At a glance
| Dates | Expected May 2027May 2027 if the pattern holds (5–7 May 2023, 17–19 May 2024, 16–18 May 2025, 2–10 May 2026); nothing announced as of 18 October 2026. In 2026 the city announced the spring run on 22–23 April, together with the dates of the year's other runs. |
|---|---|
| Next edition | 2027: May 2027 if the pattern holds (5–7 May 2023, 17–19 May 2024, 16–18 May 2025, 2–10 May 2026); nothing announced as of 18 October 2026. In 2026 the city announced the spring run on 22–23 April, together with the dates of the year's other runs. |
| Weather | May average 24/14 °C (74/56 °F), 104 mm of rainComfortable: light layers. Monthly averages, not a forecast: Korea Meteorological Administration climate normals, 1991–2020, Seoul station. |
| Admission | Free to enter the parks and watch the shows. In 2026 the stroller parade cost ₩5,000 per team, silent yoga ₩9,000, and boat rides and cruises ₩12,500–60,000.Entry to the parks and free programmes: Free · Stroller parade, per team: ₩5,000 · Hangang silent yoga: ₩9,000 (2026 prices) |
| Venue | Banpo Hangang Park (Sebitseom) and other Han River parks서울특별시 서초구 신반포로11길 40 (반포한강공원) |
| Nearest station | Sinbanpo Station (신반포역), Seoul Subway Line 9, Exit 1About 15 minutes on foot to Banpo Hangang Park; Sebitseom and the boat piers are on the riverside |
| From Seoul | In Seoul · SubwayFull route |
| Organizer | Seoul Metropolitan Government (Future Hangang Headquarters)서울특별시 미래한강본부 |
| Usual timing | Early to mid May, in Korea's Family Month: three days on 5–7 May 2023, 17–19 May 2024 and 16–18 May 2025, then nine days on 2–10 May 2026. This page tracks the spring run; the summer, autumn and winter runs of the Hangang Festival have their own dates and programmes. Browse May festivals. |
| First held | 2013 |
| Last checked | 18 October 2026Checked against 22 sources · See sources |
What it is like
The Hangang Festival (한강페스티벌) is the Seoul Metropolitan Government's umbrella festival for its Han River parks, held as separate spring, summer, autumn and winter runs under one brand. It began in 2013 as the summer festival Hangang Mongttang. The spring run has usually been the shortest and is the most family-centred, timed for Family Month in May: three days at Ttukseom Hangang Park on 5–7 May 2023, three days in five parks on 17–19 May 2024, three days in three parks on 16–18 May 2025, and nine days on 2–10 May 2026. A spring run planned for 2022 was cancelled because of COVID-19.
The 2026 run opened the year's four-season series with seven programmes in Ichon, Yeouido and Banpo parks. The main weekend was 9–10 May at Ichon Hangang Park: the free Hangang Starlight Theatre (13:00–19:00), a traditional-style play built on a children's song, with photo zones and pedal-powered seesaws, and a new stroller parade (14:00–17:00) in which families decorated strollers as forest animals and walked a 1.2 km riverside route. For all nine days, Banpo Hangang Park had yacht and kayak rides from the Golden Blue Marina at Sebitseom, Tubester small boats until midnight and a spring-flower yacht trip from The River pier, while the Hi Seoul Cruise sailed from Yeouido (closed Mondays). Silent yoga with headsets ran at Banpo on 9 May.
The city's spring leaflet also lists other May events in the parks: free guided night tours of Yeouido and Banpo on Friday and Saturday evenings (by lottery), the Reading Hangang Park outdoor library and a wellness week at Yeouido, the Hangang College Song Festival at Jamwon on 2 May, and the car-free Jamsu Bridge festival on Sundays.
Earlier spring runs centred on Ttukseom Hangang Park: puppet shows and a folk-tale musical in 2023; an Alice in Wonderland theatre, a Molkky tournament and a K-pop fireworks cruise in 2024; and in 2025 a Wizard of Oz theatre and parade at Ttukseom, Jeongseon Arirang songs at Yeouido and a silent DJ party in front of Sebitseom.
The honest caveats: the parks and programmes change every year, so wait for the city's leaflet (in 2026 the spring run was announced on 22–23 April); the programmes are spread over several parks and days rather than one festival ground; and the city says any programme may change depending on conditions on site.
Highlights
- Hangang Starlight Theatre at Ichon Hangang Park, 9–10 May 2026, 13:00–19:00: a free traditional-style play based on a children's song, with photo zones and pedal seesaws
- Stroller parade 'Forest Friends' Great March', new in 2026: families decorate strollers as forest animals and walk a 1.2 km riverside route, 14:00–17:00 on 9–10 May (₩5,000 per team)
- Golden Blue Marina yacht (₩20,000–31,000) and kayak (₩12,500–30,000) rides at Sebitseom in Banpo Hangang Park, 2–10 May 2026
- Tubester small boats around Sebitseom until midnight, last departure 23:30 (₩25,000 for 6 seats, ₩32,000 for 8)
- Spring-flower yacht trip from The River pier at Banpo, 15:00 and 16:00 sessions, ₩60,000 with a picnic box and photo cards (20% off for Seoul residents)
- Hi Seoul Cruise from Yeouido: day cruise ₩25,000 for adults, night cruise with a fireworks show on board ₩55,000
- Silent yoga with headsets in Banpo's east picnic area, 9 May 2026, 17:00–19:20 (₩9,000)
- Free guided night tours of Yeouido and Banpo on Friday and Saturday evenings in May, 19:00–20:40, by lottery
Who it suits. Best for families with young children and anyone in Seoul in early May who wants a cheap afternoon by the Han River with a children's show, a stroller parade or a boat ride; less suited to visitors expecting one big festival site, because the programmes are spread over parks and days and change every year.
Getting there
From Seoul
The parks change every year, so check the leaflet. For Banpo Hangang Park and Sebitseom (boats, yoga), take Line 9 to Sinbanpo Station, Exit 1, or Line 4 or 9 to Dongjak Station, Exits 1 and 2, and walk about 15 minutes. For Ichon Hangang Park (the 2026 theatre and parade), take Line 4 or the Gyeongui–Jungang Line to Ichon Station and walk about 10 minutes. For Yeouido Hangang Park (Hi Seoul Cruise), take Line 5 to Yeouinaru Station, whose Exits 2 and 3 open onto the park. Ttukseom Hangang Park, the main site in 2023 and 2024, is next to Jayang Station (Line 7), Exits 2 and 3.
From Incheon Airport
AREX to Seoul Station, then Line 4 towards Sadang: Ichon Station for Ichon Hangang Park, or Dongjak Station (Exits 1 and 2) for Banpo Hangang Park. For Yeouido, change from AREX to Line 5 at Gongdeok and ride to Yeouinaru Station.
Last leg from Sinbanpo Station
Seoul Subway Line 9, Exit 1. About 15 minutes on foot to Banpo Hangang Park; Sebitseom and the boat piers are on the riverside
Festival shuttle
No festival shuttle. Hangang Bus river boats stop at Yeouido Pier and at Apgujeong Pier, which the city suggested for Jamwon and the Jamsu Bridge festival in spring 2026; in September 2026 the fare was ₩3,000 and boats ran about once an hour. Timetables are at hgbus.co.kr.
Getting home
Most 2026 programmes ended by 19:00–19:20 and the night tours at 20:40, well before the last subway trains. Golden Blue Marina yachts ran until 22:00 and Tubester boats until midnight, so check the last train if you stay that late.
Parking
Banpo Hangang Park has 669 parking spaces (₩1,000 for the first 30 minutes, then ₩200 per 10 minutes, per KTO data). Parking outside marked spaces in the Hangang parks brings a ₩50,000 fine, and the city asks visitors to come by public transport because May crowds are expected.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Entry to the parks and free programmes | Free | Starlight Theatre, night tours and most stage events are free |
| Stroller parade, per team | ₩5,000 | Booked on the Seoul public service reservation site or on site |
| Hangang silent yoga | ₩9,000 | Book at silentdisco.kr or on site |
| Spring-flower yacht trip | ₩60,000 | Includes a picnic box and photo cards; 20% off for Seoul residents; book at hdyachtclub.com or on site |
| Golden Blue Marina yacht | ₩20,000 | ₩20,000–31,000; weekday and weekend prices differ; Naver Booking or on site |
| Golden Blue Marina kayak | ₩12,500 | ₩12,500–30,000; weekday and weekend prices differ |
| Tubester boat, 6 seats | ₩25,000 | Naver Booking or on site |
| Tubester boat, 8 seats | ₩32,000 | |
| Hi Seoul Cruise, day, adult | ₩25,000 | Booked through Yanolja or on site |
| Hi Seoul Cruise, day, child | ₩17,000 | |
| Hi Seoul Cruise, night, adult | ₩55,000 | Includes the fireworks show on board |
| Hi Seoul Cruise, night, child | ₩43,000 |
- Booking
- No booking to enter. In 2026 the stroller parade was booked on the Seoul public service reservation site, silent yoga at silentdisco.kr, the spring-flower yacht trip at hdyachtclub.com, Golden Blue Marina and Tubester rides through Naver Booking and the Hi Seoul Cruise through Yanolja; all of these also took sign-ups on site. Night tours were by lottery at visit-hangang.seoul.kr, with results sent four days before the tour.
- English on site
- The festival site uses the English name Hangang River Festival and links to Japanese and Chinese pages (not checked for the spring run). Whether programmes are run in English was not published. Enquiries: 120 Dasan Call Center (02-120).
- Crowds
- Busy at weekends in May, Korea's Family Month; in 2026 the city expected crowds to grow and asked visitors to use public transport. No visitor counts were published.
- Best time to go
- The main weekend (9–10 May in 2026), when the free children's theatre and the stroller parade run; then late afternoon at Banpo for a boat ride and the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain on Banpo Bridge, which runs from April to October.
- What to bring
- A mat for the lawn, sun protection, a light layer for the evening by the river, and money for boat rides and food.
- Rain
- No rain policy published; the city says programmes may change depending on conditions on site.
- Toilets
- Banpo Hangang Park has 7 restrooms and 2 convenience stores.
- Step-free access
- Ichon Hangang Park has a barrier-free picnic area with a wooden deck path for wheelchairs and strollers (described by the city in 2024). No accessibility information was published for the festival programmes.
- Pets
- Dogs are allowed in the Hangang parks on a lead and harness, with owners carrying waste bags; tents and shades only in permitted zones and open on at least two sides (rules printed in the 2026 spring leaflet).
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | May 2027 if the pattern holds (5–7 May 2023, 17–19 May 2024, 16–18 May 2025, 2–10 May 2026); nothing announced as of 18 October 2026. In 2026 the city announced the spring run on 22–23 April, together with the dates of the year's other runs. | expected | This page tracks the spring run. The parks change from year to year: Ttukseom in 2023, five parks in 2024, Ttukseom, Yeouido and Banpo in 2025, and Ichon, Yeouido and Banpo in 2026. |
| 2026 | 2–10 May 2026 | ended | Three parks: Ichon (main weekend, 9–10 May), Banpo (boats and yoga all week) and Yeouido (Hi Seoul Cruise, night tours). |
| 2025 | 16–18 May 2025 | ended | Three parks: Ttukseom, Yeouido and Banpo. |
| 2024 | 17–19 May 2024 | ended | Five parks: Ttukseom (main site), Yeouido, Gangseo, Mangwon and Banpo. |
| 2023 | 5–7 May 2023 | ended | Ttukseom Hangang Park only. |
Nearby
- Sebitseom (Some Sevit) (세빛섬). Floating islands in Banpo Hangang Park, the base for the spring yacht, kayak and Tubester rides.
- Moonlight Rainbow Fountain (달빛무지개분수). A 1,140 m fountain along both sides of Banpo Bridge, running from April to October.
- Seoraeseom (서래섬). A small island in Banpo Hangang Park that held a free picnic concert on 8–10 May 2026.
- Car-free Jamsu Bridge festival (차 없는 잠수교 뚜벅뚜벅 축제). Jamsu Bridge closes to cars on Sunday afternoons in spring (13:00–21:00, 3 May–14 June 2026) for a walking festival.
Questions travelers ask
When is the Hangang Festival spring 2027?
Not announced yet. The spring run is usually in early to mid May (2–10 May in 2026, 16–18 May in 2025, 17–19 May in 2024); in 2026 the city announced it on 22–23 April.
Where was the spring 2026 run held?
In three Han River parks from 2 to 10 May 2026: Ichon (Starlight Theatre and stroller parade on 9–10 May), Banpo (yacht, kayak, Tubester boats and silent yoga) and Yeouido (Hi Seoul Cruise).
Is the spring Hangang Festival free?
Entry and the shows are free. In 2026 the stroller parade cost ₩5,000 per team, silent yoga ₩9,000, Golden Blue Marina yachts ₩20,000–31,000 and kayaks ₩12,500–30,000, Tubester boats ₩25,000–32,000, and the Hi Seoul Cruise ₩25,000 (day, adult) or ₩55,000 (night, adult).
How do I get to Banpo Hangang Park?
Take Line 9 to Sinbanpo Station, Exit 1, or Line 4 or 9 to Dongjak Station, Exits 1 and 2, and walk about 15 minutes. The festival boats leave from Sebitseom and The River pier in the park.
Is it good for young children?
Yes. It is the most child-focused of the four runs, timed for Family Month in May. The 2026 run had a free children's theatre with photo zones and pedal seesaws, and a stroller parade, at Ichon Hangang Park.
Is this the same as the Seoul Spring Festival?
No. The Seoul Spring Festival is a separate city festival (10 April–5 May 2026) that also used the Hangang parks; the city's spring leaflet lists it among the other May events in the parks.
What is the weather like at Hangang Festival (Spring) in May?
May in Seoul: average high 24 °C (74 °F), low 14 °C (56 °F), 104 mm of rain (Seoul station, KMA 1991–2020 normals). Comfortable: light 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.
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — 2026 spring festival leaflet (PDF): Ichon programmes and yogaofficial — 2–10 May 2026; Starlight Theatre 9–10 May 13:00–19:00 by car park 3 lawn, free; stroller parade 9–10 May 14:00–17:00 to the Murunamu forest path, ₩5,000, Seoul public service reservation; silent yoga 9 May 17:00–19:20, Banpo east picnic area, ₩9,000, silentdisco.kr; slogan; phone 02-3780-0777; park rules (leash, harness, waste bags, tents open on two sides)
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — 2026 spring festival leaflet (PDF): water programmesofficial — Yacht trip 2–10 May, closed Mondays, 15:00–16:00 and 16:00–17:00, ₩60,000 with picnic box and photo cards, 20% off, hdyachtclub.com; yachts 14:00–22:00, ₩20,000–31,000; kayaks 14:00–19:30, ₩12,500–30,000; Tubester weekdays 16:00–24:00, weekends 14:00–24:00, last 23:30, ₩25,000/₩32,000; Hi Seoul Cruise closed Mondays, Yanolja, day ₩25,000/₩17,000, night ₩55,000/₩43,000
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — 2026 spring festival leaflet (PDF): other May eventsofficial — Night tour 1–30 May, Fri–Sat 19:00–20:40, free; College Song Festival 2 May 13:00–21:30; Seorae concert 8–10 May 14:00–20:00; reading park to 23 May plus 3 and 5 May, 13:00–20:00; wellness week 3 May–14 Jun 13:00–19:00; Jamsu Bridge Sundays 3 May–14 Jun 13:00–21:00; battleship 5 May 11:00–18:00; Plapla 1–5 May; Sunset Stage 2 May 18:00–19:30; Seoul Spring Festival 10 Apr–5 May
- Seoul Mediahub — spring 2026 run from 2 May (23 Apr 2026)municipal — 2–10 May 2026 at Ichon, Yeouido and Banpo; theatre based on a children's song with photo zones and pedal seesaws; silent yoga 9 May; night tour Fri–Sat from 19:00, 90 minutes, free, up to 45 people, adults 19+, lottery at visit-hangang.seoul.kr, results 4 days before, to 6 Jun; later runs 1–16 Aug, 17–25 Oct, 19–27 Dec; 120
- Financial News (News1) — spring Hangang Festival announced (22 Apr 2026)news — Announced 22 Apr 2026 for Family Month; stroller parade new, 1.2 km riverside route, ₩5,000 per team, advance booking; water programmes at Banpo; night tour 1 May–6 Jun, Fridays and Saturdays, free; crowds expected in May, use public transport
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — Hangang Festival 2026 site, festival introductionofficial — 2026 runs: spring 2–10 May (9 days, 3 parks, 7 programmes), summer 1–16 Aug, autumn 17–25 Oct; English name Hangang River Festival; organizer; 120; links to Japanese page (ハンガン(漢江)フェスティバル) and Chinese pages (汉江庆典 / 漢江慶典)
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — Hangang Festival 2025 site, festival introductionofficial — 2025 spring run 16–18 May, 3 days, Ttukseom, Yeouido and Banpo; theme 봄에는 하하호호 한강; 10 programmes plus four other May events; programme names; 'HANGANG RIVER FESTIVAL SPRING'; programmes may change depending on conditions on site
- TWIG24 — late-spring Hangang Festival (12 May 2025)news — Jeongseon Arirang in Seoul 17 May 11:00–18:00, Yeouido Mulbit Stage; silent DJ party 17 May 18:30 at Moonlight Plaza in front of Sebitseom; silent yoga 17 May 18:30, Yeouido; grigging contest 18 May at the E-Cruise pier; silentdisco.kr; slogan 두근두근 한강
- Stars and Stripes Korea (haps Magazine) — 2025 Hangang Spring Festival May 16–18 (14 May 2025)news — English name Hangang Spring Festival; Wizard of Oz theme for the Ttukseom Starlight Theatre and parade; three parks
- Seoul Mediahub — spring 2024 run (13 May 2024)municipal — 17–19 May 2024; five parks; theme; Starlight Theatre 13:00–21:00 by the Jabeolle, Alice theme; Molkky 18–19 May; fireworks cruise 18 May 18:30 from Ara Gimpo, ₩25,000 child, ₩40,000 adult, aracruise.co.kr; silent DJ party encore; Garden Expo from 16 May; Jayang Station Exit 3
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — Hangang Festival 2024 recordofficial — 2024 spring run 17–19 May, 3 days, five parks (Ttukseom, Yeouido, Gangseo, Mangwon, Banpo); puppet and shadow theatre, board games, outdoor library, Seorae Island photo spot, college song audition
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — Hangang Festival 2023 recordofficial — 2023 spring run 5–7 May, 3 days, Ttukseom lawn by the Jabeolle, 2 programmes, theme; storytelling music play with Bang Jeong-hwan, participatory musical, puppet-making workshops
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — Hangang Festival 2022 recordofficial — 2022 spring run cancelled to prevent the spread of COVID-19
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — Hangang Festival 2013 recordofficial — First held 2013 as 한강몽땅 summer festival, 20 Jul–25 Aug 2013 (37 days), 28 programmes
- Hangang Park — Banpo Hangang Park informationofficial — Address 신반포로11길 40; 3 car parks, 7 restrooms, 2 convenience stores; Moonlight Rainbow Fountain April–October; Sebitseom; Seoraeseom; information centre 02-3780-0541~4
- KTO tourist data — Banpo Hangang Park (ktriptips mirror)kto — Address; coordinates 37.5077/126.9928; 669 parking spaces, ₩1,000 for the first 30 minutes, then ₩200 per 10 minutes; fountain 1,140 m along Banpo Bridge; open all year, free
- Seoul Mediahub — Banpo Hangang Park (13 Jun 2022)municipal — Sinbanpo Station (Line 9) Exit 1 or Dongjak Station (Lines 4 and 9) Exits 1 and 2, about 15 minutes on foot
- Seoul Mediahub — barrier-free picnic area at Ichon Hangang Park (26 Jul 2024)municipal — Ichon Station (Line 4 and Gyeongui–Jungang Line) about 10 minutes on foot; barrier-free picnic area with a wooden deck path for wheelchairs and strollers
- Yeongdeungpo-gu — Yeouido Hangang Park informationmunicipal — Yeouinaru Station Exits 2 and 3; nearby attractions
- Hangang Park — directions to Ttukseom Hangang Parkofficial — Jayang Station (Line 7) Exits 2 and 3 connect directly to the park, about 1 minute; ₩50,000 fine for parking outside marked spaces
- Seoul Mediahub — spring festivals by Hangang Bus (17 Apr 2026)municipal — Hangang Bus piers Magok, Mangwon, Yeouido, Apgujeong, Oksu, Ttukseom, Jamsil; Apgujeong for Jamwon (2 May) and the Jamsu Bridge festival; Yeouido pier for Reading Hangang Park; hgbus.co.kr
- MTN News — Hangang Bus first anniversary (17 Sep 2026)news — Fare ₩3,000; boats about once an hour; piers include Apgujeong and Ttukseom; weekend fare rise of ₩5,000–10,000 under study, decision by April 2027
What we could not confirm
- Which seven programmes the city counts for spring 2026 is inferred from the leaflet's programme section (theatre, stroller parade, yacht trip, Golden Blue Marina, Tubester, Hi Seoul Cruise, silent yoga); the leaflet's festival tree also lists the night tour, the outdoor library and the wellness week
- Night tour end date for 2026: the leaflet says 30 May, the city's article and news reports say 6 June
- No post-event report or visitor figures were found for the 2026 spring run; 'ended' is based on the announced dates
- 2025 theme: the festival site gives '봄에는 하하호호 한강', news reports '두근두근 한강' (probably the year's slogan); 2025 prices and most times were not found
- firstHeld is the festival's first year (2013, as the summer Hangang Mongttang); spring runs appear in the city archive from 2023, the planned 2022 spring run was cancelled for COVID-19, and years before 2022 were not checked
- Venue and coordinates are Banpo Hangang Park, used in every spring run from 2024 to 2026; the 2027 parks and programmes are unknown
- Hi Seoul Cruise departure times and length, and the Ichon Station exit for Ichon Hangang Park, were not published in the sources used
- The Hangang Bus may raise weekend fares; the city plans to decide by April 2027
- Accessibility at the festival sites, foreign card acceptance and English-language sessions were not published
- Japanese and Chinese names are the festival's existing official names plus the season; no official seasonal form was found
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. · 2026-10-20 — "Shortest run" softened: in 2026 spring ran as long as autumn and winter.
