Korean festivals and events in August

The mud festival, Pentaport, Hwacheon's tomato festival and Jangheung's water festival all run into early August, and the Busan Sea Festival puts fireworks, a beach pub and free concerts on Dadaepo Beach between late July and mid-August. Around 14 August, the anniversary of Admiral Yi Sun-sin's 1592 victory off Hansan Island, Tongyeong stages the Hansan Daecheop Festival with a naval procession, a battle re-enactment on the water and fireworks over the sea. Jecheon's music-and-film festival plans to open in August in 2027, and in the last week of the month Yeongdong holds its grape festival, with grape stomping and picking. Muju's firefly festival, with guided night walks to see fireflies in a protected habitat, follows in early September. Typhoon season peaks in late August and September; organizers post cancellations on the morning of the event.

Tip. Firefly viewing tours at Muju are ticketed and limited; book the moment sales open.

What's on in Korea in August

In August, 16 of the festivals on this site take place in Korea: Goheung Nokdong Port Drone Show (4 Apr – 31 Oct 2026), Jeonju Hanok Village Traditional Performing Arts Parade (18 Apr – 31 Oct 2026), Naora Show (25 Apr – 31 Oct 2026), Hwaseong Haenggung Night Opening (1 May – 1 Nov 2026), Jeju Biennale (25 Aug – 15 Nov 2026), Boryeong Mud Festival (expected Jul/Aug 2027) and 10 more. 14 of them are free to enter, some with paid activities. Goheung Nokdong Port Drone Show is on now (4 Apr – 31 Oct 2026).

All checked on or after 16 October 2026. “Expected” dates follow the organizer's usual pattern.

FestivalWhereUsuallyNext datesEntry
Goheung Nokdong Port Drone Show Goheung, Jeollanam-do Apr/May/Jun/Jul/Aug/Sep/Oct 4 Apr – 31 Oct 2026 Free entry
Jeonju Hanok Village Traditional Performing Arts Parade Jeonju, Jeonbuk State Apr/May/Jun/Jul/Aug/Sep/Oct 18 Apr – 31 Oct 2026 Free entry
Naora Show Wonju, Gangwon State Apr/May/Jun/Sep/Oct 25 Apr – 31 Oct 2026 Free entry
Hwaseong Haenggung Night Opening Suwon, Gyeonggi-do May/Jun/Jul/Aug/Sep/Oct/Nov 1 May – 1 Nov 2026 Paid admission
Jeju Biennale Jeju City, Jeju Aug/Sep/Oct/Nov 25 Aug – 15 Nov 2026 Free + paid activities
Boryeong Mud Festival Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do Jul/Aug Expected Jul/Aug 2027 Free + paid activities
Busan Sea Festival Busan Jul/Aug Expected Jul/Aug 2027 Free + paid activities
Hangang Festival (Summer) Seoul Jul/Aug Expected Jul/Aug 2027 Free + paid activities
Hwacheon Tomato Festival Hwacheon, Gangwon State Jul/Aug Expected Jul/Aug 2027 Free + paid activities
Iho Tewoo Festival Jeju City, Jeju Jul/Aug Expected Jul/Aug 2027 Free + paid activities
Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival Incheon Jul/Aug Expected Jul/Aug 2027 Paid admission
Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival Jangheung, Jeollanam-do Jul/Aug Expected Jul/Aug 2027 Free + paid activities
Jecheon International Music & Film Festival Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do Aug/Sep Expected Aug 2027 Free + paid activities
Muju Firefly Festival Muju, Jeonbuk State Aug/Sep Expected Aug/Sep 2027 Free + paid activities
Tongyeong Hansan Daecheop Festival Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do Aug Expected Aug 2027 Free entry
Yeongdong Grape Festival Yeongdong, Chungcheongbuk-do Aug/Sep Expected Aug/Sep 2027 Free + paid activities

On now, coming up and expected

Nokdong Coastal Ferry Terminal at Nokdong Port in Goheung, where the drone show is held Happening now
Apr – Oct2026
4 –31
Sat–Sat
LightsGoheungFreeEnds todayAbout 4 h 40 min from Seoul

Goheung Nokdong Port Drone Show

The Goheung Nokdong Port Drone Show (고흥 녹동항 드론쇼) is a free drone light show over Nokdong Port in Goheung, Jeollanam-do, with Sorok Bridge behind it, held every Saturday at 21:00 from 4 April to 31 October 2026 (900 drones, busking from 20:00) and on the last Friday of each month in Goheung-eup. As of 19 October 2026 the season's last shows are Saturday 24 October, Friday 30 October (Goheung-eup) and Saturday 31 October; the 2027 season is expected from April.

Jeonju Hanok Village, where the parade runs, in 2022 Happening now
Apr – Oct2026
18 –31
Sat–Sat
TraditionJeonjuFreeEnds todayAbout 1 h 55 min from Seoul

Jeonju Hanok Village Traditional Performing Arts Parade

The Jeonju Hanok Village Traditional Performing Arts Parade (노상놀이야) is a free, one-hour folk parade along Taejo-ro, the main street of Jeonju Hanok Village, led by the giant dragon banners of Jeonju Gijeop-nori and pungmul drummers, with comic street plays on the way and a closing communal play in front of Gyeonggijeon Shrine. The 2026 season runs every Saturday, 15:00–16:00, from 18 April to 31 October, so the last two dates are 24 and 31 October; the 2027 season had not been announced as of 19 October 2026.

Happening now
Apr – Oct2026
25 –31
Sat–Sat
LightsWonjuFreeEnds todayAbout 50 min from Seoul

Naora Show

The Naora Show (나오라쇼, "Night of Light Show") is a free evening show at the Ganhyeon Tourist Area below Sogeumsan Grand Valley in Wonju, Gangwon: a media façade projected onto a river cliff about 250 m wide and 70 m high, with a music fountain that shoots up to 60 m. The 2026 season runs 25 April–31 October on Saturdays and public holidays only (none in July and August), 19:50–21:00, so the last 2026 shows are on Saturday 24 and Saturday 31 October; the 2027 season is expected from late April.

Hwaseong Haenggung Palace in Suwon by day; the night opening takes place here after dark Happening now
May – Nov2026
1 –1
Fri–Sun
LightsSuwonEnds tomorrowAbout 1 h 15 min from Seoul

Hwaseong Haenggung Night Opening

The Hwaseong Haenggung Night Opening (화성행궁 야간개장) keeps the royal palace at the heart of Suwon's UNESCO-listed Hwaseong Fortress open after dark, lit with flower installations and hologram and laser media art under the 2026 theme 'Dalbit Hwadam'. The 2026 season runs 1 May–1 November on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, 18:00–21:30 (last entry 21:00), so the final nights are 23–25 October and 30 October–1 November.

Happening now
Aug – Nov2026
25 –15
Tue–Sun
ArtsJeju CityUntil 15 NovBy air from Seoul

Jeju Biennale

The Jeju Biennale (제주비엔날레) is Jeju Island's contemporary art biennale, run by Jeju Museum of Art. The 5th edition, 'Iyahong: The Art of Metamorphosis', runs 25 August–15 November 2026 with 69 artists and teams at Jeju Museum of Art on the 1100 Road, the Obaekjanggun Gallery in Jeju Stone Park and three galleries in Jeju City's old town; in October and November the venues open 10:00–18:00.

Deep-fried king prawns at the 2015 Namdang Port King Prawn Festival in Hongseong Happening now
Sep – Nov2026
4 –8
Fri–Sun
FoodHongseongFreeUntil 8 Nov

Hongseong Namdang Port King Prawn Festival

The Hongseong Namdang Port King Prawn Festival (홍성남당항 대하축제) is a two-month seafood festival at Namdang Port on Cheonsu Bay in Seobu-myeon, Hongseong, Chungcheongnam-do, where the port's restaurants and stalls sell in-season daeha prawns, usually salt-grilled, with weekend shows and bare-hand prawn catching. The 31st edition runs 4 September–8 November 2026, 09:00–24:00, with free entry; prawns are sold at one festival price of ₩45,000 per kg to take away or ₩60,000 per kg in restaurants.

Festival-goers dancing in a shower of foam at the Boryeong Mud Festival Expected
Expected2027
Jul / Aug
usual window
NatureBoryeongAbout 2 h 50 min from Seoul

Boryeong Mud Festival

The Boryeong Mud Festival is a 17-day summer event at Mud Plaza on Daecheon Beach in Boryeong, about 2 h 40 m by train from Seoul. The 29th edition ran 24 July–9 August 2026; the 30th is expected in late July 2027.

Hip-hop group Rhythm Power on stage at Haeundae during the 23rd Busan Sea Festival, 1 August 2018 Expected
Expected2027
Jul / Aug
usual window
MusicBusan

Busan Sea Festival

The Busan Sea Festival (부산바다축제) is Busan's city-run summer beach festival, held since 2024 at Dadaepo Beach in Saha-gu with a sunset fireworks show on opening night, a 2,000-seat beach pub, free concerts and a beach club. The 30th edition ran 7–13 August 2026; 2027 dates are not announced, but recent editions opened on a Friday between late July and mid-August.

The Moonlight Rainbow Fountain on Banpo Bridge at dusk; the summer festival is centred on Yeouido and other Han River parks Expected
Expected2027
Jul / Aug
usual window
NatureSeoul

Hangang Festival (Summer)

The Hangang Festival (Summer) is the Seoul city government's summer run of its Han River park festival, the event that began in 2013 as Hangang Mongttang. The 2026 run was 1–16 August in nine riverside parks, with free concerts and films under the bridges, pool parties, a silent disco under Mapo Bridge, the overnight Hangang Night Walk 42K and discounted boat rides; the 2027 run is expected in late July and August but has not been announced.

Expected
Expected2027
Jul / Aug
usual window
FoodHwacheonAbout 2 h 6 min from Seoul

Hwacheon Tomato Festival

The Hwacheon Tomato Festival (화천토마토축제) is a summer farm festival in Sanae-myeon, Hwacheon County, Gangwon, best known for 'Find the Golden Ring', in which visitors wade into a pool of culled tomatoes to hunt for gold rings. The 22nd edition ran 31 July–9 August 2026 at Sanae Sports Park, about 2 hours by direct bus from Dong Seoul; the 2027 edition is expected in late July or early August but has not been announced.

The red and white horse-shaped lighthouses of Iho Tewoo Beach at sunset Expected
Expected2027
Jul / Aug
usual window
TraditionJeju CityBy air from Seoul

Iho Tewoo Festival

Iho Tewoo Festival is a three-day summer beach festival at Iho Tewoo Beach on the west coast of Jeju City, near the airport. The 21st edition ran 31 July–2 August 2026 with a traditional tewoo raft launching, an anchovy-fishing re-enactment, a haenyeo torch parade, fireworks and raft-rowing races.

Water jets spraying the crowd in front of the main stage at the 2015 Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival Expected
Expected2027
Jul / Aug
usual window
MusicIncheonAbout 1 h 20 min from Seoul

Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival

Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival (인천펜타포트 락 페스티벌) is a three-day festival of Korean and international rock acts at Songdo Moonlight Festival Park at the end of Incheon Subway Line 1. The 2026 edition ran 31 July–2 August with Khruangbin, Massive Attack and Pixies headlining; 2027 is expected on the same weekend.

Water jets and canoes on the Tamjin River during the 2018 Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival Expected
Expected2027
Jul / Aug
usual window
FamilyJangheungAbout 4 h 20 min from Seoul

Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival

The Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival (정남진 장흥 물축제) is a nine-day summer festival on the Tamjin River in Jangheung-eup, Jeollanam-do, built around a free mass water fight every afternoon at 14:00. The 19th edition ran 25 July–2 August 2026; 2027 dates are not announced, but late July to early August is expected.

Aerial view of Uirimji Reservoir in Jecheon, with its small wooded island and the city beyond Expected
Expected2027
Aug / Sep
usual window
ArtsJecheonAbout 1 h 10 min from Seoul

Jecheon International Music & Film Festival

The Jecheon International Music & Film Festival (JIMFF) is Korea's festival of music films and live music, held every year since 2005 in Jecheon, North Chungcheong. The 22nd edition ran 3–8 September 2026 with 189 films from 45 countries in downtown cinemas and two nights of K-pop concerts on the Jecheon Arts Center's Summer Plaza; Asia Kyungje reported that the festival plans to move back to August in 2027, but no dates had been announced as of 19 October 2026.

A tunnel of tiny lights at the 2007 Muju Firefly Festival Expected
Expected2027
Aug / Sep
usual window
NatureMujuAbout 2 h 25 min from Seoul

Muju Firefly Festival

Muju Firefly Festival (무주반딧불축제) is a free nine-day festival in Muju, a mountain county in Jeonbuk with no railway, built around guided night trips to see fireflies in a protected habitat. The 30th edition ran 4–12 September 2026 around Deungnamu Stadium and the Namdaecheon stream; 2027 is expected in early September.

The view over the Hallyeo waterway toward Hansan Island, where the 1592 battle was fought Expected
Expected2027
Aug
usual window
TraditionTongyeongFreeAbout 4 h 8 min from Seoul

Tongyeong Hansan Daecheop Festival

The Tongyeong Hansan Daecheop Festival (통영한산대첩축제) is a free summer festival around the old harbour of Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do, marking Admiral Yi Sun-sin's 1592 sea victory off Hansan Island with a naval procession, a battle reenactment on the water and fireworks over the sea. First held in 1962, its 65th edition ran 12–16 August 2026; the 66th is expected in early to mid-August 2027, around the 14 August anniversary, with dates not yet announced.

A balloon display of grape bunches spelling out the festival name at the 2009 Yeongdong Grape Festival, with booth tents behind Expected
Expected2027
Aug / Sep
usual window
FoodYeongdongAbout 2 h 20 min from Seoul

Yeongdong Grape Festival

The Yeongdong Grape Festival (영동포도축제) is a four-day harvest festival at the Rainbow Healing Tourist Site in Yeongdong, Chungcheongbuk-do, one of Korea's main grape and wine counties. The 21st edition ran 27–30 August 2026; the 2027 edition is expected in late August but has not been announced.

A handpan performance by Inner Sound at the 2014 Jeonju International Sori Festival Expected
Expected2027
Aug / Oct
usual window
MusicJeonjuAbout 1 h 40 min from Seoul

Jeonju International Sori Festival

The Jeonju International Sori Festival is a five-day festival of pansori, Korean traditional music and world music, founded in 2001 and based at the Sori Arts Center (한국소리문화의전당) in Jeonju, with further stages across Jeonbuk State. After three August editions (the 25th ran 12–16 August 2026), the organizers plan to return it to October from 2027; no dates had been announced as of 19 October 2026.