At a glance
| Dates | Expected Oct 2027First weekend of October 2027, most likely Friday 1 – Sunday 3 October, following the 2–4 October 2026 pattern; the first lineup is usually announced in May and tickets open afterwards. |
|---|---|
| Next edition | 2027: First weekend of October 2027, most likely Friday 1 – Sunday 3 October, following the 2–4 October 2026 pattern; the first lineup is usually announced in May and tickets open afterwards. |
| Weather | October average 23/15 °C (73/58 °F), 80 mm of rainComfortable: light layers. Monthly averages, not a forecast: Korea Meteorological Administration climate normals, 1991–2020, Busan station. |
| Admission | Ticketed since 2019: 1-, 2- and 3-day passes with unreserved standing and picnic zones; children born on or after 1 January 2019 enter free with a ticketed adult.Children born on or after 1 January 2019: Free · Sasang Station shuttle: Free (2026 prices) |
| Venue | Samnak Ecological Park부산광역시 사상구 삼락동 29-50 |
| Nearest station | Sasang Station (사상역), Busan Metro Line 2 (interchange with Busan–Gimhae Light Rail), Exit 3Free shuttle 5–10 minutes to the park's underpass stop; the organizer publishes no walking route |
| From Seoul | about 2 h 40 min · KTX + Subway + BusLeave from Seoul Station · Same-night return is tightFull route · Festivals by travel time from Seoul |
| Organizer | Busan Festival Organization (host: Busan Metropolitan City)(사)부산축제조직위원회 |
| Usual timing | Friday to Sunday on the first weekend of October (2–4 October in 2026). The first lineup is announced in May (15 May in 2025) and further lineup drops follow through the summer; set times are posted only days before the gates open. Browse October festivals. |
| First held | 2000 |
| Last checked | 16 October 2026Checked against 21 sources · See sources |
What it is like
Busan International Rock Festival began in 2000 as a free beach concert and is described by the Korea Tourism Organization as Korea's first and longest-running international rock festival. Admission was free until 2019, when it became a ticketed event, and it now runs for three days in early October in Samnak Ecological Park, a strip of riverside lawns and sports fields on the Nakdong River in the west of Busan. The 2026 lineup page listed 98 acts over the three days, mixing veteran metal and British rock (Megadeth, The Libertines) with Korean bands (Jannabi, CNBLUE, N.Flying, Xdinary Heroes, Songgolmae, Lee Seung-yoon) and Japanese guests (Suchmos, Hitsujibungaku, CreepHyp). Avenged Sevenfold were announced and then cancelled on 1 October, the day before the gates opened, with fee-free refunds offered to overseas buyers. Entry is unreserved: you choose between a standing zone in front of the stage and a picnic zone behind it, and there is a camping zone, food-court lounges and sponsor booths. The 2024 edition, the first at three days, drew about 60,000 people, 79 percent from outside Busan. Practical caveats: the organizer publishes set times only as images shortly before the event, almost all notices are in Korean (a handful are translated), and by mid-October 2026 ticket prices had been removed from every sales page, so budget from the 2024 figure of ₩231,000 for a three-day pass until the 2027 prices appear.
Highlights
- Three days of Korean, Japanese and Western bands on outdoor stages in a riverside park; the 2026 bill included Megadeth, The Libertines, CNBLUE, Jannabi, Suchmos, N.Flying, Xdinary Heroes and WOODZ
- Free circular shuttle between Sasang Station (Line 2) Exit 3 and the park, every 5–10 minutes from 09:30 until the last departure from the park at 23:00
- Unreserved entry with a standing zone near the stage and a picnic zone for mats; a camping zone is sold separately
- Tickets for non-Korean passport holders sold through Yes24 Global, Klook and KKday, with wristband exchange at each platform's on-site booth
- A global support booth for international visitors operated on site in 2026
- Warm-up 'Road to BU-ROCK' showcase gigs held in Ulsan (22–23 June 2026) and Fukuoka (19 June 2026)
Who it suits. Best for rock and indie fans who want a large outdoor lineup with easy subway access, and for overseas visitors because foreign-passport ticketing and a global support booth exist; less suited to travelers looking for a traditional Korean festival or anyone who dislikes standing crowds, since there is no reserved seating and headline sets are watched on foot.
Getting there
From Seoul
KTX from Seoul Station to Busan Station (about 2 h 30 m; check Korail), then Busan Metro Line 1 to Seomyeon and Line 2 to Sasang Station; leave by Exit 3 for the free festival shuttle, which takes 5–10 minutes to the park.
From Busan
Busan Metro Line 2 to Sasang Station, Exit 3, then the free circular shuttle (in 2026 every 5–10 minutes, 09:30 until 23:00 from the park). Sasang is also the Busan–Gimhae Light Rail interchange and sits beside Busan Seobu (Sasang) Intercity Bus Terminal.
From Incheon Airport
Fly Incheon to Gimhae (Busan) and take the Busan–Gimhae Light Rail to Sasang Station for the shuttle; or take AREX to Seoul Station and the KTX to Busan, then Metro Lines 1 and 2 to Sasang.
Last leg from Sasang Station
Busan Metro Line 2 (interchange with Busan–Gimhae Light Rail), Exit 3. Free shuttle 5–10 minutes to the park's underpass stop; the organizer publishes no walking route
Festival shuttle
2026: free Sasang Station circular shuttle between Sasang Station (Line 2) Exit 3 and the underpass at Samnak Ecological Park, every 5–10 minutes, first departure from Sasang 09:30, last departure from the park 23:00, first-come first-served with extra buses added when queues build; bookable shuttle routes were also offered through Kakao T and k.ride pages on the official site.
Getting home
In 2026 the last shuttle left the park at 23:00; 2027 shuttle times are not yet published. Sasang is on Line 2 and the Busan–Gimhae Light Rail, so most of Busan is reachable after the final set (Busan Metro last-train times were not checked). Back to Seoul: the KTX from Busan Station takes about 2 h 30 m, and Busan Station is about 35–40 minutes from Sasang by metro (change at Seomyeon), so a same-night return means leaving the park well before the last sets. Gupo Station is closer, but in autumn 2026 its last KTX to Seoul left in the early evening. Check the last train in the Korail app (코레일+) or at the station before the festival day.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1-day / 2-day / 3-day pass | — | Prices were no longer shown on the official ticket pages, Yes24, Klook or KKday when checked on 16 October 2026 (sales closed) |
| Children born on or after 1 January 2019 | Free | Free with a ticketed adult; show proof of birth date at the on-site discounted-ticket booth |
| Sasang Station shuttle | Free | Free, first-come first-served |
- Booking
- Korean residents buy on Yes24 (ticket.yes24.com); non-Korean passport holders use Yes24 Global (passport identity verification required), Klook or KKday, where purchases by Korean nationals are cancelled. Up to 4 tickets per person; bring the voucher and matching ID to the platform's on-site booth for a wristband; no refunds for non-attendance and no name changes.
- Foreign cards
- Klook and KKday checkouts accept overseas cards and need no Korean phone number; Yes24 Global requires passport verification before purchase.
- English on site
- A global support booth for international visitors operated on site in 2026; the Yes24 English ticket page and the Klook/KKday pages are in English; most organizer notices are Korean-only, with a few published in English, Japanese and Chinese.
- Crowds
- About 60,000 attendees over three days in 2024 (79% from outside Busan); dense standing crowds in front of the main stage for headline sets.
- Best time to go
- Arrive in the morning on the day of the headliner you want; the shuttle starts at 09:30 and KTO lists 10:00–22:00 hours. Set times are posted as images on the official timetable page a day or two before.
- What to bring
- ID matching the ticket name for wristband exchange, and a mat if you plan to sit in the picnic zone.
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | First weekend of October 2027, most likely Friday 1 – Sunday 3 October, following the 2–4 October 2026 pattern; the first lineup is usually announced in May and tickets open afterwards. | expected | No 2027 information had been published by the organizer as of 16 October 2026. |
| 2026 | 2–4 Oct 2026 | ended | Megadeth, booked to headline 3 October, also headlined 2 October after Avenged Sevenfold cancelled, so the official page lists the band on two days. KTO lists the edition as the 27th. |
Nearby
- Busan Seobu (Sasang) Intercity Bus Terminal (부산서부시외버스터미널). Beside Sasang Station; buses to Jinju (about 1 h 34 m, ₩10,000) and other western Gyeongnam towns if you are combining festivals
- Gwangalli Beach (광안리해수욕장). One of the festival's beach venues in the 2000s, with Dadaepo; bridge views and bars, reachable on Line 2 from Sasang
- Gimhae International Airport (김해국제공항). Connected to Sasang Station by the Busan–Gimhae Light Rail, convenient for late or early flights
Questions travelers ask
When is Busan International Rock Festival 2027?
Not announced yet. The festival uses the first weekend of October (2–4 October 2026), so expect Friday 1 – Sunday 3 October 2027. The first lineup is normally revealed in May and tickets go on sale after that.
Is Busan Rock Festival free?
No. Admission was free until 2019; it is now ticketed with 1-, 2- and 3-day passes. Children born on or after 1 January 2019 enter free with a ticketed adult. A three-day pass was reported at ₩231,000 in 2024.
How do foreigners buy tickets?
Through Yes24 Global (passport verification), Klook or KKday, which are reserved for non-Korean passport holders. Up to four tickets per person; you exchange the voucher plus ID for a wristband at the platform's booth at the park. No refunds for no-shows.
How do I get to Samnak Ecological Park?
Take Busan Metro Line 2 to Sasang Station and use Exit 3. In 2026 a free festival shuttle ran from there every 5–10 minutes from 09:30; the ride is 5–10 minutes and the last bus back left the park at 23:00. 2027 shuttle times are not yet published.
Who played in 2026?
The 2026 lineup included Megadeth, The Libertines, CNBLUE, Jannabi, Suchmos, N.Flying, Xdinary Heroes, WOODZ, Songgolmae and Hitsujibungaku. Avenged Sevenfold cancelled on 1 October, with fee-free refunds for overseas buyers until 4 October.
Can I camp at the festival?
The official site has a camping page and KTO lists camping zones at Samnak Ecological Park, but camping fees and booking details were not published on the pages checked in October 2026.
What time does the festival end each day?
KTO lists the hours as 10:00–22:00. In 2026 the free shuttle kept running from the park until 23:00, so there was time to leave after the last set.
What is the weather like at Busan International Rock Festival in October?
October in Busan: average high 23 °C (73 °F), low 15 °C (58 °F), 80 mm of rain (Busan station, KMA 1991–2020 normals). Comfortable: light layers.
Sources and verification
Facts checked
16 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.
- Korea Tourism Organization — Busan International Rock Festivalkto — 2026 dates 2–4 Oct, venue and address, hours 10:00–22:00, paid admission, organizer/host, first held 2000, 27th edition, camping zones
- Busan International Rock Festival — official site (home)official — Site structure, Road to BU-ROCK dates in Ulsan and Fukuoka, contact number, navigation to ticket/lineup/shuttle pages
- Official site — LINEUPofficial — 2026 lineup in three blocks under 10.2 FRI, 10.3 SAT, 10.4 SUN; artist names
- Official site — TICKET GLOBALofficial — Overseas ticket platforms Yes24 Global, Klook, KKday, Trip.com
- Official site — Sasang Station circular shuttle noticeofficial — Shuttle route Sasang Station Line 2 Exit 3 to park underpass, 09:30 start, 23:00 last departure, 5–10 min interval, free, 5–10 min ride
- Official site — Avenged Sevenfold cancellation noticeofficial — Cancellation on 1 Oct 2026 and refund terms via Yes24 Global, Klook, KKday until 22:00 KST 4 Oct
- Official site — Global support booth noticeofficial — Global support booth for international visitors; notice published in KO/EN/JA/ZH; dates 2–4 Oct 2026
- Official site — HISTORYofficial — First held 2000; 2026 dates and venue
- Yes24 Global — 2026 Busan International Rock Festivalother — Dates, venue, all-ages rating, passport verification requirement; prices not shown
- Klook — 2026 Busan International Rock Festival Ticketother — 1/2/3-day passes, non-Korean passport only, 4 tickets per person, free entry for children born after 1 Jan 2019, wristband exchange, no refunds/name changes, standing and picnic zones
- KKday — 2026 Busan International Rock Festivalother — Korean nationals' purchases cancelled; Megadeth and Avenged Sevenfold announced; addresses 29-46/29 Samnak-dong
- Busan Festival Organization — homeofficial — Organizer identity; 2026 dates and venue; slogan
- Busan Festival Organization — press release on 2024 Best Culture-Tourism Festival awardofficial — 2024 edition expanded to three days, about 60,000 visitors, 79% from outside Busan, venue Samnak Ecological Park
- Busan Festival Organization — press list filtered to the rock festivalofficial — 2025 first lineup announced 15 May 2025; 2019 first paid edition
- Wikipedia — Busan International Rock Festivalother — Free until 2019; 3-day pass ₩65,000 (2019), ₩110,000 (2023), ₩231,000 (2024); early venues Gwangalli and Dadaepo beaches
- Busan → Seoul Station train timetable, 16–22 Oct 2026 (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-16)other — Last trains 22:00 and 22:10 on Fri–Sun 16–18 Oct; matches korail.com
- Busan → Suseo train timetable, 16–19 Oct 2026 (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-16)other — Last listed departure 22:16 KTX-Sancheon 366 (arr 01:06)
- Gupo → Seoul Station train timetable, 16–17 Oct 2026 (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-16)other — Last KTX 18:56 (KTX-Sancheon 112); after that only ITX-Saemaeul at 19:36 (arr 00:02)
- 문화일보 — 부산국제록페스티벌 2차 라인업 (2026-07-20)news — Lineup by day: 2 Oct Avenged Sevenfold, Lee Seung-yoon, CreepHyp, Xdinary Heroes, Peppertones...; 3 Oct Megadeth headlining with Jannabi, Suchmos, WOODZ...; 4 Oct Songgolmae, CNBLUE, Hitsujibungaku, Kim Sung-kyu, Car the Garden...
- Nate/뉴스 — 부산국제록페스티벌 개막 (2026-10-02)news — 2 Oct: Lee Seung-yoon, Jang Beom-june, Broccoli You Too, Peppertones, Xdinary Heroes, N.Flying, CreepHyp; 3 Oct: Megadeth, Jannabi, Suchmos, IDIOTAPE, Kwon Jin-ah, WOODZ; 4 Oct finale The Libertines; Megadeth, originally the 3 Oct headliner, also headlined 2 Oct
- KNN — 어벤지드 세븐폴드 불참 (2026-10-02)news — Megadeth, scheduled for day two, took over day one; organizer refers to 98 acts
What we could not confirm
- 2026 ticket prices by pass type (removed from all sales pages by mid-October 2026)
- Exact 2025 and 2024 festival dates and headliners (not verified from an opened page)
- Exact set times by day (published only as images)
- Camping zone fees and booking; parking arrangements
- Venue coordinates are approximate (derived from the Samnak-dong 29-50 address; not confirmed against a map source)
- KTX and Light Rail journey times quoted from general knowledge, not from a fetched timetable
- Last train back to Seoul on the festival date under the timetable in force that day (Busan Station and Gupo to Seoul Station and Suseo), and the 2027 shuttle times; the October 2026 times were removed because a new KTX timetable started on 1 Nov 2026.
Changes: 2026-10-16 — Full fact-first rewrite: hours, prices, stations, 2024–2027 editions, FAQs and sources. · 2026-10-16 — Rechecked against timetables, fare tables and organizer notices: conflicting figures and claims; last trains and buses back to Seoul. · 2026-10-18 — Added a Wikimedia Commons photograph of the 2016 festival (Busan Metropolitan City, CC BY-SA 4.0). · 2026-10-20 — Gwangalli was one of two early beach venues (with Dadaepo), not the original one. · 2026-10-21 — Transport: removed the October 2026 KTX clock times (a new Korail timetable starts on 1 Nov 2026) and marked the 23:00 last shuttle as the 2026 time; journey times kept, with a reminder to check the last train before the festival day.
