At a glance
| Dates | Expected Oct 2027Probably a weekend in early to mid October 2027, as in 2024–2026 (the first edition was on 21–22 October 2023); dates and venue not announced as of 19 October 2026. |
|---|---|
| Next edition | 2027: Probably a weekend in early to mid October 2027, as in 2024–2026 (the first edition was on 21–22 October 2023); dates and venue not announced as of 19 October 2026. |
| Weather | October average 20/11 °C (68/51 °F), 52 mm of rainComfortable: light layers. Monthly averages, not a forecast: Korea Meteorological Administration climate normals, 1991–2020, Seoul station. |
| Admission | Free, with no advance registration (2026). Food and drink at the world food street are paid.Entry: Free (2026 prices) |
| Venue | Itaewon-ro, from the Noksapyeong Station intersection to Itaewon Station Exit 1서울특별시 용산구 이태원로 일대 (녹사평역 교차로~이태원역 1번 출구) |
| Nearest station | Itaewon Station (이태원역), Seoul Subway Line 6, Exit 1In 2026 the festival began right at Exit 1 and ran about 480 m west along Itaewon-ro to the Noksapyeong Station intersection. |
| From Seoul | In Seoul · SubwayFull route |
| Organizer | Korea Contemporary Dance Promotion Association and the K-Wave Dance Festival Organizing Committee(사)한국현대무용진흥회 · K-Wave Dance Festival 조직위원회 |
| Usual timing | Two or three days over a weekend in October (21–22 Oct 2023, 4–6 Oct 2024, 11–12 Oct 2025, 3–4 Oct 2026). The venue has changed between years: Banpo Hangang Park by the Han River for 2023–2025 (Yebitseom stage, then the stage in front of Sebitseom), and a car-free stretch of Itaewon-ro in 2026. Browse October festivals. |
| First held | 2023 |
| Last checked | 19 October 2026Checked against 11 sources · See sources |
What it is like
The K-Wave Dance Festival was started in 2023 by the Korea Contemporary Dance Promotion Association (한국현대무용진흥회), a Seoul dance body chaired by Yang Jeong-su, together with an organising committee. Its slogan, "LOVE in 17˚C & 193˚C", stands for Korea's 17 regions and the world's 193 countries meeting through dance: professional ballet and contemporary companies share the bill with arts-school pupils, university dancers, street dancers, taekwondo teams and about 100 foreign visitors who come to perform as volunteers.
For its first three years it was an outdoor stage show by the Han River in Banpo Hangang Park: on the Yebitseom stage on 21–22 October 2023, then on the waterfront stage in front of Sebitseom on 4–6 October 2024 (52 teams, 560 dancers and more than 6,000 visitors) and on 11–12 October 2025. In 2026 it moved onto the street. On 3–4 October, with funding from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, about 480 m of Itaewon-ro between the Noksapyeong Station intersection and Itaewon Station Exit 1 was closed to cars and turned into a festival ground, and the organisers estimated about 60,000 visitors over the two days.
The 2026 programme opened on the Saturday evening with a world dance parade of more than 90 dancers from nine countries, followed by an opening show that paired humanoid robots with dancers and featured a taekwondo team, Ahn Eun-me Company and K-Ballet Theater, plus a butterfly-shaped drone display. Sunday brought arts middle school and university dancers, Seoul Ballet Theater and, in the evening, a Global Open Dance Stage where foreign participants performed K-pop covers and dances from their own countries. Between sets the audience could join random play dance, an impromptu dance battle and street karaoke, and the first night ended with Street Moon Night, a DJ and street-dance party named after Itaewon's 1980s–90s club scene. Along the road were a world food street, a world culture village with costumes, crafts and instruments to try, AI photo booths and face painting.
The caveats: the venue has already moved once, the 2027 dates and location are not announced, and no English programme was found. Check the official site or the festival's Instagram before planning a trip around it.
Highlights
- World dance parade on the opening evening: more than 90 dancers from nine countries along Itaewon-ro in 2026
- A 480 m car-free stretch of Itaewon-ro, from the Noksapyeong Station intersection to Itaewon Station Exit 1, open 12:00–21:00 on 3–4 October 2026
- Global Open Dance Stage, where foreign participants perform K-pop covers and their own countries' dances (20 teams from 27 countries in 2026)
- Ballet, contemporary and traditional companies such as Ahn Eun-me Company, K-Ballet Theater and Seoul Ballet Theater alongside arts-school and university dancers
- Ways to join in: random play dance, an impromptu dance battle and street karaoke
- Street Moon Night, an evening DJ and street-dance party named after Itaewon's 1980s–90s club scene (from 20:00 on 3 October 2026)
- World food street and a world culture village with costumes, crafts and instruments to try
Who it suits. Best for dance and K-pop fans, families and anyone in Seoul on an October weekend who wants a free street festival with performers from many countries, especially foreign residents and visitors who would like to dance themselves. Less suited to anyone looking for a seated, ticketed dance programme or who dislikes dense crowds on a city street.
Getting there
From Seoul
Take Line 6 to Itaewon Station and leave by Exit 1, where the 2026 festival stretch began, or to Noksapyeong Station at its western end; the festival filled Itaewon-ro between the two. From Seoul Station, ride Line 4 to Samgakji and change to Line 6 eastbound. Earlier editions in Banpo Hangang Park were reached by city buses 405 and 740 to the Banpo Hangang Park·Sebitseom stop.
From Incheon Airport
AREX to Gongdeok Station, then Line 6 eastbound to Noksapyeong or Itaewon Station.
Last leg from Itaewon Station
Seoul Subway Line 6, Exit 1. In 2026 the festival began right at Exit 1 and ran about 480 m west along Itaewon-ro to the Noksapyeong Station intersection.
Getting home
The 2026 programme ended at 21:00, well before the last Line 6 trains.
Parking
No festival parking was announced, and Itaewon-ro itself was closed to traffic in 2026; come by subway.
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 | Free | No admission fee and no advance registration |
- Booking
- No tickets or booking for spectators. Foreign visitors have performed as volunteer participants (about 100 a year in 2024 and 2025); how to apply was not explained in the sources opened, so check the festival's Instagram (k_wave_dance_festival).
- English on site
- The festival courts foreign residents and visitors, with performers from many countries, but no English programme or interpretation service was found.
- Crowds
- Busy: the organisers estimated about 60,000 visitors over two days on the 480 m street in 2026, against more than 6,000 over three days at the riverside stage in 2024. Expect the densest crowds at the opening-evening parade.
- Best time to go
- The first evening for the parade, the opening show and Street Moon Night (in 2026: pre-show 16:30, opening ceremony 18:00, Street Moon Night from 20:00 on 3 October); the second evening for the Global Open Dance Stage.
- What to bring
- A T-money card for the subway, a warm layer for October evenings and comfortable shoes for standing in the street.
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Probably a weekend in early to mid October 2027, as in 2024–2026 (the first edition was on 21–22 October 2023); dates and venue not announced as of 19 October 2026. | expected | Venue not yet announced. The festival was in Banpo Hangang Park in 2023–2025 and on Itaewon-ro in 2026. |
| 2026 | 3–4 Oct 2026 | ended | Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu: about 480 m from the Noksapyeong Station intersection to Itaewon Station Exit 1, closed to traffic. The first edition away from Banpo Hangang Park. |
| 2025 | 11–12 Oct 2025 | ended | Waterfront stage in front of Sebitseom, Banpo Hangang Park (2085-14 Olympic-daero, Seocho-gu); city buses 405 and 740 stop at Banpo Hangang Park·Sebitseom, about 73 m away. |
| 2024 | 4–6 Oct 2024 | ended | Outdoor stage in front of Sebitseom, Banpo Hangang Park. |
| 2023 | 21–22 Oct 2023 | ended | Outdoor stage on Yebitseom, Banpo Hangang Park. |
Nearby
- Namsan Night Festival (남산 나이트 페스티벌). Seoul's free, booking-only autumn evenings in Namsan Park, on the hill north of Itaewon; some of its guided foliage walks finish near Itaewon and Haebangchon.
- Hanbok Culture Week (한복문화주간). October's nationwide week celebrating hanbok; the Seoul commemorative event and fashion show are at the National Museum of Korea, also in Yongsan-gu.
- Hangang Festival (Autumn) (한강페스티벌 가을). The city's October programme in the Han River parks, where the K-Wave Dance Festival was held before it moved to Itaewon.
- War Memorial of Korea (전쟁기념관). Large museum of Korean military history at the western end of Itaewon-ro, by Samgakji Station.
- Gyeongridan-gil and Haebangchon (경리단길 · 해방촌). Hillside streets of cafés and small restaurants above Noksapyeong Station, at the western end of the 2026 festival stretch.
- Leeum Museum of Art (리움미술관). Samsung's museum of traditional Korean and contemporary art, on the slope above Itaewon-ro east of Itaewon Station.
Questions travelers ask
When is the K-Wave Dance Festival 2027?
Not announced as of 19 October 2026. Recent editions have been on a weekend in early to mid October (4–6 Oct 2024, 11–12 Oct 2025, 3–4 Oct 2026); the venue for 2027 has not been announced either.
Where is the K-Wave Dance Festival held?
It has moved. In 2026 it filled about 480 m of Itaewon-ro, from the Noksapyeong Station intersection to Itaewon Station Exit 1, closed to cars. In 2023–2025 it was on an outdoor stage in Banpo Hangang Park by the Han River (Yebitseom in 2023, in front of Sebitseom in 2024 and 2025). Check the venue before you go.
Is the K-Wave Dance Festival free?
Yes. In 2026 there was no admission fee and no advance registration; only food and drink at the world food street cost money.
What happens at the festival?
A world dance parade on the opening evening (more than 90 dancers from nine countries in 2026), stage shows by ballet, contemporary and traditional companies and student dancers, a Global Open Dance Stage for foreign participants, random play dance and a dance battle for the audience, and Street Moon Night, a DJ and street-dance party. In 2026 the festival ran 12:00–21:00 on both days.
Can foreign visitors take part as performers?
Yes: about 100 overseas participants performed as volunteers in each of 2024 and 2025, and the 2026 Global Open Dance Stage had 20 teams from 27 countries. How to apply was not published in the sources we opened; check the festival's Instagram (k_wave_dance_festival).
How do I get to the K-Wave Dance Festival?
For the 2026 venue, take Line 6 to Itaewon Station, Exit 1, or to Noksapyeong Station; the festival ran along Itaewon-ro between them. From Incheon Airport, take AREX to Gongdeok and change to Line 6. There was no festival parking, as the road was closed to traffic.
What is the weather like at K-Wave Dance Festival in October?
October in Seoul: average high 20 °C (68 °F), low 11 °C (51 °F), 52 mm of rain (Seoul station, KMA 1991–2020 normals). Comfortable: light layers.
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: medium.
- The Herald Business — 2026 K-Wave Dance Festival wraps up Oct. 3–4 (15 Oct 2026)news — 2026 dates 3–4 Oct, 12:00–21:00; about 480 m of Itaewon-ro from the Noksapyeong Station intersection to Itaewon Station Exit 1 closed to traffic; host and organising committee; parade of 90+ dancers from nine countries; Global Open Dance Stage 20 teams, 100+ participants, 27 countries; line-up; about 60,000 visitors; no fee or registration
- The Herald Business — K-Wave Dance Festival opens on Itaewon-ro (5 Oct 2026)news — 2026 festival on Itaewon-ro opened on Saturday; funded by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; world dance parade, culture and food zones; butterfly-shaped drone display at the opening; welcome by Yongsan-gu mayor Kim Kyung-dae
- Sisa News — 2026 K-Wave Dance Festival on Itaewon-ro (25 Aug 2026)news — 3–4 Oct 2026, 480 m from the Noksapyeong Station crossroads to Itaewon Station Exit 1; 3 Oct pre-show 16:30 (Samgomu), opening 18:00, Street Moon Night 20:00 after the 1980s–90s Itaewon scene; marching band in the parade; 100 foreign participants; World Culture Village and food street
- KTO tourist data — K-웨이브 댄스 페스티벌 (ktriptips mirror, contentId 3367338)kto — 2025: 11–12 Oct, 16:00–21:00, waterfront stage in front of Sebitseom, Banpo Hangang Park, 2085-14 Olympic-daero; free; third edition; host and organisers; LOVE in 17˚C & 193˚C (17 regions, 193 countries); about 100 overseas participants; programme; homepage k-wavedance.com
- KTO tourist data — K-웨이브 댄스 페스티벌 (koreacharts mirror, contentId 3367338)map — 2025 venue coordinates 37.5123, 126.9966; bus stop 반포한강공원.세빛섬 about 73 m away, routes 405 and 740
- KTO tourist data — K-웨이브 댄스 페스티벌 2024 (여기유 mirror)kto — 2024: 4–6 Oct, 14:00–21:00, outdoor stage in front of Sebitseom, Banpo Hangang Park; free; opening, Dancing Dream, outdoor dance class, media DJ and random play dance, Han River busking; about 100 overseas participants
- Korea Contemporary Dance Promotion Association press release via Newswire — 2023 K-WAVE DANCE FESTIVAL (11 Oct 2023)official — First edition (제1회) on 21–22 Oct 2023 at the Yebitseom outdoor stage, Banpo Hangang Park; free; programme 16:00–20:30 on 21 Oct (opening 17:30) and 15:00–20:30 on 22 Oct; about 60 foreign citizens; selected for Seoul's private-festival support
- Korea Contemporary Dance Promotion Association press release via Newswire — 2024 K-WAVE DANCE FESTIVAL (11 Sep 2024)official — Second edition (제2회), 4–6 Oct 2024, outdoor stage in front of Sebitseom; host and organiser; performers (Honey J, Ahn Eun-me, K-Ballet Theatre, LDP, disabled b-boy team); arts middle schools; participation programmes, photo booths, face painting, calligraphy; Instagram k_wave_dance_festival
- Korea Contemporary Dance Promotion Association press release via Newswire — 2024 festival results (11 Oct 2024)official — 2024: more than 6,000 visitors, 52 teams and 560 dancers (22 overseas, 30 Korean groups), more than 400 citizens in participation programmes; artistic director Yang Jeong-su
- Korea Contemporary Dance Promotion Association press release via Newswire — 2025 K-WAVE DANCE FESTIVAL (1 Oct 2025)official — Third edition, 11–12 Oct 2025, in front of Sebitseom; subtitle Spread the Love; Jeong Seung-won, Ahn Eun-me Dance Company, Seoul Ballet Theater, K-Ballet Theater, about 60 Yongin University taekwondo performers; about 100 overseas participants (US, Germany, France, UK, China)
- Sisa News — 2025 K-WAVE DANCE FESTIVAL (1 Oct 2025)news — 2025 dates 11–12 Oct at the stage in front of Sebitseom; hosted by the association and run by the organising committee; line-up
What we could not confirm
- Official website: k-wavedance.com no longer resolves (21 Oct 2026). A festival portal lists k-wavedance.co.kr as the official site, but it could not be opened to confirm; 2026 press gives only the Instagram account (k_wave_dance_festival). The official 2026 timetable and map and any 2027 plans were not checked.
- 2027 dates and venue: whether the festival stays on Itaewon-ro or returns to Banpo Hangang Park.
- Japanese and Chinese names: no official or KTO foreign-language name was found.
- How foreign visitors apply to perform in the Global Open Dance Stage or the parade.
- Coordinates are an estimated midpoint of the 2026 Itaewon-ro stretch, not taken from a KTO or organiser listing.
- The association's own English name was not confirmed: The Herald Business uses 'Korea Contemporary Dance Promotion Association'; its website domain is moderndance.co.kr.
- Exact road-closure hours on Itaewon-ro in 2026, and toilets, accessibility, rain policy and pet rules, were not published in the sources opened.
- Visitor numbers for 2023 and 2025 were not found.
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. · 2026-10-20 — Company names aligned: K-Ballet Theater, Ahn Eun-me Company. · 2026-10-21 — Official site no longer online (k-wavedance.com); organizer link removed until a current official site is confirmed.
