At a glance
| Dates | Expected Sep/Oct 2027Four days in late September or early October 2027, if the pattern of recent years holds (2–5 Oct 2024, 25–28 Sept 2025, 1–4 Oct 2026); it would be the 52nd edition. The festival is a national culture and tourism festival for 2026–2027, but no 2027 dates had been announced as of 19 October 2026. The 2026 dates were reported in late January 2026, so 2027 dates may appear early in the year. |
|---|---|
| Next edition | 2027: Four days in late September or early October 2027, if the pattern of recent years holds (2–5 Oct 2024, 25–28 Sept 2025, 1–4 Oct 2026); it would be the 52nd edition. The festival is a national culture and tourism festival for 2026–2027, but no 2027 dates had been announced as of 19 October 2026. The 2026 dates were reported in late January 2026, so 2027 dates may appear early in the year. |
| Admission | Free (KTO 2026 listing). Food and market stalls are paid; any parking fees were not published.Festival admission: Free · Rice soup (gukbap): ₩10,000 · Noodles in cold soybean soup (kongguksu): ₩9,000 (2026 prices) |
| Venue | Jeongseon Public Stadium and Jeongseon-eup town centre강원특별자치도 정선군 정선읍 봉양리 104 |
| Nearest station | Jeongseon Station (정선역), Korail Jeongseon LineThe 2026 festival shuttle stopped on the station square (12:00–22:00, departures on the hour and half hour); walking time to the stadium was not published |
| From Seoul | about 2 h 46 min · BusLeave from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal · One-way fare from ₩30,800 · Back to Seoul the same nightFull route · Festivals by travel time from Seoul |
| Organizer | Jeongseon Arirang Culture Foundation, for Jeongseon County재단법인 정선아리랑문화재단 (주최: 정선군) |
| Usual timing | Four days in late September or early October: 2–5 Oct 2024 (Wed–Sat), 25–28 Sept 2025 (Thu–Sun) and 1–4 Oct 2026 (Thu–Sun). The 2026 dates were already public in late January 2026. Browse September / October festivals. |
| First held | 1976 |
| Last checked | 19 October 2026Checked against 20 sources · See sources |
What it is like
Arirang is Korea's best-known folk song, and Jeongseon, a mountain county in southern Gangwon, keeps one of its oldest regional forms: Jeongseon Arirang, a slow local version tied to the county's old timber-raft trade and to Auraji, the river confluence where it is said to have been born. Arirang is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list, and the county has celebrated its own version every year since 1976 with this festival, run by the Jeongseon Arirang Culture Foundation. It lasts four days in late September or early October and centres on Jeongseon Public Stadium and the streets of Jeongseon-eup, with further stages at the Jeongseon Arirang Center, Arisaemteo and Arari Park. Entry is free.
The 51st edition ran 1–4 October 2026 under the theme 'The Sound of Jeongseon, Endless Soaring', and its opening day fell exactly 100 years after Na Woon-gyu's silent film Arirang was first screened, on 1 October 1926. The opening ceremony at 19:00 combined a declaration for the festival's next 50 years with a mass Arirang chorus, followed by more than 1,200 drones and fireworks. On 2 October choirs from around the country met in the National Arirang Chorus Competition; on 3 October, a public holiday, the Arirang Parade wound through the town centre, young dancers competed in the A-POP dance contest and scholars held a symposium on Arirang in the age of AI; the last day brought the traditional singing contest in student and general divisions. Across the four days there were 114 programmes, a theme hall on the song's history and lyrics, hands-on booths, a night market and 143 food booths from 45 local businesses. About 200,000 people came.
The 2025 edition, the 50th, ran 25–28 September with a parade of 25 teams that included an army band and an invited group from Colombia; the 2024 edition ran 2–5 October. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has named it a culture and tourism festival for 2026–2027.
Things to know: programmes are in Korean and no interpretation was documented, so the parade and opening night are the most rewarding parts for visitors who do not speak Korean. Jeongseon is a long bus ride from Seoul, the last bus back leaves in the early evening, and the evening shows need a night in town. The Jeongseon five-day market (dates ending in 2 and 7) is a few minutes' walk from the grounds, and the Jeongseon Arirang Center stages the musical Ari Arari, with English, Japanese and Chinese subtitles, on market days from April to November, so visitors who miss the festival can still hear the song.
Highlights
- Opening night: a mass Arirang chorus and a declaration for the festival's next 50 years, then more than 1,200 drones and fireworks (opening ceremony 19:00, 1 October 2026)
- Arirang Parade through downtown Jeongseon-eup with teams from the county's nine eup and myeon, an army band and invited overseas groups (25 teams in 2025)
- National Arirang Singing Contest (gyeongchang) in student and general divisions, and the National Arirang Chorus Competition
- A-POP dance competition, an Arirang-themed dance contest with children's and youth and general divisions (14:00–16:00 on 3 October 2026)
- Chilhyeon rite at Geochilhyeon Shrine in Namyeon, honouring the seven figures of the song's origin legend, on opening morning
- Jeongseon Arirang Theme Hall at the stadium: the song's history and lyrics and 50 years of festival records in photos and video (2026)
- Local food zone with 143 food booths from 45 businesses in 2026, plus food trucks and a night market
- Jeongseon five-day market about 380 m from the grounds, on dates ending in 2 and 7 (2 October was a market day in 2026)
Who it suits. Best for travellers interested in Korean folk music and small-town festivals, and for anyone who wants to hear Arirang sung in the county most associated with it; also fun for families on the parade and opening-night days. Less suited to visitors who need English-language programming or who want to return to Seoul after dark the same day.
Getting there
From Seoul
Intercity bus from Dong Seoul Terminal to Jeongseon Bus Terminal: about 7 a day, 2 h 46 m, ₩30,800 woodeung (deluxe). The festival grounds around Jeongseon Public Stadium are in Jeongseon-eup; the distance from the terminal was not published, and in 2026 a festival shuttle looped between the Jeongseon Sports Complex, Jeongseon Station square and the stadium. By rail there is no fast direct service: in autumn 2026 a single Saemaeul a day ran on the Jeongseon Line from Mindungsan to Jeongseon, and whether it runs through from Seoul was not confirmed, so the bus is the simple option.
Last leg from Jeongseon Station
Korail Jeongseon Line. The 2026 festival shuttle stopped on the station square (12:00–22:00, departures on the hour and half hour); walking time to the stadium was not published
Festival shuttle
In 2026 shuttle buses ran 12:00–22:00 during the festival, departing on the hour and half hour on a loop of about 30 minutes via the Jeongseon Sports Complex, Jeongseon Station square and the Public Stadium (official site map, as summarised by a travel blog). Fares, if any, were not published.
Getting home
Buses back from Jeongseon to Dong Seoul take about 2 h 45 m and are infrequent, so check the last bus at Jeongseon Bus Terminal (or on the intercity bus booking site) before the festival day, and book the return early on festival weekends. The festival runs until 22:00 and opening night's drones and fireworks follow a 19:00 ceremony, so evening programmes are likely to need a night in Jeongseon. The Jeongseon Line train is not a practical way back to Seoul.
Parking
In 2026 visitors were asked to park at the Jeongseon Sports Complex (종합경기장), cross Arari Bridge and walk about 10 minutes to the grounds; the official map also showed two parking areas next to the main stage. Fees were not published, and the official FAQ advised walking where possible because of congestion.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Festival admission | Free | Free per KTO |
| Rice soup (gukbap) | ₩10,000 | Food price shown on KTO's listing; KTO data says the food details come from the 2023 festival |
| Noodles in cold soybean soup (kongguksu) | ₩9,000 | KTO listing, 2023 food details |
| Grilled deodeok root, 400 g | ₩30,000 | KTO listing, 2023 food details |
| Whole hog barbecue, medium | ₩45,000 | KTO listing, 2023 food details |
- Booking
- No booking for spectators. Contestants for the chorus and A-POP dance competitions applied through separate notices from the Jeongseon Arirang Culture Foundation on arirangfestival.kr in 2026.
- English on site
- Programmes are in Korean and no on-site interpretation was documented; the foundation said it would strengthen programmes for foreign visitors from 2026. The Ari Arari musical at the Jeongseon Arirang Center has English, Japanese and Chinese subtitles, and KTO's English listing covers the festival.
- Crowds
- About 200,000 visitors over four days in 2026. Opening night and the parade day draw the biggest crowds, and the organizer advised walking rather than driving because of congestion.
- Best time to go
- The parade day (the Saturday in 2025 and 2026) for the most colour, or opening night for the chorus, drones and fireworks if you stay over. If you can, pick a festival day that is also a five-day market day (dates ending in 2 and 7).
- What to bring
- A warm layer for the evening shows, comfortable shoes for moving between the stadium, the town centre and the market, and some cash for market and food stalls.
- Toilets
- Several toilets were marked around the main-stage area on the 2026 site map, along with police, fire and volunteer centre posts.
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Four days in late September or early October 2027, if the pattern of recent years holds (2–5 Oct 2024, 25–28 Sept 2025, 1–4 Oct 2026); it would be the 52nd edition. The festival is a national culture and tourism festival for 2026–2027, but no 2027 dates had been announced as of 19 October 2026. The 2026 dates were reported in late January 2026, so 2027 dates may appear early in the year. | expected | No 2027 announcement found as of 19 October 2026. |
| 2026 | 1–4 Oct 2026 | ended | Main grounds at Jeongseon Public Stadium, with programmes at the Arirang Center, Arisaemteo, Arari Park and across Jeongseon-eup. Drivers were directed to the Jeongseon Sports Complex car park, about a 10-minute walk over Arari Bridge. |
| 2025 | 25–28 Sep 2025 | ended | Opening at Jeongseon Public Stadium and around Jeongseon-eup. |
| 2024 | 2–5 Oct 2024 | ended | Jeongseon Public Stadium and surrounding area. |
Nearby
- Jeongseon five-day market (Jeongseon Arirang Market) (정선5일장 / 정선아리랑시장) — About 380 m from the festival grounds (KTO data). Traditional market that comes alive on dates ending in 2 and 7, with local produce, food and folk performances; the permanent market opens daily, about 09:00–18:00, with free parking
- Jeongseon Arirang Center (정선아리랑센터) — In Jeongseon-eup. Hall at 51 Aesan-ro that stages the 75-minute musical Ari Arari, based on Jeongseon Arirang, with English, Japanese and Chinese subtitles, on market days from 4 April to 27 November 2026; a festival venue in 2026
- Auraji (아우라지) — In Yeoryang-myeon, Jeongseon County. Confluence of the Songcheon and Goljicheon streams, held to be the birthplace of Jeongseon Arirang; its raft and makgeolli festival ran 31 July–2 August 2026
- Sokseom red buckwheat field (속섬 홍메밀) — In Namyeon. About 15,000 m² of red and pink buckwheat that was in full bloom in early October 2026, a newer autumn photo spot
- Pyeongchang Trout Festival (평창송어축제). A winter reason to come back to the area: the ice-fishing festival for trout on the Odaecheon stream in Jinbu, Pyeongchang, the county to the north-west
Questions travelers ask
When is the Jeongseon Arirang Festival 2027?
Not announced yet. It ran 2–5 October 2024, 25–28 September 2025 and 1–4 October 2026, so expect four days in late September or early October 2027. The 2026 dates were public by late January 2026.
Is the Jeongseon Arirang Festival free?
Yes. KTO lists entry as free; you pay only for food, market goods and any paid hands-on booths.
What is Jeongseon Arirang?
It is the Jeongseon county form of Arirang, Korea's best-known folk song, which is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list. Local tradition places its birthplace at Auraji in Yeoryang-myeon, where two streams meet, and links it to seven figures honoured each year in the festival's Chilhyeon rite.
How do I get to Jeongseon from Seoul?
Take an intercity bus from Dong Seoul Terminal: about 7 a day, 2 h 46 m, ₩30,800. There is no fast direct train.
Can I visit as a day trip from Seoul?
Yes for daytime programmes, if you take a morning bus: the ride is 2 h 46 m each way. Check the last bus back from Jeongseon at the terminal before the festival day. Opening night's chorus, drones and fireworks start at 19:00, so they are likely to need an overnight stay.
What are the festival hours?
10:00–22:00 in 2026 per KTO. Individual contests and shows run to their own times, such as the A-POP finals from 14:00 to 16:00 on 3 October 2026.
When is the Jeongseon five-day market?
On dates ending in 2 and 7 (the 2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd and 27th), about 380 m from the festival grounds. The permanent Arirang Market is open every day, usually 09:00–18:00, and parking there is free.
Sources and verification
Facts checked
19 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: high.
- KTO VisitKorea (EN) — Jeongseon Arirang Festival (정선아리랑제), vcontsId 96240kto — 2026 dates 1–4 Oct, hours 10:00–22:00, Jeongseon Public Stadium (104 Bongyang-ri), free, organizer foundation / host Jeongseon-gun, phone +82-33-560-3013~5, program list (Chilhyeon rite, parade, singing contest, A-POP), food prices (rice soup ₩10,000, kongguksu ₩9,000, deodeok 400 g ₩30,000, whole hog ₩45,000), UNESCO-listed Arirang
- ktriptips (KTO TourAPI data mirror) — 정선아리랑제 (contentId 506895)kto — Coordinates 37.3772/128.6659, address 정선읍 봉양리 104, hours 10:00–22:00, free, 주최 정선군 / 주관 정선아리랑문화재단, homepage arirangfestival.kr, singing contest youth and general divisions, night market and food trucks, food details from the 2023 festival, 정선5일장 about 383 m away, record updated 2026-09-23
- ktriptips (KTO Japanese data mirror) — 旌善アリラン祭りkto — Japanese name 旌善アリラン祭り, venue 旌善公設運動場, 2026 dates, free
- ktriptips (KTO Simplified Chinese data mirror) — 旌善阿里郎节kto — Simplified Chinese name 旌善阿里郎节, venue 旌善公设运动场, 2026 dates, hours 10:00~22:00, free
- ktriptips (KTO Traditional Chinese data mirror) — 旌善阿里郎節kto — Traditional Chinese name 旌善阿里郎節, venue 旌善公設運動場, 2026 dates, free
- MTN 2026-09-28 — 영화 '아리랑' 100주년…정선아리랑제 10월 1일 개막news — 51st edition 1–4 Oct 2026, theme, venues (stadium, Arirang Center, Arisaemteo, Arari Park); 1 Oct chorus, 1,200+ drones, fireworks; 2 Oct chorus contest; 3 Oct parade, A-POP, 15:00 symposium; 114 programmes in 11 categories; theme hall; film Arirang 1 Oct 1926; 143 booths, 45 businesses; Sports Complex parking, Arari Bridge, about 10 minutes' walk; shuttles
- MTN 2026-10-06 — 단풍 시동 건 강원… 동해·영월·삼척·정선, 가을 관광객 맞이 '특급 채비'news — 2026 festival closed with about 200,000 visitors and 114 programmes; Sokseom red buckwheat in Namyeon, about 15,000 m² in full bloom
- travelmapjourney — 2026 정선아리랑제 일정·셔틀 (citing the foundation's official overview, programme table, site map and FAQ; posted 2026-09-25)blog — Opening 19:00 on 1 Oct, then drones and fireworks; chorus contest 12:00–15:00 on 2 Oct; A-POP 14:00–15:00 and 15:00–16:00 on 3 Oct; singing contest 4 Oct; 108 events in 12 categories; shuttle 12:00–22:00 on the hour and half hour, about 30-minute loop via 종합경기장, 정선역 광장, 공설운동장; two parking areas; FAQ advises walking; zones, toilets, police and fire posts; contest notices
- Kukinews 2026-01-25 — 정선아리랑제, 2026–2027 문화관광축제 선정news — Selected as a 2026–2027 culture and tourism festival by MCST and KTO; 51st edition planned for 1–4 Oct; plans to strengthen programmes for foreign visitors; about half a century of history
- Kukinews 2025-09-25 — 제50회 정선아리랑제 개막·퍼레이드news — 50th edition marking 50 years since the festival began in 1976; theme; 25 Sept opening with Chilhyeon rite at Geochilhyeon Shrine; 27 Sept parade of 25 teams, route from the Jeongseon-eup Administrative Welfare Center to Jeongseon Police Station, 36th Division band, 'Ttekkun', Colombia, Ari Arari finale; seven figures of the origin legend; nine eup and myeon
- Kukinews 2025-09-23 — 정선아리랑제 50주년, 25~28일 개최news — 2025 festival four days, 25–28 September; history hall, wish-paper programme, forum and symposium, raft demonstration, local produce market
- Newsis 2025-09-25 — 제50회 정선아리랑제 성대한 개막news — 50th edition opened 25 Sept 2025 at Jeongseon Public Stadium; Chilhyeon rite; parade on 27 Sept with 25 teams
- MTN 2024-10-02 — 제49회 정선아리랑제, 10월 2일 개막news — 49th edition 2–5 Oct 2024 (four days), theme, Chilhyeon rite and giroyeon at Geochilhyeon Shrine, opening show at the Public Stadium with guest singers Lee Chan-won and Kim Da-hyeon and fireworks, parade of nine eup and myeon, A-POP, senior fashion show
- Kukinews 2024-09-25 — 정선아리랑제 내달 2일 개막…막바지 준비news — 49th edition opens 2 Oct 2024 for four days at 정선공설운동장 일원; 2024–2025 culture and tourism festival; chorus of 300+; Myeongseok Arirang, National Arirang Singing Contest, A-POP, Arirang song contest
- KTO VisitKorea (EN) — Jeongseon 5-day Market / Jeongseon Arirang Market (정선5일장 / 정선 아리랑시장 (2, 7일))kto — Market days on dates ending in 2 and 7 (2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd…), hours 09:00–18:00 (varies by store), open all year, free parking, phone +82-33-563-6200, address 정선읍 5일장길 40, performances and local food
- KTO VisitKorea K-Performance — ARI-The Spirit of Korea (아리아라리)kto — Musical at Jeongseon Arirang Center, 51 Aesan-ro, Jeongseon-eup; season 4 April–27 November 2026; 75 minutes; subtitles in English, Japanese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese; staged with the five-day market
- Kyunghyang 2026-07-27 — 아우라지 뗏목 및 막걸리 축제news — Auraji in Yeoryang-myeon, confluence of the Songcheon and Goljicheon, birthplace of Jeongseon Arirang; raft and makgeolli festival 31 July–2 August 2026
- Dong Seoul → Jeongseon intercity bus timetable (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-12)other — 7 buses a day: 07:00 (arr 09:46), 09:25, 10:50, 12:50, 15:10, 17:35, 18:50; 2 h 46 m; woodeung ₩30,800
- Jeongseon → Dong Seoul intercity bus timetable (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-10)other — 7 buses a day: 07:00, 09:00, 11:00, 12:50, 14:50, 17:00, 19:00 (arr 21:43); 2 h 43 m; woodeung ₩30,800
- Mindungsan → Jeongseon train timetable, October 2026 (third-party mirror of the national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-07)other — One train a day: Saemaeul 2541, Mindungsan 10:27 → Jeongseon 11:00 (33 minutes, ₩2,400); return from Jeongseon 17:52; no Cheongnyangni service listed on this route
What we could not confirm
- Official 2027 dates have not been announced; the official site arirangfestival.kr could not be opened in this check (the fetch was blocked), so its notices, FAQ and directions page were read only through a travel blog's summary.
- Walking distance from Jeongseon Bus Terminal and Jeongseon Station to the Public Stadium was not published in the sources opened.
- Whether the single daily Saemaeul from Mindungsan to Jeongseon runs through from Cheongnyangni, and on which days it runs, was not confirmed; the Jecheon → Jeongseon timetable page could not be opened.
- Programme count differs: MTN reports 114 programmes in 11 categories for 2026, while a blog citing the official overview gives 108 events in 12 categories.
- Festival shuttle fares (if any), parking fees, accessibility and rain arrangements were not published in the sources opened.
- Food prices on KTO's listing are from the 2023 festival per KTO data; 2026 menu prices were not found.
- Ari Arari performance days, times and ticket prices for 2026 were not listed on KTO's page.
- Last bus back from Jeongseon to Dong Seoul on the festival dates under the timetable in force then, and the 2027 departure times from Dong Seoul.
Changes: 2026-10-19 — Added to the site: fact-first record (dates, hours, prices, getting there, sources). · 2026-10-19 — Added a photograph from the Korea Tourism Organization (Korea Tourism Content Lab), KOGL Type 1. · 2026-10-21 — Transport: removed the October 2026 bus clock times, which cannot be relied on for the next edition; journey times, frequencies and fares kept, with a reminder to check the last bus before the festival day.
