gasi-ri, in the eastern uplands of Seogwipo on Jeju, where Noksan-ro, a road of more than 10 km, is lined with yellow canola and often cherry blossom at the same time. The 43rd edition ran 4–5 April 2026, 10:00–20:00, around the Jorangmal Horse Experience Park, with a night opening, a running programme, classes and busking.

Seokchon Lake, the festival's venue, with cherry blossoms in April 2020 Expected
Expected2027
Mar / Apr
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NatureSeoul (Songpa-gu)Free

Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival

The Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival is Songpa-gu's free spring festival around Seokchon Lake, beside Lotte World Tower in south-east Seoul, where about 1,000 king cherry trees line a lit lakeside path of about 2.5 km. The 2026 edition ran 3–11 April; the 2027 dates follow the bloom and are expected between late March and mid-April, announced only about ten days ahead.

A view of the 2015 Yeouido Spring Flower Festival Expected
Expected2027
Mar / Apr
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NatureSeoulFree

Yeouido Spring Flower Festival

The Yeouido Spring Flower Festival is Yeongdeungpo-gu's free cherry-blossom festival on Yeouiseo-ro (Yunjung-ro), a 1.7 km riverside road behind the National Assembly in Seoul that closes to cars for about a week and is lined with about 1,886 cherry trees, lit after dark. The 2026 edition ran 3–7 April, 11:30–21:30; the 2027 dates follow the bloom forecast and are expected in late March or the first half of April, not yet announced.

Biseulsan in Dalseong County, Daegu, the mountain where the festival is held, in May 2018 Expected
Expected2027
Apr
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NatureDaegu (Dalseong-gun)Free

Biseulsan Azalea Culture Festival

The Biseulsan Azalea Culture Festival (비슬산 참꽃문화제) is Dalseong County's spring festival on Biseulsan in southern Daegu, timed to the bloom of a summit plateau of wild azaleas, about 300,000 pyeong (roughly 1 km²) at around 1,000 m beside Daegyeonsa temple. The 30th edition ran 17–19 April 2026; the 2027 dates are not announced and should fall on a mid-April weekend set by the bloom.

The Moonlight Tour at Changdeokgung Palace at night in April 2013 Expected
Expected2027
Apr / May / Sep / Oct
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TraditionSeoul

Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour

The Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour (창덕궁 달빛기행) is a ticketed, guided night walk by lantern light through Changdeokgung Palace and its Secret Garden in central Seoul, with a daegeum flute solo, court dance, and tea with traditional sweets. It runs in spring and autumn: the autumn 2026 season ended on 17 October, and no 2027 dates had been announced as of 19 October 2026 (recent spring seasons have started in mid-April).

Green barley fields at Hakwon Farm during the 2018 Gochang Green Barley Field Festival, with a horse-drawn carriage on the horizon Expected
Expected2027
Apr / May
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NatureGochangAbout 3 h 46 min from Seoul

Gochang Green Barley Field Festival

The Gochang Green Barley Field Festival (고창청보리밭축제) is a three-week spring festival at Hakwon Farm in Gongeum-myeon, Gochang-gun, Jeonbuk State, where paths run through about 770,000 m² of rolling green barley, with yellow canola among it from late April. The 23rd edition ran 18 April–10 May 2026, 09:00–18:00; 2027 dates are not announced, but the pattern points to mid-April to early May 2027.

A view of the 2013 Hampyeong Butterfly Festival Expected
Expected2027
Apr / May
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FamilyHampyeongAbout 3 h from Seoul

Hampyeong Butterfly Festival

The Hampyeong Butterfly Festival (함평나비대축제) is a spring festival for families at Hampyeong Expo Park in Hampyeong, Jeollanam-do, where children release and feed live butterflies among flower beds, insect halls and play areas. The 28th edition ran 24 April–5 May 2026, 09:00–18:00, and drew about 236,000 visitors; the 2027 edition is expected in late April to early May but had not been announced as of 19 October 2026.

Jeonju's Film Street under its sail canopies, the festival's main hub Expected
Expected2027
Apr / May
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ArtsJeonjuAbout 1 h 40 min from Seoul

Jeonju International Film Festival

The Jeonju International Film Festival (JEONJU IFF) is a ten-day festival of independent and experimental cinema, held since 2000 around Jeonju Film Street in Gosa-dong, in the old city centre near Jeonju Hanok Village. The 27th edition ran 29 April–8 May 2026 with 236 films from 54 countries; 2027 dates had not been announced as of 19 October 2026, but recent editions have run from the last days of April into early May.

Jogokgwan, the second gate of Mungyeong Saejae, near the festival site Expected
Expected2027
Apr / May
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TraditionMungyeongAbout 2 h 30 min from Seoul

Mungyeong Chasabal (Tea Bowl) Festival

The Mungyeong Chasabal Festival (문경찻사발축제) is a ten-day pottery and tea festival at the Mungyeong Saejae Open Set, a Joseon-era drama set inside Mungyeong Saejae Provincial Park, Gyeongsangbuk-do, where potters who fire tea bowls in traditional wood-burning mangdaengi kilns show, demonstrate and sell their work. The 28th edition ran 1–10 May 2026, 09:00–18:00; 2027 dates have not been announced, but recent editions fell between late April and mid-May.

A view of the 2009 Chunhyang Festival in Namwon Expected
Expected2027
Apr / May
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TraditionNamwonAbout 2 h from Seoul

Namwon Chunhyang Festival

The Namwon Chunhyang Festival (춘향제) is a seven-day festival of traditional performance at Gwanghallu Garden and the Yocheon riverside in Namwon, Jeonbuk State, built around Korea's best-known love story and first held in 1931. The 96th edition ran 30 April–6 May 2026 and drew about 1.51 million visits; the 97th is expected in late April–early May 2027, dates not yet announced.

Tulip beds at the 2019 festival, then held at Korea Flower Park on Anmyeondo Expected
Expected2027
Apr / May
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NatureTaeanAbout 2 h 7 min from Seoul

Taean World Tulip Festival

The Taean World Tulip Festival (태안 세계튤립꽃박람회, officially a 'world tulip flower expo') is Korea's best-known tulip show: about five weeks of millions of tulips in themed coastal gardens in Taean, Chungcheongnam-do, a little over two hours from Seoul by express bus. The 2026 edition ran 1 April–6 May at Nature World in Mageompo, Namyeon-myeon, after nine years (2017–2025) at Korea Flower Park beside Kkotji Beach on Anmyeondo; 2027 dates and venue are not announced, but early April to early May is the pattern.

Rows of lotus lanterns over the courtyard of Jogyesa Temple in Seoul before Buddha's Birthday, with monks walking beneath Expected
Expected2027
Apr / May
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TraditionSeoulFree

Yeon Deung Hoe (Lotus Lantern Festival)

Yeon Deung Hoe is Seoul's Buddhist lantern festival for Buddha's Birthday (8th day of the 4th lunar month). Its centrepiece is a free Saturday-evening parade of about 100,000 lanterns from Heunginjimun along Jongno to Jogyesa Temple, with lantern exhibitions at Jogyesa, Cheonggyecheon and Bongeunsa.

Rows of green tea bushes on a hillside in Boseong Expected
Expected2027
May
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FoodBoseongAbout 3 h 30 min from Seoul

Boseong Green Tea Festival

The Boseong Green Tea Festival (보성다향대축제) is a five-day tea festival at the Korean Tea Culture Park in Boseong, Jeollanam-do, Korea's best-known tea-growing county. The 49th edition ran 1–5 May 2026; the 50th is expected in early May 2027.

Expected
Expected2027
May / Jun
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ArtsChuncheonAbout 1 h 20 min from Seoul

Chuncheon Mime Festival

The Chuncheon Mime Festival (춘천마임축제) is an eight-day festival of mime, physical theatre, circus and street performance held across Chuncheon, Gangwon, every late May since 1989. It opens with a free water party on a closed city-centre street and ends with Dokkaebi Nanjang, an overnight show-and-party that runs from 14:00 to 05:00.

Looking up through a Damyang bamboo grove, photographed at the 2007 Damyang Bamboo Festival Expected
Expected2027
May
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NatureDamyangAbout 2 h 5 min from Seoul

Damyang Bamboo Festival

The Damyang Bamboo Festival (담양대나무축제) is a five-day spring festival around Juknokwon bamboo garden in Damyang, Jeollanam-do, about 30 minutes by bus from Gwangju. The 25th edition ran 1–5 May 2026 with Juknokwon open until 21:00 for lit-up night walks; the 26th is expected in early May 2027.

Masked performers staging the Gwanno mask drama, a Gangneung Danoje tradition, in front of an audience Expected
Expected2027
May / Jun
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TraditionGangneungFreeAbout 2 h from Seoul

Gangneung Danoje Festival

Gangneung Danoje is Korea's oldest surviving community festival, a UNESCO-listed eight-day event on the Namdaecheon riverside in Gangneung, Gangwon, built around Dano (5th day of the 5th lunar month). The 2026 edition ran 15–22 June; 2027 is expected 5–12 June, with Dano on 9 June.

Gwangalli Beach in Busan, the festival's venue Expected
Expected2027
May / Jun
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TraditionBusanAbout 2 h 40 min from Seoul

Gwangalli Eobang Festival

The Gwangalli Eobang Festival (광안리어방축제) is a three-day folk festival on Gwangalli Beach and at Suyeong Historic Park in Suyeong-gu, Busan, recreating the Joseon-era fishing village where naval sailors and fishermen worked the nets together. The 24th edition ran 12–14 June 2026, a month later than the May dates of 2023–2025; the 2027 dates are not announced, and May or June is expected.

A sand sculpture of Sungnyemun Gate at the 2012 Haeundae Sand Festival Expected
Expected2027
May
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ArtsBusanFreeAbout 3 h 35 min from Seoul

Haeundae Sand Festival

The Haeundae Sand Festival (해운대 모래축제) is Haeundae-gu's free sand-sculpture festival on Haeundae Beach in Busan, first held in 2005. The 21st edition ran 15–18 May 2026 (programmes 10:00–21:00), with 17 sculptures by 11 artists that stayed on the sand until 14 June.

Sebitseom, the floating islands at Banpo Hangang Park, lit up at night Expected
Expected2027
May
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NatureSeoul

Hangang Festival (Spring)

The spring run of the Hangang Festival is Seoul's city-run family festival in the Han River parks, held in early to mid May. The 2026 run was on 2–10 May in Ichon, Yeouido and Banpo Hangang Parks, with a free children's theatre and a stroller parade (₩5,000 per team) at Ichon on 9–10 May, and yacht, kayak, small-boat and cruise rides (₩12,500–60,000) from Banpo and Yeouido.

Daegu Opera House lit up at dusk, one of the theatres the festival has used in earlier years Expected
Expected2027
Jun / Jul
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ArtsDaegu

Daegu International Musical Festival

The Daegu International Musical Festival (DIMF) is an 18-day festival of Korean and overseas musicals staged in theatres across Daegu each June and July, with an outdoor opening gala at Kolon Outdoor Music Hall in Duryu Park and an awards night at the end. The 20th edition ran 19 June–6 July 2026 with 34 productions from seven countries; 2027 dates had not been announced as of 19 October 2026, but the last three editions opened on the third Friday of June.

Festival-goers dancing in a shower of foam at the Boryeong Mud Festival Expected
Expected2027
Jul / Aug
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NatureBoryeongAbout 2 h 50 min from Seoul

Boryeong Mud Festival

The Boryeong Mud Festival is a 17-day summer event at Mud Plaza on Daecheon Beach in Boryeong, about 2 h 40 m by train from Seoul. The 29th edition ran 24 July–9 August 2026; the 30th is expected in late July 2027.

Hip-hop group Rhythm Power on stage at Haeundae during the 23rd Busan Sea Festival, 1 August 2018 Expected
Expected2027
Jul / Aug
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MusicBusan

Busan Sea Festival

The Busan Sea Festival (부산바다축제) is Busan's city-run summer beach festival, held since 2024 at Dadaepo Beach in Saha-gu with a sunset fireworks show on opening night, a 2,000-seat beach pub, free concerts and a beach club. The 30th edition ran 7–13 August 2026; 2027 dates are not announced, but recent editions opened on a Friday between late July and mid-August.

Crowds at tables in front of the main stage at night during the 2018 Daegu Chimac Festival in Duryu Park Expected
Expected2027
Jul
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FoodDaeguFreeAbout 2 h from Seoul

Daegu Chimac Festival

The Daegu Chimac Festival is a five-day chicken-and-beer street festival around Duryu Park in Daegu, held 1–5 July 2026 (next expected early July 2027). Entry is free; you pay for food and drink at brand booths, and a small block of main-stage seats is sold in advance.

The Moonlight Rainbow Fountain on Banpo Bridge at dusk; the summer festival is centred on Yeouido and other Han River parks Expected
Expected2027
Jul / Aug
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NatureSeoul

Hangang Festival (Summer)

The Hangang Festival (Summer) is the Seoul city government's summer run of its Han River park festival, the event that began in 2013 as Hangang Mongttang. The 2026 run was 1–16 August in nine riverside parks, with free concerts and films under the bridges, pool parties, a silent disco under Mapo Bridge, the overnight Hangang Night Walk 42K and discounted boat rides; the 2027 run is expected in late July and August but has not been announced.

Expected
Expected2027
Jul / Aug
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FoodHwacheonAbout 2 h 6 min from Seoul

Hwacheon Tomato Festival

The Hwacheon Tomato Festival (화천토마토축제) is a summer farm festival in Sanae-myeon, Hwacheon County, Gangwon, best known for 'Find the Golden Ring', in which visitors wade into a pool of culled tomatoes to hunt for gold rings. The 22nd edition ran 31 July–9 August 2026 at Sanae Sports Park, about 2 hours by direct bus from Dong Seoul; the 2027 edition is expected in late July or early August but has not been announced.

The red and white horse-shaped lighthouses of Iho Tewoo Beach at sunset Expected
Expected2027
Jul / Aug
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TraditionJeju CityBy air from Seoul

Iho Tewoo Festival

Iho Tewoo Festival is a three-day summer beach festival at Iho Tewoo Beach on the west coast of Jeju City, near the airport. The 21st edition ran 31 July–2 August 2026 with a traditional tewoo raft launching, an anchovy-fishing re-enactment, a haenyeo torch parade, fireworks and raft-rowing races.

Water jets spraying the crowd in front of the main stage at the 2015 Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival Expected
Expected2027
Jul / Aug
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MusicIncheonAbout 1 h 20 min from Seoul

Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival

Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival (인천펜타포트 락 페스티벌) is a three-day festival of Korean and international rock acts at Songdo Moonlight Festival Park at the end of Incheon Subway Line 1. The 2026 edition ran 31 July–2 August with Khruangbin, Massive Attack and Pixies headlining; 2027 is expected on the same weekend.

Water jets and canoes on the Tamjin River during the 2018 Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival Expected
Expected2027
Jul / Aug
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FamilyJangheungAbout 4 h 20 min from Seoul

Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival

The Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival (정남진 장흥 물축제) is a nine-day summer festival on the Tamjin River in Jangheung-eup, Jeollanam-do, built around a free mass water fight every afternoon at 14:00. The 19th edition ran 25 July–2 August 2026; 2027 dates are not announced, but late July to early August is expected.

Aerial view of Uirimji Reservoir in Jecheon, with its small wooded island and the city beyond Expected
Expected2027
Aug / Sep
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ArtsJecheonAbout 1 h 10 min from Seoul

Jecheon International Music & Film Festival

The Jecheon International Music & Film Festival (JIMFF) is Korea's festival of music films and live music, held every year since 2005 in Jecheon, North Chungcheong. The 22nd edition ran 3–8 September 2026 with 189 films from 45 countries in downtown cinemas and two nights of K-pop concerts on the Jecheon Arts Center's Summer Plaza; Asia Kyungje reported that the festival plans to move back to August in 2027, but no dates had been announced as of 19 October 2026.

A tunnel of tiny lights at the 2007 Muju Firefly Festival Expected
Expected2027
Aug / Sep
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NatureMujuAbout 2 h 25 min from Seoul

Muju Firefly Festival

Muju Firefly Festival (무주반딧불축제) is a free nine-day festival in Muju, a mountain county in Jeonbuk with no railway, built around guided night trips to see fireflies in a protected habitat. The 30th edition ran 4–12 September 2026 around Deungnamu Stadium and the Namdaecheon stream; 2027 is expected in early September.

The view over the Hallyeo waterway toward Hansan Island, where the 1592 battle was fought Expected
Expected2027
Aug
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TraditionTongyeongFreeAbout 4 h 8 min from Seoul

Tongyeong Hansan Daecheop Festival

The Tongyeong Hansan Daecheop Festival (통영한산대첩축제) is a free summer festival around the old harbour of Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do, marking Admiral Yi Sun-sin's 1592 sea victory off Hansan Island with a naval procession, a battle reenactment on the water and fireworks over the sea. First held in 1962, its 65th edition ran 12–16 August 2026; the 66th is expected in early to mid-August 2027, around the 14 August anniversary, with dates not yet announced.

A balloon display of grape bunches spelling out the festival name at the 2009 Yeongdong Grape Festival, with booth tents behind Expected
Expected2027
Aug / Sep
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FoodYeongdongAbout 2 h 20 min from Seoul

Yeongdong Grape Festival

The Yeongdong Grape Festival (영동포도축제) is a four-day harvest festival at the Rainbow Healing Tourist Site in Yeongdong, Chungcheongbuk-do, one of Korea's main grape and wine counties. The 21st edition ran 27–30 August 2026; the 2027 edition is expected in late August but has not been announced.

Masked dancers performing the Hahoe Byeolsingut Talnori at the 2018 Andong Maskdance Festival Expected
Expected2027
Sep / Oct
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TraditionAndongAbout 2 h from Seoul

Andong Maskdance Festival

Andong Maskdance Festival (안동국제탈춤페스티벌) is a 10- or 11-day celebration of Korean and international mask dance held each late September–early October in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, at the old Andong Station site, Mask Dance Park and the old downtown. The 2026 edition ran 24 September–4 October (opening ceremony 25 September); 2027 is expected in the same window.

Lights along the Geumgang River below Gongsanseong Fortress at night during the 70th Baekje Cultural Festival in Gongju Expected
Expected2027
Sep / Oct
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TraditionBuyeo and GongjuFreeAbout 2 h 20 min from Seoul

Baekje Cultural Festival

The Baekje Cultural Festival is a nine- or ten-day heritage festival held at the same time in Buyeo and Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do, the two former capitals of the Baekje kingdom. The 72nd edition ran 3–11 October 2026 with free admission; Buyeo events ran 10:00–22:00 and Gongju 11:00–22:00.

Busan Cinema Center during the 2020 Busan International Film Festival Expected
Expected2027
Sep / Oct
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ArtsBusanAbout 2 h 40 min from Seoul

Busan International Film Festival

The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) is a ten-day film festival centred on the Busan Cinema Center in Centum City, Haeundae-gu, with Community BIFF events in Nampo-dong, the old cinema district where it began in 1996. The 31st edition ran 6–15 October 2026 with 247 invited films from 59 countries; 2027 dates had not been announced as of 19 October 2026 (recent editions opened between mid-September and early October).

Dancers in bright costumes in the street parade of the 2014 Cheonan Heungtaryeong Dance Festival Expected
Expected2027
Sep / Oct
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ArtsCheonanFreeAbout 40 min from Seoul

Cheonan World Dance Festival

Cheonan World Dance Festival (천안흥타령춤축제) is a free five-day dance festival in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do, an hour south of Seoul, built around an international dance competition and an evening street parade. The 2026 edition ran 1–5 October at Cheonan Stadium and Cheonan Samgeori Park and drew 992,000 visitors; 2027 is expected in late September or early October.

The front of Waegwan Station in Chilgok, part of the festival area, in January 2019 Expected
Expected2027
Sep / Oct / Nov
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ArtsChilgokFreeAbout 3 h 20 min from Seoul

Chilgok Transmedia Festival

The Chilgok Transmedia Festival is a free art festival in Waegwan, the main town of Chilgok County near Daegu, run by the county's culture and tourism foundation since 2023. The 4th edition, on the friendship between the poet Ku Sang and the painter Lee Jung-seop, sets media art in 11 spaces along a walking route from Waegwan Station to the Gusang Literature Museum, 15 September–25 October 2026, 09:00–18:00, closed on Mondays.

Gyeongju Expo Park and Gyeongju Tower, the festival's venue Expected
Expected2027
Sep / Oct
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LightsGyeongjuAbout 2 h 45 min from Seoul

EX Pumpkin Night

EX Pumpkin Night is a Halloween-themed night walk along the 2 km lit trail through Hwarang Forest (Luminight) at Gyeongju Expo Park, at the entrance to Gyeongju's Bomun resort area. The 2026 edition, built around the park mascots Hwani and Wani and Silla's twelve zodiac guardians, runs 24 September–24 October, 18:00–22:00 daily with last entry at 21:00; tickets are ₩10,000, or ₩8,000 booked online.

Visitors filling the festival streets of the 2009 Geumsan Ginseng Festival, seen from above Expected
Expected2027
Sep / Oct
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FoodGeumsanAbout 1 h 50 min from Seoul

Geumsan World K-Insam Festival

Geumsan World K-Insam Festival (금산세계인삼축제) is a free ten-day ginseng festival held each autumn at the World K-Insam Expo Square in Geumsan, Chungcheongnam-do, about 50 minutes by bus from Daejeon. The 2026 edition ran 2–11 October (10:00–21:00) and drew 1.17 million visitors; 2027 is expected in early October.

Gyeonghoeru Pavilion at Gyeongbokgung Palace lit up at night and reflected in its pond Expected
Expected2027
Sep / Oct
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TraditionSeoul

Gyeongbokgung Starlight Tour

The Gyeongbokgung Starlight Tour (경복궁 별빛야행) is a ticketed, guided night tour of the northern part of Gyeongbokgung Palace in central Seoul, with a modern 12-dish royal meal in the palace kitchen, live traditional music and, in 2026, a short changgeuk opera about King Gojong at Jibokjae. The 2026 season runs 2 September–24 October, Wednesday to Sunday, in two sessions (18:20–20:10 and 19:30–21:20), and foreign visitors have their own sessions on 21–24 October, sold through Creatrip.

A buckwheat field in Bongpyeong, the festival's setting Expected
Expected2027
Sep
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NaturePyeongchangFreeAbout 1 h 31 min from Seoul

Hyoseok Culture Festival

The Hyoseok Culture Festival (효석문화제) is a ten-day festival in Bongpyeong, Pyeongchang, Gangwon, held every September since 1999 among white buckwheat fields in the village that is the setting of Lee Hyo-seok's story "When Buckwheat Flowers Bloom". The 2026 edition ran 4–13 September, 10:00–17:00, with free entry (KTO); the 2027 dates are not announced, but ten days in early to mid September are expected.

A border collie leaping between agility hurdles at the 2024 Icheon Pet Festival, watched by a crowd Expected
Expected2027
Sep / Oct
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FamilyIcheonFree

Icheon Pet Festival

The Icheon Pet Festival is a free two-day festival for dogs and their owners at Icheon Ceramic Art Village (Yes Park), a potters' village in Sindun-myeon, Icheon, Gyeonggi-do. The 2026 edition runs 24–25 October, 10:00–17:00, opening at 14:00 on Saturday with a talk concert by veterinarian Kim Myung-cheol, and adds a dog sports day, walking, grooming and massage classes, a dog playground, food trucks and a flea market.

Aerial view of the Arirang Center in Jeongseon-eup, the town where the festival is held, with mountains behind Expected
Expected2027
Sep / Oct
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MusicJeongseonFreeAbout 2 h 46 min from Seoul

Jeongseon Arirang Festival

The Jeongseon Arirang Festival (정선아리랑제) is a free four-day festival of Jeongseon Arirang, the Gangwon county's own form of Arirang, Korea's UNESCO-listed folk song, held around Jeongseon Public Stadium in Jeongseon-eup every year since 1976. The 51st edition ran 1–4 October 2026 with a mass Arirang chorus, drones and fireworks on opening night, a street parade and national singing contests; the 2027 edition is expected in late September or early October, with dates not yet announced.

Namhansanseong fortress at night, the festival's venue Expected
Expected2027
Sep / Oct
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FamilyGwangju (Gyeonggi-do)Free

Namhansanseong Autumn Festa

The Namhansanseong Autumn Festa (숲속의 산성도시 - 남한산성 가을 페스타, "Fortress City in the Forest") is Gyeonggi Province's free autumn programme of hands-on heritage activities, guided tours and traditional performances at Namhansanseong, the UNESCO-listed mountain fortress in Gwangju, just southeast of Seoul. The 2026 run is 5 September–25 October, with walk-in programmes on weekends and public holidays, so the last chance is Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October; the next run is expected in September–October 2027.

Cheonjiyeon Falls in Seogwipo, beside the festival's main site Expected
Expected2027
Sep / Oct
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TraditionSeogwipoFreeBy air from Seoul

Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival

The Seogwipo Chilsimni Festival is Seogwipo's own civic festival, held on the car park beside Cheonjiyeon Falls and in the old town on Jeju's south coast. The 32nd edition runs Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2026, 10:00–22:00 according to KTO, and entry is free.

The main gate of Haemieupseong Fortress in Seosan, the festival's venue Expected
Expected2027
Sep / Oct
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TraditionSeosanFreeAbout 1 h 35 min from Seoul

Seosan Haemieupseong Festival

The Seosan Haemieupseong Festival is a free history festival of three or four days inside Haemieupseong, a walled Joseon-era fortress town completed in 1421 in Haemi-myeon, Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do, with royal procession re-enactments, martial-arts shows, hands-on Joseon activities and night media art on the walls. The 23rd edition ran 9–11 October 2026; the 2027 dates are not announced, but the festival is usually held in late September or early to mid October.

Fireworks over the Han River beside Yeouido's high-rises during the Seoul International Fireworks Festival Expected
Expected2027
Sep / Oct
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LightsSeoul

Seoul International Fireworks Festival

The Seoul International Fireworks Festival is a free one-night fireworks show over the Han River at Yeouido Hangang Park, staged by Hanwha with invited teams from abroad. The 22nd edition was on Saturday 5 September 2026, with shows by teams from the UK, the US and Korea from 20:00 to about 21:10; the 2027 date has not been announced.

Nodeul Island on the Han River, the festival's venue, in 2014 Expected
Expected2027
Sep / Oct / Nov
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MusicSeoulFree

Seoul Music Festival

The Seoul Music Festival (서울뮤직페스티벌) is a free concert festival run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Nodeul Island in the Han River; the 2026 edition is a single day, Saturday 24 October, from 12:00 to 21:00. The main concert, 17:00–21:00, is curated with the Korean Music Awards and features Paul Kim, Kwon Jin-ah, Okdal, Nerd Connection, Chudahye Chagis and the Kim Chang-wan Band.

Soldiers in red uniforms marching in the King Jeongjo royal procession reenactment held with the 2023 Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival Expected
Expected2027
Sep / Oct
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TraditionSuwonAbout 1 h 15 min from Seoul

Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival

The Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival (수원화성문화제) is Suwon's autumn festival inside the UNESCO-listed Hwaseong Fortress, south of Seoul on subway Line 1. The 63rd edition ran 4–11 October 2026, opening with the King Jeongjo royal procession reenactment on 4 October.

Overhead view of Jangsaengpo Whale Culture Village in Ulsan, with whale sculptures among the paths Expected
Expected2027
Sep / Oct
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FamilyUlsanFreeAbout 3 h from Seoul

Ulsan Whale Festival

The Ulsan Whale Festival (울산고래축제) is a free four-day festival at the Jangsaengpo Whale Culture Special Zone in Nam-gu, Ulsan, a former whaling port that is now Korea's only whale-culture district. The 30th edition ran from Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 October 2026, 10:00–21:00, with a whale parade, fireworks, concerts and children's programmes.

A namsadang troupe performing acrobatics, music and dance in 2008 (not taken at this festival) Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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TraditionAnseongFreeAbout 1 h 3 min from Seoul

Anseong Namsadang Baudeogi Festival

The Anseong Namsadang Baudeogi Festival (안성맞춤 남사당 바우덕이 축제) is a free four-day festival of namsadang folk performance (pungmul drumming, tightrope walking, bowl spinning, masks and puppets) with visiting folk troupes from abroad, held every early October since 2001 in Anseong Machum Land and along Anseong Stream in Anseong, Gyeonggi-do. The 2026 edition ran 2–5 October, 10:00–21:00; the 2027 dates are not announced, but early October is expected.

The Busan Citizens Park sign among pine trees at the park entrance, the festival venue Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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TraditionBusanFreeAbout 2 h 40 min from Seoul

Busan Folk Arts Festival

The Busan Folk Arts Festival (부산종합민속예술제) is a free two-day showcase of Busan's intangible heritage, with folk performances, shaman rituals, farmers' music, traditional games and craft classes led by heritage artisans, held on Dasom Square in Busan Citizens Park. The 6th edition runs 24–25 October 2026 (Saturday–Sunday), 11:00–17:00, hosted by Busan Metropolitan City.

A packed crowd in front of the main stage at night at the 2016 Busan International Rock Festival in Samnak Ecological Park Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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MusicBusanAbout 2 h 40 min from Seoul

Busan International Rock Festival

Busan International Rock Festival is a three-day ticketed rock and indie festival in Samnak Ecological Park on the Nakdong River in Sasang-gu, Busan. The 2026 edition ran 2–4 October with Megadeth, The Libertines, CNBLUE and Jannabi on the bill; 2027 is expected on the first weekend of October.

A general view of the 2015 Busan Jagalchi Festival Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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FoodBusanFreeAbout 2 h 32 min from Seoul

Busan Jagalchi Festival

The Busan Jagalchi Festival (부산자갈치축제) is a free four-day seafood festival held in October since 1992 around Jagalchi Market, Busan's famous fish market in Nampo-dong, Jung-gu. The 33rd edition ran 15–18 October 2026, 11:30–22:00, with sea fireworks over the South Port on the opening night, a rite to the dragon king of the sea, a street parade, eel relay races, free seafood tastings and a giant raw-fish bibimbap.

Geumnam-ro in downtown Gwangju, one of the festival's streets Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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ArtsGwangjuFreeAbout 2 h 20 min from Seoul

Chungjang Festival of Memories

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.

Pink autumn grasses at the Dream Park Wildflower Complex in Incheon, where the festival is held Expected
Expected2027
Oct / Nov
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NatureIncheonFree

Dream Park Chrysanthemum Festival

The Dream Park Chrysanthemum Festival (드림파크 국화축제) is a free autumn flower festival in the Dream Park Wildflower Complex, a park built on part of the Sudokwon Landfill in northwest Incheon, with chrysanthemum topiary and bonsai, fields of autumn flowers, concerts and a residents' food market. The 2026 edition runs 16–25 October, 10:00–18:00 (last entry 17:00), and entry and parking are free.

Iced drinks and cake on a café table overlooking Anmok Beach on Gangneung's coffee street Expected
Expected2027
Oct / Nov
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FoodGangneungAbout 2 h 5 min from Seoul

Gangneung Coffee Festival

The Gangneung Coffee Festival is a five-day coffee festival on Gangneung Coffee Street at Anmok Beach on Korea's east coast, about two hours from Seoul by KTX. The 18th edition runs 21–25 October 2026, 10:00–20:00 daily.

Gimbap of several kinds in festival trays, with cups of ramyeon, at the 2025 Gimcheon Gimbap Festival Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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FoodGimcheonAbout 2 h from Seoul

Gimcheon Gimbap Festival

The Gimcheon Gimbap Festival (김천김밥축제) is a free food festival devoted to gimbap, held in the parks at the entrance to Jikjisa temple in Gimcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do. The third edition runs Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2026, 09:00–18:00 (from 10:00 on Friday), with more than 60 kinds of gimbap and about 80 food, dessert and flea-market vendors; entry is free and you pay for what you eat.

Rice-field art spelling out the festival's name at the 2023 Gimje Horizon Festival Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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TraditionGimjeFreeAbout 2 h 15 min from Seoul

Gimje Horizon Festival

The Gimje Horizon Festival is a five-day rice-farming festival at Byeokgolje, a 4th-century reservoir embankment in Gimje, Jeonbuk, where the land is flat enough to see the horizon. The 28th edition ran 1–5 October 2026, 09:00–21:00, with free admission and paid hands-on activities.

Gochang Eupseong (Moyangseong Fortress), the festival's venue Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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TraditionGochangFreeAbout 3 h 6 min from Seoul

Gochang Moyangseong Festival

The Gochang Moyangseong Festival (고창모양성제) is a five-day heritage festival at Gochang Eupseong, a walled Joseon county town built in 1453 in Gochang-gun, Jeonbuk State. Its signature event is the dapseong: walking the 1,684 m fortress wall in hanbok with a stone balanced on your head.

The former Bank of Joseon building in Gunsan's Jangmi-dong, now the Gunsan Modern Architecture Museum, near the festival site Expected
Expected2027
Oct / Nov
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FoodGunsanFreeAbout 2 h 54 min from Seoul

Gunsan Jjamppong Festival

The Gunsan Jjamppong Festival (군산짬뽕페스티벌) is a free street-food festival in the old port district of Gunsan, Jeonbuk State, where about 20 booths from local Korean-Chinese restaurants and TV chefs sell the city's spicy jjamppong noodle soup, in half portions so you can try several. The 2026 edition ran 9–11 October around Baengnyeon Plaza in Jangmi-dong, 12:00–22:00, and drew about 80,000 people.

Kimchi on display at the 2009 Gwangju Kimchi Festival Expected
Expected2027
Oct / Nov
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FoodGwangjuAbout 2 h 30 min from Seoul

Gwangju World Kimchi Festival

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.

Hanbok Culture Week 2023 at the Seoul Museum of Craft Art in Jongno-gu Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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TraditionSeoulFree

Hanbok Culture Week

Hanbok Culture Week (한복문화주간) is a free nationwide week of events celebrating hanbok, Korea's traditional dress, held each October around Hanbok Day (21 October). The ninth edition runs 19–25 October 2026 at about 410 sites, with the Hanbok Day commemorative event and fashion show at the National Museum of Korea's Open Yard in Seoul on 21 October, 17:00–18:30 (Ichon Station, Exit 2).

Jamwon Hangang Park on the Han River at night, one of the autumn festival's sites Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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NatureSeoul

Hangang Festival (Autumn)

The Hangang Festival (Autumn) is the October run of Seoul's city-run festival in the Han River parks. The 2026 autumn run is on now, 17–25 October, in seven parks: exercise classes, a cooking session and a free musical gala at Jamwon Hangang Park on 17–18 October (Line 3, Sinsa Station, Exit 5), then a street-food contest of 20 young chef teams at Ttukseom Hangang Park on 23–25 October.

Silver grass on Hwangmaesan in Hapcheon in November 2019 Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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NatureHapcheonFree

Hwangmaesan Silver Grass Festival

The Hwangmaesan Silver Grass Festival (황매산 억새축제) is a free nine-day festival in Hwangmaesan County Park in Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam-do, where about 60 ha of silver grass covers the Hwangmae Plain at about 900 m. The fifth edition runs 17–25 October 2026, 09:00–18:00, with weekend performances and weekday activities; the next is expected in October 2027.

Dolmens scattered across the Hwasun Dolmen Site, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the festival's venue Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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NatureHwasunAbout 3 h 30 min from Seoul

Hwasun Dolmen Autumn Flower Festival

The Hwasun Dolmen Autumn Flower Festival (세계문화유산 화순 고인돌 가을꽃 축제) plants themed autumn flower gardens among the UNESCO World Heritage dolmens of Hwasun, Jeollanam-do. The 2026 edition runs 16–25 October, 09:00–18:00, with about 270,000 plants on about 4 ha and DM ("DolMen") concerts on 17, 18 and 25 October.

An Icheon rice set meal with many side dishes, the local speciality the festival celebrates Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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FoodIcheonAbout 50 min from Seoul

Icheon Rice Cultural Festival

The Icheon Rice Cultural Festival is a five-day harvest festival in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do, south-east of Seoul, built around the town's rice, once a royal tribute. The 25th edition ran 14–18 October 2026 at a new riverside site, Bokhacheon Waterside Park, with shuttles from Icheon Station.

Jeju horses grazing on open pasture on Jeju Island Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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TraditionJeju CityFreeBy air from Seoul

Jeju Horse Festival

The Jeju Horse Festival (제주마축제) is a free two-day family festival about Jeju's native horses, held at Let's Run Park Jeju, the Korea Racing Authority's racecourse on Pyeonghwa-ro in Aewol-eup, Jeju City. The 21st edition runs Saturday 24 to Sunday 25 October 2026 from 10:00 (KTO gives the closing time as 17:00 in one place and 18:00 in another), with pony feeding, riding, horse-history exhibitions and contests, and evening events from 18:00: a night run on the racecourse's sand track on Saturday (₩10,000) and an outdoor concert on Sunday.

Jeonju bibimbap in a brass bowl with side dishes Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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FoodJeonjuFreeAbout 1 h 40 min from Seoul

Jeonju Bibimbap Festival

The Jeonju Bibimbap Festival is a three- or four-day food festival in Jeonju, the UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy 1 h 40 m from Seoul by KTX. The 2026 edition ran 2–4 October at Deokjin Park, a lotus-pond park, after the 2025 edition at the World Cup Stadium; 2027 is expected in October.

A handpan performance by Inner Sound at the 2014 Jeonju International Sori Festival Expected
Expected2027
Aug / Oct
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MusicJeonjuAbout 1 h 40 min from Seoul

Jeonju International Sori Festival

The Jeonju International Sori Festival is a five-day festival of pansori, Korean traditional music and world music, founded in 2001 and based at the Sori Arts Center (한국소리문화의전당) in Jeonju, with further stages across Jeonbuk State. After three August editions (the 25th ran 12–16 August 2026), the organizers plan to return it to October from 2027; no dates had been announced as of 19 October 2026.

Signs for makgeolli houses along one of Jeonju's makgeolli alleys Expected
Expected2027
Oct / Nov
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FoodJeonjuFreeAbout 1 h 40 min from Seoul

Jeonju Makgeolli Festival

The Jeonju Makgeolli Festival is a free two-night rice-wine festival in Jeonju, Jeonbuk State, where local breweries and houses from the Samcheon-dong Makgeolli Alley pour Jeonju makgeolli with side dishes, alongside traditional performances and a retro DJ party. The third edition runs Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October 2026 at the main sports ground of Jeonju Vision University, 15:00–22:00 on both days.

Illuminated lantern figures at the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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LightsJinjuAbout 3 h 35 min from Seoul

Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival

Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival fills the Namgang River below Jinjuseong Fortress in Jinju, South Gyeongsang, with floating and riverside lanterns for sixteen October nights. The 2026 edition ran 3–18 October (lanterns lit 18:00–24:00); 2027 is expected 2–17 October.

The Jungsan-ri valley on Jirisan in Sancheong Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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NatureSancheongAbout 3 h 9 min from Seoul

Jirisan Walking Festival

The Jirisan Walking Festival, or 'Jirisan Picnic' (지리산소풍), is a one-day group walk on the Jirisan Dulle-gil, the trail that circles Jirisan; it began in 2011 and moves between the counties around the mountain. The 2026 edition is on Saturday 24 October in Sancheong, Gyeongsangnam-do: an approximately 12 km loop from Sancheong County Citizens' Park, 09:00–17:00, with check-in from 08:30.

Shops and cafés along a main street in Itaewon, Seoul, the neighbourhood where the festival is held Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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ArtsSeoulFree

K-Wave Dance Festival

The K-Wave Dance Festival (K-웨이브 댄스 페스티벌) is a free two-day dance festival in Seoul, run since 2023 by the Korea Contemporary Dance Promotion Association, that mixes ballet, contemporary and traditional dance with K-pop random play, a world dance parade and foreign volunteer performers. The 2026 edition ran on 3–4 October, 12:00–21:00, on a 480 m car-free stretch of Itaewon-ro from the Noksapyeong Station intersection to Itaewon Station Exit 1 (Line 6), and the organisers estimated about 60,000 visitors.

The entrance sculpture of Yongji Culture Park in Changwon, one of the festival's venues Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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ArtsChangwon (Seongsan-gu)FreeAbout 2 h 50 min from Seoul

MAMF (Migrants' Arirang Multicultural Festival)

MAMF (Migrants' Arirang Multicultural Festival, 문화다양성축제 맘프) is billed as Korea's largest cultural diversity festival: three free days of stage shows, world food and a street parade by migrant communities from more than 20 countries around Yongji Culture Park, Seongsan Art Hall and Jungang-daero in central Changwon. The 21st edition runs Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2026, 10:00–20:30, with Uzbekistan as guest country and the Cultural Diversity Parade on Sunday 25 October.

A gate on the Mungyeong Saejae pass in spring, in the provincial park that hosts the festival Expected
Expected2027
Oct / Nov
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FoodMungyeongAbout 2 h 20 min from Seoul

Mungyeong Yakdol Hanu Festival

The Mungyeong Yakdol Hanu Festival (문경약돌한우축제) is a free three-day beef festival at Mungyeong Saejae Provincial Park in Mungyeong, Gyeongsangbuk-do: you buy the city's Yakdol Hanu beef at 20–33% below market price (2023–2025) and grill it yourself in a grill area that seated 800 people at once in 2025. The 15th edition, 9–11 October 2026, ran as a scaled-down beef market because of a foot-and-mouth outbreak in neighbouring Yecheon; 2027 dates have not been announced, but recent editions fell on a weekend between early October and early November.

Sejong Lake Park, one of the festival's venues, in June 2019 Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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TraditionSejongFreeAbout 1 h 35 min from Seoul

Sejong Hangeul Festival

The Sejong Hangeul Festival (세종한글축제, called the Sejong Festival until 2024) is Sejong City's free festival of King Sejong and the Korean alphabet, opening every year on Hangeul Day, 9 October, in Sejong Lake Park and Sejong Central Park. The 2026 edition ran 9–11 October, 10:00–21:00, with a Black Eagles air show, the Hangeul Run, drone shows and fireworks.

The curving walls and outdoor stairway of Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), the Seoul Design Week venue Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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ArtsSeoul

Seoul Design Week

Seoul Design Week (서울디자인위크) is the Seoul city government's yearly design festival, run by the Seoul Design Foundation at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) and at about 150 design spots across the city. The 13th edition runs 14–25 October 2026: the free exhibitions at DDP are open 10:00–20:00 (until 18:00 on 25 October) and the outdoor DDP Design Market returns on 23–25 October, while the paid DDP Design Fair (₩15,000 on site) ended on 18 October.

Silver grass plumes against a blue sky at Haneul Park in Seoul Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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NatureSeoulFree

Seoul Silver Grass Festival

The Seoul Silver Grass Festival is a free week-long festival in Haneul Park, a hilltop park in World Cup Park in western Seoul planted with about 94,000 m² of silver grass. The 25th edition runs 17–23 October 2026, 10:00–21:00 daily, with light shows every 30 minutes from 19:00 to 20:30.

Woljeonggyo, the reconstructed Silla-era covered bridge in Gyeongju and one of the festival venues Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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TraditionGyeongjuFreeAbout 2 h 35 min from Seoul

Silla Culture Festival

The Silla Culture Festival (신라문화제) is Gyeongju's city-wide autumn festival of the Silla kingdom, first held in 1962 and one of Korea's oldest local festivals. The 53rd edition ran 9–11 October 2026 around the Bonghwangdae tomb park and Woljeonggyo Bridge, 15:00–24:00 with free admission; its centrepiece is the Hwabaek Jejeon night show on a floating stage at Woljeonggyo, with drones and fireworks.

Thatched-roof houses inside the walls of Naganeupseong Folk Village in Suncheon, seen from above Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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TraditionSuncheonAbout 3 h 5 min from Seoul

Suncheon Naganeupseong Folk Culture Festival

The Suncheon Naganeupseong Folk Culture Festival is a weekend of Joseon-era reenactments, folk games and traditional music inside Naganeupseong, a walled town in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do, where about 230 people still live in thatched houses. The 31st edition runs 24–25 October 2026, 11:00–17:00, opening with the Nagan magistrate's arrival procession.

Performers in costume parading through the streets of Jeju City at the 63rd Tamna Culture Festival in 2024 Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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TraditionJeju CityFreeBy air from Seoul

Tamna Culture Festival

The Tamna Culture Festival is Jeju Island's main folk-culture festival, named after the island's ancient kingdom. The 65th edition runs 17–21 October 2026 at Jeju Citizens' Welfare Town Plaza in Jeju City, moved from the Tapdong seafront to sit beside the National Sports Festival.

Graves at the UN Memorial Cemetery in Korea in Busan, beside the festival's venue, in April 2023 Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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TraditionBusanFreeAbout 2 h 45 min from Seoul

UN Peace Festival

The UN Peace Festival (UN평화축제) is a free festival in Peace Park, beside the UN Memorial Cemetery in Korea in Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan, held each October around UN Day to remember the UN forces who fought in the Korean War. The 28th edition runs 23–25 October 2026 (Friday to Sunday), 10:30–21:00, under the slogan 열린 기억, 열린 미래 ("open memory, open future"), with a peace parade, six themed zones, world-culture booths, food and stage shows.

The entrance to Wonju Jungang Market (Miro Art Market), one of the traditional markets in the festival area Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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FoodWonju

Wonju Mandu Festival

The Wonju Mandu Festival (원주만두축제) is a three-day dumpling festival in the old downtown of Wonju, Gangwon, spread along the Wonjucheon stream, Culture Street and the Jungang-dong traditional markets. The 4th edition runs Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2026, 11:00–21:00, with 15 local dumpling makers, a global dumpling zone, free concerts and a fire-drop show over the stream on opening night.

The red spirit gate and T-shaped shrine at the Yungneung and Geolleung royal tombs in Hwaseong in autumn Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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TraditionHwaseong

World Heritage Joseon Royal Tombs Festival

The World Heritage Joseon Royal Tombs Festival (세계유산 조선왕릉축전) is an annual autumn programme of performances, guided tours, exhibitions and hands-on activities at the UNESCO-listed Joseon royal tombs in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do and Yeongwol. The 7th edition runs 17–25 October 2026 at 12 royal tomb sites, after an opening ceremony on Friday 16 October at Yungneung and Geolleung in Hwaseong.

Pine mushrooms (songi) displayed on forest soil at the 2009 Yangyang Pine Mushroom Festival Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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FoodYangyangAbout 2 h 19 min from Seoul

Yangyang Pine Mushroom and Salmon Festival

The Yangyang Pine Mushroom and Salmon Festival (양양송이연어축제) is an autumn harvest festival on the Namdaecheon riverside in Yangyang, on Gangwon's east coast, where you hunt for pine mushrooms (song-i) in a pine forest and catch returning salmon bare-handed in the river. The 2026 edition ran 16–18 October; 2027 dates are not announced, and mid-October is most likely.

A hall at Silleuksa Temple in Yeoju, next to the festival grounds Expected
Expected2027
Oct / Nov
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FoodYeojuFreeAbout 1 h 27 min from Seoul

Yeoju Ogok Naru Festival

The Yeoju Ogok Naru Festival (여주오곡나루축제) is a free three-day harvest festival at the Silleuksa temple resort beside the Namhan River in Yeoju, Gyeonggi-do, built around Yeoju rice and sweet potatoes and the Joseon-era tribute boats that left from the Jopo ferry. The 2026 edition runs 23–25 October, 10:00–21:00, with a tribute parade, cauldron-cooked bibimbap, free roasted sweet potatoes and a different riverside night show each evening, including nakhwa fire-falling on 24 October.

A large carved face at the Jeongok-ri Prehistoric Site in Yeoncheon, the festival's venue Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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NatureYeoncheon

Yeoncheon Chrysanthemum Festival

The Yeoncheon Chrysanthemum Festival is a ten-day autumn flower show on the grounds of the Jeongok-ri Prehistoric Site, a Paleolithic site in Jeongok-eup, Yeoncheon, in northern Gyeonggi-do, reached by Seoul Subway Line 1 to Jeongok Station. The 8th edition runs 16–25 October 2026, 09:00–18:00 daily, with chrysanthemum displays on a Goguryeo theme.

The Jeongok-ri Prehistoric Site in Yeoncheon, the festival's venue, in February 2025 Expected
Expected2027
Oct / Nov
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FoodYeoncheonFree

Yeoncheon Job's Tears Festival

The Yeoncheon Job's Tears Festival (연천율무축제) is a free three-day farm market built around yulmu, or Job's tears, a grain of which Yeoncheon grows about 60% of Korea's supply. It is held at the Jeongok-ri Prehistoric Site in Jeongok-eup, Yeoncheon, in northern Gyeonggi-do.

Autumn maples and bamboo beside a raised walkway in Seonyudo Park, the festival venue Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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ArtsSeoulFree

Yeongdeungpo Seonyudo Garden Festival

The Yeongdeungpo Seonyudo Garden Festival is a free autumn festival of nature and the arts in Seonyudo Park, an island park in the Han River in western Seoul built on a former water treatment plant. The third edition runs 24–25 October 2026, 12:00–20:00, according to the Korea Tourism Organization, with a guided bird walk, outdoor yoga, street-arts performances and a resident-run flea market that spills onto the walking street by Seonyudo Station.

Korean ginseng, a local speciality of Punggi in Yeongju Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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FoodYeongjuAbout 1 h 40 min from Seoul

Yeongju Punggi Ginseng Festival

The Yeongju Punggi Ginseng Festival (영주풍기인삼축제) is a nine-day ginseng market festival on the Namwon-cheon stream and in Punggi Ginseng Park in Punggi-eup, Yeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, the town that claims Korea's first cultivated ginseng. The 2026 edition ran 3–11 October, 10:00–20:00, and drew about 511,000 visitors; 2027 dates are not announced, and a Saturday-to-Sunday run in early to mid October is most likely.

Expected
Expected2027
Oct
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FoodYesanFreeAbout 1 h 55 min from Seoul

Yesan Market Samguk Festival

The Yesan Market Samguk Festival (예산장터 삼국축제) is a free four-day food festival in and around Yesan Permanent Market in Yesan, Chungcheongnam-do, built on three things whose Korean names start with "guk": gukbap (rice soup), guksu (noodles) and gukhwa (chrysanthemums). The 10th edition runs 22–25 October 2026, 10:00–20:00 daily.

Crowds walking out along the sea road as the tide parts toward Modo island Dates TBA
Dates TBA2027
Mar / Apr
usual window음력 기준
NatureJindoFreeAbout 5 h 20 min from Seoul

Jindo Miracle Sea Road Festival

The Jindo Miracle Sea Road Festival (진도 신비의 바닷길 축제) runs on the few spring days when low tides expose a 2.8 km, 30–40 m wide seabed path between Hoedong village and Modo island on Jindo, Jeollanam-do. The 46th edition ran 17–20 April 2026; 2027 dates will follow the tide tables, probably in March or April.

Hanbit Tower at Expo Science Park in Daejeon, one of the festival venues Dates TBA
Dates TBA2027
Apr / Oct
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FamilyDaejeonFreeAbout 1 h 25 min from Seoul

Daejeon Science Festival

The Daejeon Science Festival is a free science fair run by Daejeon city with the Ministry of Science and ICT at Daejeon Convention Center and Expo Science Park, about an hour from Seoul by KTX. The 2026 edition ran 17–19 April, 10:00–18:00, together with the national Korea Science Festival; 2027 dates are not set.

World Cup Park in Seoul, the festival's venue Dates TBA
Dates TBA2027
Sep / Oct
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FamilySeoul

Seoul Petlympic

Seoul Petlympic is a two-day dog-sports festival run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Peace Plaza in World Cup Park, Mapo-gu, where owners and their dogs try beginner events such as a sit-stay, a recall sprint, a cone slalom and a 15 m team sprint, or walk a 4 km Dog Trail through Peace Park. The second edition runs 24–25 October 2026, 10:00–17:00.

The Seomjingang River winding between hills in Gokseong County, where the festival is held Dates TBA
Dates TBA2027
Oct
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ArtsGokseongFreeAbout 2 h 40 min from Seoul

Seomjingang International Experimental Art Festival

The Seomjingang International Experimental Art Festival (SIEAF, 섬진강국제실험예술제) is a free festival of performance, installation and experimental art staged outdoors along the Seomjin River in Gokseong, Jeollanam-do. The 2026 edition officially runs 22 September–30 October, but the public programme sits on a few set days: the opening show at the Amnok Resort Area on Friday 23 October (17:00–21:00), a forest concert in Okgwa on 24 October (11:00–16:00) and a flower parade on 25 October (13:00–17:00).

Ulsan Dongheon and Naea, one of the festival's venues Dates TBA
Dates TBA2027
Oct
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TraditionUlsan

Ulsan Jung-gu Heritage Night

Ulsan Jung-gu Heritage Night (울산 중구 국가유산야행) is a free three-evening heritage festival in the old town of Jung-gu, Ulsan, held at Ulsan Dongheon, the Joseon-era magistrate's office, with its inner quarters (Naea), and at the Gyeongsang Jwado Byeongyeongseong army-command fortress. The 2026 edition runs Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2026, 17:00–22:00 each evening, with a magistrate's procession, performances, civil- and military-official experiences, night lighting and a stamp tour.

Past editions

Inside the glass dome of Geoje Botanical Garden, next to the festival grounds Cancelled
Cancelled2026
Oct / Nov
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NatureGeojeFreeAbout 4 h 19 min from Seoul

Geoje Island Flower Festival

The Geoje Island Flower Festival (거제섬꽃축제) is a free autumn chrysanthemum festival at the Geoje Agricultural Development Center and the neighbouring Geoje Botanical Garden in Geoje, Gyeongsangnam-do; about 300,000 people came in 2025. The 20th edition, planned for 30 October–8 November 2026, was cancelled after record August rain flooded the grounds.

A shoal of icefish (smelt) in a blue-lit tank at the 2012 Inje Icefish Festival Cancelled
Cancelled2026
Jan / Feb
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NatureInjeAbout 1 h 45 min from Seoul

Inje Icefish Festival

The Inje Icefish Festival (인제빙어축제) is a free ice-fishing festival for bingeo, a small icefish, on Bingeoho, a dammed arm of upper Soyang Lake at Bupyeong-ri, Nam-myeon, Inje, Gangwon, about 1 h 45 min by bus from Dong Seoul. Held since 1998, it last ran 20–29 January 2023 and was cancelled in 2024, 2025 and 2026 because Soyang Dam's water was too high for safe ice.