Arts & performanceBusan

Haeundae Sand Festival 2023 in Busan, South Korea

해운대 모래축제 2023

May2023
19 –22
Fri–Mon
Past edition

19 May 2023 to 22 May 2023

This edition has ended. It is kept as a record of what the 2023 festival offered. The current information is on the Haeundae Sand Festival page (Expected May 2027).

Venue this year. Haeundae Beach and Gunam-ro Haeundae Square.

Dates19–22 May 2023
WeatherMay average 22/15 °C (72/58 °F), 156 mm of rainMonthly averages, not a forecast: Korea Meteorological Administration climate normals, 1991–2020, Busan station, about 15 km away.
VenueHaeundae Beach and Haeundae Square (Gunam-ro)부산광역시 해운대구 해운대해변로 280 (중동)
AdmissionFree. KTO lists the 2026 festival as free admission, with some hands-on programmes paid; the sculptures stand on the open beach.
Next edition2024: 24–27 May 2024

Program

  • Fri 19 Mayyacht parade, musical-style opening ceremony, a set by the Yuk Jung-wan Band and fireworks over the sea
  • Sat 20–Sun 21 Mayflyboard show, a college song contest and street dance
  • 14 works by 11 artists (8 from abroad, including the US, Canada and China, and 3 Korean) on the 2030 World Expo bid, including a BTS sculpture
  • Speed sand-sculpture contest and 'Challenge! I'm a sand sculptor'

Notes on the 2023 edition

Theme '2030: a sand sea of the Expo towards the future' (2030미래를 향한 엑스포 모래바다). Sculptures on display until 6 June 2023.

About the 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. 2027 dates are not announced; recent editions ran Friday to Monday in mid-to-late May. Entry is free (some hands-on activities charge); take Busan Metro Line 2 to Haeundae Station, Exit 3 or 5.

Transport, booking, crowd and accessibility details are on the main Haeundae Sand Festival page, which covers every edition.

Source

Facts checked
19 October 2026, against the sources listed below.

Report a correction for this edition