At a glance
| Dates | 23 Oct – 1 Nov 2026Happening now · 23rd edition; dates reported on 7 February 2026. Organisers aimed for more than 80% bloom on opening day and raised the share of early and mid-season varieties to 60%. 11 car parks open at weekends. Contact: Iksan City Agricultural Technology Center, 063-859-4977. |
|---|---|
| Hours | 10:00–21:00 daily (KTO and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism listing) |
| Admission | Free entry to all festival zones. Food and local produce are sold at the booths; whether workshops charge in 2026 was not published.Admission: Free |
| Venue | Jungang Sports Park (Iksan Central Sports Park), with Sinheung Neighbourhood Park and the Iksan Station area전북특별자치도 익산시 하나로 322 (어양동) |
| Nearest station | Iksan Station (익산역), Honam Line (KTX)The station area is itself a festival zone; the main grounds at Jungang Sports Park are a taxi or city-bus ride away (distance and bus numbers not published) |
| From Seoul | about 1 h 20 min · KTX + TaxiLeave from Yongsan Station · One-way fare from ₩29,300 · Back to Seoul the same nightFull route · Festivals by travel time from Seoul |
| Organizer | Iksan City (Iksan City Agricultural Technology Center)익산시 / 익산시농업기술센터 |
| Usual timing | Ten days from a Friday in the second half of October to the Sunday of the following week (2023: 20–29 Oct; 2024: 18–27 Oct; 2025: 24 Oct–2 Nov; 2026: 23 Oct–1 Nov). The sculptures usually stay on show for about a week after the programme ends. The 2026 dates were public by early February 2026. Browse October / November festivals. |
| First held | 2004 |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026Checked against 24 sources · See sources |
What it is like
Iksan, a city in Jeonbuk State best known for the Baekje-era sites of Mireuksa and Wanggung-ri, adopted the chrysanthemum as its city flower in 1995, and every autumn its Agricultural Technology Center turns a downtown sports park into a ten-day chrysanthemum show. The event grew out of a small chrysanthemum exhibition in the mid-1990s and took its present name, "Ten Million Chrysanthemums", in 2004; 2026 is the 23rd edition. Center staff and contracted local flower farms raise the plants over the year, and in 2025 the grounds held more than 1,000 chrysanthemum sculptures and over 60,000 chrysanthemums and other autumn flowers. KTO describes the garden as the largest of its kind in the country.
The 2026 theme is "GLOW IKSAN", and the zones are named after gemstones: diamond, ruby and sapphire at Jungang Sports Park, emerald at Sinheung Neighbourhood Park (reached over a 274 m footbridge that opened in 2025), and topaz at Iksan Station, so rail travellers meet the first displays as they arrive. Expect large sculptures on Iksan history and culture, a chrysanthemum bonsai exhibition, a music fountain, a sweet-potato play zone for children, citizen performances and about 100 booths run by local farms and companies. After dark the grounds stay open until 21:00 with interactive lights, a chrysanthemum light tunnel and nightly EDM parties, and fireworks are planned for Saturday 31 October.
Entry is free. The festival draws more than 700,000 visitors a year (about 760,000 in 2025), so weekends are crowded and the city opens 11 car parks; the KTX is the easier way in. The sculptures stay on show until 8 November 2026, a week after the programme ends. Honest caveats: this is a staged exhibition in an urban park rather than a natural flower field, the bloom on opening weekend depends on the weather (organisers aimed for more than 80% on opening day in 2026), and festival information is published in Korean only.
Highlights
- Giant chrysanthemum sculptures and flower works on Iksan's history; in 2025 more than 1,000 sculptures and over 60,000 chrysanthemums and autumn flowers
- 2026 'GLOW IKSAN' theme with gemstone zones: diamond, ruby and sapphire at Jungang Sports Park, emerald at Sinheung Neighbourhood Park, topaz at Iksan Station
- Night garden until 21:00 with interactive lights, a chrysanthemum light tunnel, the 'Angel's Staircase', a music fountain and nightly EDM parties
- Fireworks on Saturday 31 October 2026 with the 'Iri Rock Festa' talk concert run by young residents
- Chrysanthemum bonsai special exhibition and a Sweet Potato Playground for children with digging and carrying games
- About 100 local farm and company booths; show a receipt from an Iksan restaurant, café or lodging to receive a potted chrysanthemum
Who it suits. Best for flower lovers, photographers and families who want a free, easy autumn outing by KTX from Seoul, especially in the evening when the sculptures are lit; less suited to travellers looking for a natural landscape, since this is a staged exhibition in a city sports park.
Getting there
From Seoul
KTX from Yongsan to Iksan Station on the Honam line: usually 1 h 17 m–1 h 25 m (30 trains a day in the May 2026 timetable), ₩29,300 standard class. Since the 1 September 2026 KTX–SRT merger, trains from Suseo also run to Iksan (27 a day in the 1 November 2026 timetable). The topaz display zone is at Iksan Station itself; for the main grounds at Jungang Sports Park (Hana-ro 322, Eoyang-dong) take a taxi or city bus from the station.
From Busan
The usual rail route is KTX to Osong, where the Gyeongbu and Honam high-speed lines meet, then a Honam-line KTX to Iksan; the total journey time was not checked.
From Incheon Airport
AREX or an airport bus into Seoul, then KTX from Yongsan to Iksan as above.
Last leg from Iksan Station
Honam Line (KTX). The station area is itself a festival zone; the main grounds at Jungang Sports Park are a taxi or city-bus ride away (distance and bus numbers not published)
Festival shuttle
No 2026 shuttle timetable was found. In 2024 free city-tour buses ran from Iksan Station to the festival, and shuttles linked the grounds with car parks at Palbong Sports Complex, Wonkwang University (east car park) and Sinheung-dong.
Getting home
The grounds close at 21:00. KTX trains from Iksan to Yongsan take about 1 h 17 m–1 h 25 m and run many times a day. Last-train times for the festival dates were not verified, and a new KTX timetable starts on 1 November 2026, the festival's last day, so check the last train back in the Korail+ app (코레일+) or at Iksan Station before the festival day, and allow time for the taxi back to the station.
Parking
The city lists 11 festival car parks for 2026 (open at weekends, according to Maeil Shinmun). A guide that republishes the city's parking notice places them mostly in Eoyang-dong and Sinheung-dong around the grounds, marks three as weekend-only and sends coaches to Iksan Sports Complex. Nearby lots fill on busy days, so the KTX is the easier option.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Admission | Free | Free (KTO, ministry listing) |
| Food, local produce and workshops | — | Sold at the booths; no 2026 price list published |
- Booking
- No ticket or booking is needed. Korail sells a one-night, two-day rural tourism train package linked to the festival; details were published in Korean only. Questions: Iksan City Agricultural Technology Center, 063-859-4977.
- English on site
- The official festival page (iksan.go.kr/gukhwa) is in Korean; no English programme or interpretation service was found. KTO's English listing gives the dates, hours and address.
- Crowds
- More than 700,000 visitors a year (720,000 in 2023, about 760,000 in 2025), heaviest at weekends, when the city opens extra car parks.
- Best time to go
- A weekday afternoon, staying into the evening for the lights (open until 21:00); Saturday 31 October 2026 for the fireworks. The sculptures stay on show until 8 November 2026, after the programme ends.
- What to bring
- Comfortable shoes for walking between the park, the footbridge and Sinheung Park, and a warm layer for the evening light displays.
- Step-free access
- The 274 m footbridge between Jungang Sports Park and Sinheung Park, opened in 2025, has a gentle slope for people with limited mobility; no other accessibility details were published.
2026 program
- Theme 'GLOW IKSAN, Iksan shining anew like a jewel': diamond, ruby and sapphire zones at Jungang Sports Park, emerald zone at Sinheung Neighbourhood Park, topaz zone at Iksan Station
- Large chrysanthemum sculptures and flower works on Iksan's history and culture; chrysanthemum bonsai special exhibition; five theme halls with more than 100 participating groups
- Nightlyinteractive lights, chrysanthemum light tunnel, 'Angel's Staircase', Melody Box, music fountain, EDM parties and Dongchun Circus performances
- Sat 31 Octfireworks with the 'Iri Rock Festa' talk concert planned by young residents
- Sweet Potato Playgroundsweet-potato digging and carrying games, the Hopungmi variety and the mascot 'Ri28'
- Citizen radio DJ, Dream Orchestra Iksan and a flag exhibition by the Iksan Artists' Federation
- Receipt eventa receipt from an Iksan restaurant, café or lodging earns a potted chrysanthemum; about 100 farm and company booths
- Korail one-night, two-day rural tourism train package linked to the festival
23rd edition; dates reported on 7 February 2026. Organisers aimed for more than 80% bloom on opening day and raised the share of early and mid-season varieties to 60%. 11 car parks open at weekends. Contact: Iksan City Agricultural Technology Center, 063-859-4977.
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Ten days from a Friday in the second half of October 2027 to the Sunday of the following week, if the pattern of recent editions holds; not announced as of 18 October 2026. The 2026 dates were reported on 7 February 2026, so an announcement in early 2027 is likely. | expected | 24th edition. No 2027 announcement found as of 18 October 2026. |
| 2026 | 23 Oct – 1 Nov 2026 | confirmed | Three downtown hubs: Jungang Sports Park (main grounds, Hana-ro 322), Sinheung Neighbourhood Park, linked by a 274 m footbridge, and the Iksan Station area. The sculpture exhibition stays up until 8 November 2026. |
| 2025 | 24 Oct – 2 Nov 2025 | ended | Displays stayed up until 9 November 2025 at Jungang Sports Park, Iksan Station and the Mireuksa Temple Site. |
| 2024 | 18–27 Oct 2024 | ended | Jungang Sports Park, plus Sinheung Park's Flower Breeze Garden and the Somri light path. |
| 2023 | 20–29 Oct 2023 | ended | Displays continued until 5 November 2023 at Mireuksa, Iksan Station and Sinheung Neighbourhood Park. |
Before or after the festival
Places you can fit in before or after the festival without missing the shuttle or the last train or bus back.
The grounds of Mireuksa, a Baekje-era temple and part of the UNESCO-listed Baekje Historic Areas, with the National Iksan Museum inside the site, whose exhibits present Iksan as a Baekje royal capital. Go before the afternoon: the museum is open 09:00–18:00 (last entry 17:30, free; closed Mondays, so not on 26 October), and the festival stays open until 21:00, so you are back for the lights. Extra chrysanthemum displays stood here after the 2023 and 2025 festivals; none were announced for 2026.
Getting there: Taxi from Iksan Station or the festival grounds to Mireuksaji-ro 362, Geumma-myeon (time and fare not checked; set it in Kakao Map)
- Getting awayAfter
The grounds close at 21:00 and draw more than 700,000 visitors a year, most at weekends. Jungang Sports Park is a taxi or city-bus ride from Iksan Station, so if you have a late KTX leave a little before the close; the topaz display zone at the station lets you see the last lights while you wait. Check the last train in the Korail+ app (코레일+).
Questions travelers ask
When is the Iksan Chrysanthemum Festival 2026?
23 October to 1 November 2026, 10:00–21:00 daily, at Jungang Sports Park, Sinheung Neighbourhood Park and the Iksan Station area. The chrysanthemum sculptures stay on show until 8 November.
Is the Iksan Chrysanthemum Festival free?
Yes. Entry to every zone is free; you pay only for food and local produce at the booths, and possibly for some workshops.
How do I get there from Seoul?
Take the KTX from Yongsan to Iksan, usually 1 h 17 m–1 h 25 m and ₩29,300 in standard class. Iksan Station has its own festival display zone; take a taxi or city bus from there to the main grounds at Jungang Sports Park.
When are the fireworks?
On Saturday 31 October 2026, together with the 'Iri Rock Festa' talk concert. Light displays, the music fountain and EDM parties run every evening until 21:00.
Can I do it as a day trip from Seoul?
Yes. The KTX between Iksan and Yongsan takes about 1 h 17 m–1 h 25 m, and the grounds close at 21:00. Last-train times for the festival dates were not verified and a new KTX timetable starts on 1 November 2026, so check the last train back in the Korail+ app (코레일+) or at Iksan Station before the festival day.
Will the chrysanthemums be in bloom?
Organisers aimed for more than 80% bloom on opening day in 2026 and raised the share of early and mid-season varieties to 60%. The displays stay up until 8 November.
Is there parking?
The city lists 11 festival car parks for 2026, mostly in Eoyang-dong and Sinheung-dong around the grounds, but they fill on busy days. In 2024 shuttles ran from car parks at Palbong Sports Complex, Wonkwang University and Sinheung-dong; the 2026 shuttle plan was not published.
Sources and verification
Facts checked
22 October 2026, against the sources listed below.
This page is desk research from the sources below, not a firsthand report of the 2026 edition. Confidence in the current facts: medium.
- KTO TourAPI listing 익산천만송이 국화축제 (contentId 637276)kto — 2026 dates 23 Oct–1 Nov; hours 10:00–21:00; free; venue 중앙체육공원, address 하나로 322 (어양동); coordinates 35.9492, 126.9845; organizer Iksan City; phone 063-859-4977; homepage iksan.go.kr/gukhwa; theme GLOW IKSAN; largest chrysanthemum garden in the country, bonsai exhibition, music fountain, night lights, fireworks
- KTO VisitKorea English — 익산천만송이 국화축제 (cid 637276)kto — 2026 dates 23 Oct–1 Nov, hours 10:00–21:00, free, Central Sports Park at 하나로 322, organized by the Iksan City Agricultural Technology Center, hosted by Iksan City, phone 063-859-4977
- K-Trip Tips mirror of KTO English data — Iksan Ten Million Chrysanthemum Festivalkto — English name Iksan Ten Million Chrysanthemum Festival; 23 Oct–1 Nov 2026; 10:00–21:00; free; address 322 Hana-ro, Iksan-si; held every year from late October to early November
- Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism — festival listing: 익산천만송이 국화축제ministry — 2026 dates 23 Oct–1 Nov, 10:00–21:00, Jungang Sports Park, free, host Iksan City, contact Agricultural Technology Center 063-859-4977, 2026 theme and programme types
- Jeonbuk Ilbo — 제23회 익산 천만송이 국화축제 dates (7 Feb 2026)news — 23rd edition, 23 Oct–1 Nov 2026, ten days, Jungang Sports Park; dates public by 7 Feb 2026; local chrysanthemum bonsai society
- iNews24 — 익산, 대전환 비전 품은 '천만송이 국향'에 빠진다 (14 Oct 2026)news — 23rd edition 23 Oct–1 Nov 2026, sculptures to 8 Nov; three hubs and gemstone zones; night programmes; fireworks on 31 Oct with Iri Rock Festa; sweet potato zone; receipt event; Korail 1-night 2-day package; 100+ groups, five theme halls; 80% bloom target; 2025: about 760,000 visitors, 97 booths about ₩2.3 billion
- Maeil Shinmun — autumn chrysanthemum festivals (16 Oct 2026)news — Opens 23 Oct 2026, open until 21:00, free; three hubs incl. Iksan Station; displays a week longer; more than 700,000 visitors a year; about 100 booths; receipt event; 11 car parks at weekends; 60% early and mid-season varieties
- Jeonbuk Ilbo — 제22회 익산 천만송이 국화축제 opening (25 Oct 2025)news — 22nd edition 24 Oct–2 Nov 2025; theme; more than 1,000 sculptures and 60,000+ flowers; 8 m phoenix; Sinheung Park extension; stamp tour; 400+ local products; 30th anniversary of the Iri–Iksan merger
- Pressian — 2025 festival weekend programme (26 Oct 2025)news — 2025 run 24 Oct–2 Nov; 274 m footbridge to Sinheung Park with a gentle slope; 25 Oct quiz contest 10:00, Iri Ohrak Festa to about 21:15, fireworks; 26 Oct indie bands 17:30, EDM party 20:00
- Jeonbuk Ilbo — 2025 festival closes (2 Nov 2025)news — 22nd edition, ten days, 760,000 visitors; displays extended to 9 Nov at Jungang Sports Park, Iksan Station and Mireuksa site; footbridge, waterside garden and trail at Sinheung Park; 400+ local products
- Newsis — 가을 낭만 품은 국화축제…18~29일 열흘간 (2 Oct 2024)news — 21st edition, ten days from 18 to 27 Oct 2024 (headline 18–29); theme; venues; LED night displays; free city-tour buses from Iksan Station; shuttles from Palbong Sports Complex, Wonkwang University east car park, Sinheung-dong car park; bonsai and new-variety hall; 400+ products in five booths
- News Seoul — 성년된 '익산 천만 송이 국화축제' (11 Oct 2023)news — 20th edition 20–29 Oct 2023 at Iksan Central Sports Park; began in 1994 as a small exhibition, renamed in 2004; night opening with fireworks; free special exhibition hall; about 200 bonsai works; about 50 new varieties; displays to 5 Nov at Mireuksa, Iksan Station, Sinheung Park
- News Seoul — 천만송이 국화축제·도시혁신산업박람회 '쌍끌이 흥행' (30 Oct 2023)news — 2023 festival 20–29 Oct, 20th edition, 720,000 visitors, ₩2.4 billion on-site sales, opening fireworks
- Pressian — 제14회 익산천만송이 국화축제 (17 Oct 2017)news — 14th edition 27 Oct–5 Nov 2017 at Iksan Central Sports Park; chrysanthemum adopted as city flower in 1995; began as a small exhibition and renamed in 2004; plants raised by the Agricultural Technology Center and local farms
- Reportera — 2026 익산천만송이 국화축제 (3 Oct 2026)news — 2026 dates, theme, address and free entry; nearby UNESCO World Heritage Mireuksa site and Wanggung-ri site; the country's only jewellery museum
- train.asamaru.net — 익산역→용산역 timetable (updated 18 Oct 2026)other — 18 Oct 2026: KTX-Sancheon Iksan→Yongsan 21:06→22:34, 22:04→23:26 (1 h 22 m), 23:27→00:44 (1 h 17 m); ITX-Maeum 21:25→00:31; standard fare ₩29,300
- Korail — KTX 시간표 (2026. 5. 15. 기준), xlsxofficial — Honam sheet: direct Yongsan→Gimje KTX 475 (09:44→12:04) and 481 (17:10→19:22), both via Seodaejeon; Yongsan→Iksan 30 trains, 67–130 min (most 77–85)
- Korail — KTX 시간표 (2026. 11. 1. 기준), xlsxofficial — From 1 Nov 2026: Yongsan→Gimje KTX 463 12:45→14:11 (via Osong, 1 h 26 m) and 459/491 17:10→19:21 (2 h 11 m); timetable lists 27 Suseo→Iksan departures versus 1 in the 15 May edition, consistent with the Korail–SR integrated operation from 1 Sep 2026
- 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+
- Wikipedia — Osong stationmap — Branch station of the Gyeongbu and Honam high-speed lines; Honam KTX neighbours Cheonan-Asan and Gongju; Daejeon only on the Gyeongbu side
- Inforest Style — 2026 익산 천만송이 국화축제 주차장 11곳 (guide republishing Iksan City's parking notice)other — 11 festival car parks, mostly in Eoyang-dong and Sinheung-dong (incl. Iksan Arts Center, north-gate car park, youth centre, tax office), nos. 9–11 weekend-only; coaches to Iksan Sports Complex (Muwang-ro 1397); no shuttle timetable
- Shinailbo — 익산 천만송이 국화축제 23일 개막 (14 Oct 2026)news — 23 Oct–1 Nov 2026 at Jungang Sports Park, Sinheung Park and the Iksan Station area; sculptures to 8 Nov; fireworks and Iri Rock Festa on 31 Oct (no time given)
- KTO data (ktriptips mirror) — 국립익산박물관kto — National Iksan Museum inside the Mireuksa Temple Site, 미륵사지로 362, Geumma-myeon; 09:00–18:00, last entry 17:30; closed Mondays, 1 Jan, Seollal and Chuseok; free; listing revised 23 Jun 2026
- National Museum of Korea — 백제 왕도의 위용을 보여주는 국립익산박물관 개관official — Opening notice of the National Iksan Museum, presented as showing the grandeur of the Baekje royal capital (title as returned by search; page not opened)
What we could not confirm
- Japanese and Chinese names: no KTO or official Japanese/Chinese name was found (names.ja, zhHans and zhHant left null).
- 2026 shuttle buses: no routes or timetable found; 2024 had free city-tour buses from Iksan Station and car-park shuttles.
- Distance and city-bus numbers from Iksan Station to Jungang Sports Park were not verified.
- Car parks: whether all 11 open only at weekends (Maeil Shinmun) or eight every day and three at weekends only (a third-party guide republishing the city's notice); the list was not checked against the city's own page.
- Time of the 23 October 2026 opening ceremony, the 31 October fireworks and the daily performance schedule.
- Origins: sources give 1994 or 1995 for the first small exhibition; firstHeld 2004 is the year of the current name and matches the edition count (23rd in 2026).
- The ₩29,300 KTX fare comes from a third-party mirror of the national timetable for 18 October 2026, not Korail's own fare table.
- Prices of workshops and the Korail rural tourism train package were not published.
- Rain policy, pet rules, restrooms and English support were not published; the Busan route was not timed.
- Last train back from Iksan to Yongsan on the festival dates under the timetable in force that day (October 2026 timetable to 31 Oct, the KTX timetable of 1 Nov 2026 on the last day).
- Taxi time and fare, and any city bus, from the festival grounds or Iksan Station to the Mireuksa Temple Site were not checked; the museum's own page (iksan.museum.go.kr) refused automated access, so its hours come from KTO data revised 23 Jun 2026. Wanggung-ri and the Jewelry Museum were dropped because their hours and the way there were not checked.
Changes: 2026-10-18 — Added to the site: fact-first record (dates, hours, prices, getting there, sources). · 2026-10-19 — Rechecked before the 2026 edition: no changes found. · 2026-10-21 — Transport: removed the 18 October 2026 last-train clock times, which could not be checked against the timetable in force on the festival dates (a new KTX timetable starts on 1 November), and added a reminder to check the last train before travelling. · 2026-10-22 — Rechecked before the 2026 edition: dates, venues and the 31 October fireworks unchanged; added where the 11 festival car parks are. No 2026 shuttle timetable or event times were published. · 2026-10-23 — Nearby rewritten as 'Before or after the festival' (shuttle and last-train fit): kept Mireuksa with the National Iksan Museum as a morning visit, dropped Wanggung-ri, the Jewelry Museum and Sinheung Park (a festival zone), added a 'Getting away' line; transport: no clock times in getThere or FAQs, unchanged; prices: unchanged (free entry).
