At a glance
| Dates | Expected Dec/Jan 2026–27About ten days from late December 2026 into early January 2027 (23rd edition), if the pattern of the last two editions holds: 27 Dec 2024–5 Jan 2025 and 26 Dec 2025–4 Jan 2026, each from the last Friday of December to the first Sunday of January. Nothing announced as of 18 October 2026; the 2025–26 dates were public by 6 November 2025. |
|---|---|
| Next edition | 2027: About ten days from late December 2026 into early January 2027 (23rd edition), if the pattern of the last two editions holds: 27 Dec 2024–5 Jan 2025 and 26 Dec 2025–4 Jan 2026, each from the last Friday of December to the first Sunday of January. Nothing announced as of 18 October 2026; the 2025–26 dates were public by 6 November 2025. |
| Weather | December average 4/−3 °C (40/26 °F), 23 mm of rain January average 2/−5 °C (36/22 °F), 17 mm of rainWell below freezing at night: a down coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers. Monthly averages, not a forecast: Korea Meteorological Administration climate normals, 1991–2020, Seoul station. |
| Admission | Each performance is ticketed separately, with prices varying by show; the side exhibitions were free in 2024 and 2025. |
| Venue | Daehak-ro theatre district (Daehakro Theatre QUAD and other theatres)서울특별시 종로구 동숭길 122 (대학로극장 쿼드) |
| Nearest station | Hyehwa Station (혜화역), Seoul Subway Line 4The festival theatres are a short walk from the station in the Daehak-ro theatre district; the best exit depends on the venue |
| From Seoul | In Seoul · SubwayFull route |
| Organizer | ASSITEJ Korea (Korean Centre of the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People)(사)국제아동청소년연극협회 한국본부 (아시테지 코리아) |
| Usual timing | About ten days over the winter school holiday, spanning New Year: 28 Dec 2022–8 Jan 2023, 3–14 Jan 2024, 27 Dec 2024–5 Jan 2025 and 26 Dec 2025–4 Jan 2026. The last two editions opened on the last Friday of December and closed on the first Sunday of January. Held every winter since 2005; the programme has been announced in November or early December. Browse December / January festivals. |
| First held | 2005 |
| Last checked | 18 October 2026Checked against 15 sources · See sources |
What it is like
The ASSITEJ Korea Winter Festival is the winter showcase of ASSITEJ Korea, the Korean centre of the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People. It has been held every winter school holiday since 2005 in Daehak-ro (Daehangno), the theatre quarter of Jongno-gu in central Seoul, to give Korean theatre for young audiences a stage in the season when families are looking for something to do indoors. The 2025–26 edition was the 22nd. Its summer sister, the ASSITEJ Korea International Summer Festival in July, is the one that brings in companies from abroad; the winter festival concentrates on Korean work.
Each edition is a short, curated lineup rather than a big open-air event: nine performances in January 2024, five in 2024–25, and seven main performances plus an opening show in 2025–26, spread over small and mid-sized theatres such as Daehakro Theatre QUAD, Jongno Children's Theatre and the NC Cultural Foundation venue. Every show carries its own recommended age, from pieces for babies of 10–18 months with their carers to dramas for middle and high school students. Puppetry, object and shadow theatre, physical theatre and live music feature heavily. Around the shows there are free exhibitions (picture-book artist Park Hyun-min, Bologna Children's Book Fair Illustrator of the Year in 2022, in the last two editions), workshops and play corners for children, and K-PANY, a networking platform for programmers from Korea and abroad. Since 2020 the festival has had an artistic director: Bae Yo-seop until 2023, Shin In-sun since 2024.
The timing has shifted. Until January 2024 the festival ran mainly in January; the last two editions opened on the last Friday of December and closed on the first Sunday of January. Nothing had been announced for 2026–27 as of 18 October 2026. 2027 is also a big year for ASSITEJ Korea, which hosts the ASSITEJ World Congress and an international festival in Suwon and Seoul from 22 July to 1 August 2027.
What to know before you go: performances are Korean productions with no English surtitles mentioned in any source, though many of the puppet, object and shadow pieces rely more on images than words. Tickets are bought show by show, prices were not published in the sources we found, and theatres are small, so pick the show that fits your child's age and book it before you plan the rest of the day.
Highlights
- About ten days of Korean theatre for children and teenagers across the Daehak-ro theatres over the winter school holiday, held every year since 2005 (22nd edition in 2025–26)
- Every show has its own recommended age, from performances for babies of 10–18 months with carers (2024) to pieces for middle and high school students
- Puppet, object, shadow and physical theatre and live music; in 2025–26 seven main performances plus an opening show by an award-winner of the 32nd Nationwide Children's Theatre Festival
- Free exhibitions alongside the shows: picture-book artist Park Hyun-min (Bologna Illustrator of the Year 2022) in 2024–25 and 2025–26, and "Coexistence and Circulation" in January 2024
- Hands-on workshops for children and an art playground with colouring and reading (2025–26); pre- and post-show activities with the artists, such as a drum procession teaching pansori rhythms (2024)
- K-PANY, ASSITEJ Korea's networking platform for theatre for young audiences, runs alongside: 15 countries and 19 experts took part in January 2024
Who it suits. Families with children from babies to teenagers who are in Seoul over the Christmas and New Year holidays and want a few hours indoors at a small theatre; also theatre professionals interested in Korean work for young audiences. Less suited to visitors who need English: shows are Korean productions, though many are largely visual.
Getting there
From Seoul
Seoul Subway Line 4 to Hyehwa Station, the station for the Daehak-ro theatre district. Daehakro Theatre QUAD is at 122 Dongsung-gil, in the basement of the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture's Daehak-ro centre (the former Dongsung Art Center); Jongno Children's Theatre is on Seonggyungwan-ro, and the other festival venues are elsewhere in Daehak-ro. Check each ticket for the exact theatre, as one edition uses three or four.
From Busan
KTX from Busan Station to Seoul Station (standard fare ₩54,400 since 1 Sep 2026), then Line 4 to Hyehwa Station.
From Incheon Airport
AREX to Seoul Station, then Line 4 to Hyehwa Station.
Last leg from Hyehwa Station
Seoul Subway Line 4. The festival theatres are a short walk from the station in the Daehak-ro theatre district; the best exit depends on the venue
Getting home
Show times vary by production and were not published for 2026–27; Hyehwa is a central Line 4 station, so getting back after an evening show is straightforward.
How to switch Naver Map and Kakao Map to English
Google Maps shows train, subway and bus routes in Korea but not walking or driving directions yet, so for the walk from the station Naver Map or Kakao Map is more reliable.
Before you go
1330 · Travel hotline
The Korea Tourism Organization’s helpline answers in English, Japanese and Chinese around the clock, and in several other languages from 08:00 to 19:00. Dial 1330 from a Korean phone, or +82-2-1330 from a phone registered abroad.
112 / 119 · Emergencies
112 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance. Both are free from any phone. Police on 112 can add an English or Chinese interpreter to the call.
T-money card
Buy one at a convenience store such as GS25, CU or 7-Eleven and top it up there with cash. It pays for subways and buses in most cities, and for most taxis.
Maps
Use Naver Map or Kakao Map for walking and bus directions; Google Maps does not yet give walking directions in Korea. Both apps can be switched to English. Naver Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → Language (Japanese and Chinese also available). Kakao Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → App settings → Language. If the option is missing, change your phone’s language and reopen the app. Small shop names and some reviews stay in Korean.
Trains and buses
Book trains on Korail’s English site and express buses on Kobus. Holiday weekends sell out first.
Checked 18 October 2026.
Tickets, prices and practical details
| Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Performance tickets | — | Sold per show; 2025–26 prices not found |
- Booking
- Tickets are sold per show online. The 2023 edition sold through Interpark Ticket; ASSITEJ Korea's July 2026 summer festival sold through NOL Ticket, with online booking closing at 17:00 the day before (11:00 the day before for Sunday shows). The 2026–27 booking platform was not announced as of 18 October 2026, and whether a Korean phone number is needed was not stated. Festival office: 02-745-5863.
- English on site
- Performances are Korean productions and no English surtitles or interpretation were mentioned in any source; many puppet, object and shadow pieces rely more on images than words. ASSITEJ Korea publishes English announcements through ASSITEJ International, mainly for visiting professionals.
- Best time to go
- Choose by show rather than by day: each production runs for only two or three days, so find the one that matches your child's age and book it first.
- What to bring
- Warm layers for walking between Daehak-ro theatres in late December and early January.
- Rain
- All performances are in indoor theatres.
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | About ten days from late December 2026 into early January 2027 (23rd edition), if the pattern of the last two editions holds: 27 Dec 2024–5 Jan 2025 and 26 Dec 2025–4 Jan 2026, each from the last Friday of December to the first Sunday of January. Nothing announced as of 18 October 2026; the 2025–26 dates were public by 6 November 2025. | expected | The organizer names editions after the January in which they end (the 27 Dec 2024–5 Jan 2025 festival was the "2025" edition). ASSITEJ Korea also hosts the 22nd ASSITEJ World Congress and international festival in Suwon and Seoul on 22 July–1 August 2027; whether this affects the winter festival has not been said. |
| 2026 | 26 Dec – 4 Jan 2026 | ended | Daehakro Theatre QUAD, Jongno Children's Theatre, NC Cultural Foundation and Hanye Theatre, all in Daehak-ro |
| 2025 | 27 Dec – 5 Jan 2025 | ended | Arko Kkumbat Theatre (Daehak-ro 12-gil 46), the NC Cultural Foundation venue and Seoul Theatre Center, among others |
| 2024 | 3–14 Jan 2024 | ended | Jongno Children's Theatre, Daehakro Theatre QUAD and CJ Azit Daehakro; exhibition in the 5th-floor project room of the Seoul Arts Support Center |
| 2023 | 28 Dec – 8 Jan 2023 | ended | Jongno Children's Theatre, Ieum Center Ieum Art Hall and Daehakro Theatre QUAD |
Nearby
- Marronnier Park (마로니에공원). The small public square at the heart of Daehak-ro, surrounded by theatres and a gathering point for street performers.
- Naksan Park and Ihwa Mural Village (낙산공원 · 이화마을). A hillside park along the old Seoul City Wall with views over the city, reached through the stairways and murals of Ihwa village above Daehak-ro.
- Changgyeonggung Palace (창경궁). A Joseon-dynasty royal palace west of Daehak-ro; Honghwamun is its main gate.
- National Children's Science Museum (국립어린이과학관). A hands-on science museum for children beside Changgyeonggung, a good pairing with a morning or afternoon show.
Questions travelers ask
When is the ASSITEJ Korea Winter Festival 2026–27?
Not announced as of 18 October 2026. The last two editions ran ten days from the last Friday of December to the first Sunday of January (27 December 2024–5 January 2025 and 26 December 2025–4 January 2026), and the 2025–26 dates were public by early November, so expect late December 2026 into early January 2027.
What kind of shows are there, and for what ages?
Korean theatre for young audiences: puppetry, object and shadow theatre, physical theatre and live music. Every show has a recommended age; in 2024 they ranged from 10–18 months (babies with carers) to 13 and up, and in 2024–25 from preschool to high school.
How much are tickets and how do I book?
Tickets are sold per show and prices vary; recent prices were not published in the sources we found. The 2023 edition sold through Interpark Ticket, and ASSITEJ Korea's 2026 summer festival through NOL Ticket. The exhibitions in 2024 and 2025 were free. Festival office: 02-745-5863.
Where is the festival held?
In the Daehak-ro theatre district of Jongno-gu, near Hyehwa Station on Line 4. The 2025–26 venues were Daehakro Theatre QUAD (122 Dongsung-gil), Jongno Children's Theatre, the NC Cultural Foundation venue and Hanye Theatre; venues change from year to year.
Are the performances in English?
No English surtitles or interpretation were mentioned in any source; the shows are Korean productions. Many are largely visual (puppets, objects, shadows, music), which makes them easier to follow for children who do not speak Korean.
Is this the same as the ASSITEJ summer festival?
No. ASSITEJ Korea also runs the ASSITEJ Korea International Summer Festival in July (2026 edition from 23 July), which invites companies from abroad. In 2027 it hosts the ASSITEJ World Congress and international festival in Suwon and Seoul, 22 July–1 August 2027.
What is the weather like during ASSITEJ Korea Winter Festival?
December in Seoul: average high 4 °C (40 °F), low −3 °C (26 °F), 23 mm of rain (Seoul station, KMA 1991–2020 normals). January in Seoul: average high 2 °C (36 °F), low −5 °C (22 °F), 17 mm of rain (Seoul station, KMA 1991–2020 normals). Well below freezing at night: a down coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers.
Sources and verification
Facts checked
18 October 2026, against the sources listed below.
This page is desk research from the sources below, not a firsthand report of the 2027 edition. Confidence in the current facts: medium.
- ASSITEJ International — The 22nd ASSITEJ Korea Winter Festival (6 Nov 2025)official — 22nd edition, 26 Dec 2025–4 Jan 2026 (ten days) in Daehak-ro; theme; venues QUAD, Jongno Children's Theatre, NC Cultural Foundation, Hanye Theatre; seven main performances incl. puppet, shadow theatre, live music; opening show by a 32nd Nationwide Children's Theatre Festival award-winner; Park Hyun-min exhibition; 2026 summer festival from 23 July
- Seoul Mediahub — '서울축제지도' winter culture events (2 Dec 2025)municipal — 제22회 서울 아시테지 겨울축제, 26 Dec 2025–4 Jan 2026 at Daehakro Theatre QUAD and other venues; children's and youth theatre, hands-on workshops and an art playground with colouring and reading
- Newsis — 2025 서울 아시테지 겨울축제 opens (27 Dec 2024)news — Opened 27 Dec 2024 in Daehak-ro; five performances with dates (27–28, 28–30, 30–31 Dec; 3–4 Jan), companies, venues and age bands incl. ages 5+; free Park Hyun-min exhibition (Bologna Illustrator of the Year 2022); organizer ASSITEJ Korea; theme carried over from 2024
- Seoul Mediahub — winter-break events roundup (5 Dec 2024)municipal — 2024–25 festival 27 Dec–5 Jan at Arko Kkumbat Theatre and other venues; five performances; winter-break festival of children's and youth theatre
- KTO tourist data — 서울 아시테지 겨울축제 (third-party mirror of the KTO public-data feed)kto — 27 Dec 2024–5 Jan 2025; Arko Kkumbat Theatre, NC Cultural Foundation, Seoul Theatre Center; 대학로12길 46; hours and fees vary by show; phone 02-745-5863; held since 2005; artistic director since 2020 (Bae Yo-seop 2020–2023, Shin In-sun from 2024); 5 shows, 2 K-PANY specials, online theatre with ACC; nearby sights
- CBS Nocut News — 2024 서울 아시테지 겨울축제 (2 Jan 2024)news — 3–14 Jan 2024; nine shows with dates, venues and ages (10–18 months, 3+, 5+, 13+); Jongno Children's Theatre, QUAD, CJ Azit Daehakro; free exhibition at Seoul Arts Support Center 5th floor; drum procession; K-PANY 10–13 Jan, 15 countries and 19 experts; first under Shin In-sun
- ASSITEJ International — The 20th ASSITEJ KOREA Winter Festival (8 Dec 2023)official — 20th edition, 3–14 Jan 2024; 9 performances (7 main, 2 Artistic Director's Choice); theme Coexistence; exhibition "Coexistence and Circulation"; K-PANY programme incl. promenade in Daehak-ro
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — 어린이 청소년 예술공연 축제 '서울 아시테지 겨울축제' (15 Dec 2022)official — 28 Dec 2022–8 Jan 2023; Jongno Children's Theatre, Ieum Art Hall, Daehakro Theatre QUAD; Seoul private-festival support; supporters; organizer; booking on Interpark Ticket; office 02-745-5863
- ASSITEJ International — festival listing: ASSITEJ Korea Winter Festivalofficial — English name; annual; organized by ASSITEJ Korea to present Korean theatre for young audiences, with international delegates; phone +82 2 745 5863
- Asia Economy (English) — 2020 winter festival opensnews — 16th year in 2020; 12 performances; first artistic director Bae Yo-seop; the only Korean festival dedicated to children's and youth performing arts
- Seoul Shinmun — 13th festival opens 4 January (30 Dec 2016)news — 13th year in 2016–17 (4–14 Jan 2017), 12 performances; Jongno Children's Theatre on Seonggyungwan-ro; hosted by ASSITEJ Korea, sponsored by Jongno-gu
- Seoul Mediahub — Daehakro Theatre QUAD opens (27 Jul 2022)municipal — QUAD at 동숭길 122, 258-seat black box in the basement of the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture's Daehak-ro centre (former Dongsung Art Center), opened 20 Jul 2022
- ASSITEJ International — Performance call (Korean), 22nd ASSITEJ World Congress 2027 (PDF)official — 22nd ASSITEJ World Congress and international festival in Suwon and Seoul, 22 Jul–1 Aug 2027, organized by ASSITEJ Korea with ASSITEJ International
- NOL Ticket — 2026 아시테지국제여름축제 product pageother — ASSITEJ Korea's 2026 international summer festival sold on NOL Ticket (a Czech production, 23–26 Jul 2026); online booking closes 17:00 the day before, 11:00 the day before for Sunday shows
- Hankyung: 9월 1일부터 서울~부산 KTX 5만4400원…운임 평균 10% 인하 (31 Aug 2026)news — KTX and SRT run as KTX from 1 Sep; former SRT trainsets renamed KTX-Sancheon; Seoul–Busan ₩59,800→₩54,400, Yongsan–Gwangju Songjeong ₩46,800→₩42,000; Suseo seats +30%; booking unified in Korail+
What we could not confirm
- Dates, venues and programme of the 2026–27 (23rd) edition were not announced as of 18 October 2026; whether the July 2027 ASSITEJ World Congress in Suwon and Seoul changes the winter festival's timing or size is unknown.
- Ticket prices for 2025–26 and earlier editions were not found; KTO lists the fee only as varying by programme.
- Booking platform for 2026–27 not confirmed (Interpark Ticket in 2023; NOL Ticket for the 2026 summer festival).
- Japanese and Chinese names were not found on a KTO or organizer page.
- Which Hyehwa Station exit is closest to each venue, and walking times, were not confirmed on an organizer page; addresses of Hanye Theatre and the NC Cultural Foundation venue were not opened.
- English surtitles, relaxed or accessible performances and venue accessibility were not published.
- The festival is not in the site's KTO TourAPI snapshot, so no KTO contentId is mapped.
Changes: 2026-10-18 — Added to the site: fact-first record (dates, hours, prices, getting there, sources). · 2026-10-18 — Added a photograph from the Korea Tourism Organization (Korea Tourism Content Lab), KOGL Type 1.
