Lantern, light and fireworks festivals in Korea

Korea's night festivals are its most photographed: floating lanterns below Jinju's fortress walls in October, the crowds on Gwangalli Beach for the Busan fireworks in November, Hanwha's fireworks over the Han River in Seoul, and in winter the lanterns along Cheonggyecheon, Seoul Light's media art on the façade of Dongdaemun Design Plaza, the Haeundae Light Festival on Gunam-ro and Haeundae Beach and the Gwangbok-ro light trees in Busan. All of them are free to watch or walk through; the paid parts are seats and bridges.

On now, coming up and expected

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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
usual window
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.

The Metasequoia Road in Damyang in autumn, beside Metaland where the festival is held Expected
Expected2026
Dec
usual window
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.

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
usual window
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
usual window
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
usual window
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
usual window
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.

Gyeongju Expo Park and Gyeongju Tower, the festival's venue Expected
Expected2027
Sep / Oct
usual window
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.

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

Illuminated lantern figures at the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival Expected
Expected2027
Oct
usual window
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.