At a glance
| Dates | Expected Sep/Oct 2027A Saturday between early September and mid-October 2027 (recent dates: 5 Oct 2024, 27 Sep 2025, 5 Sep 2026); not announced as of 18 October 2026. The city has said it is reviewing the festival's timing and running time after residents' complaints. |
|---|---|
| Next edition | 2027: A Saturday between early September and mid-October 2027 (recent dates: 5 Oct 2024, 27 Sep 2025, 5 Sep 2026); not announced as of 18 October 2026. The city has said it is reviewing the festival's timing and running time after residents' complaints. |
| Weather | September average 26/18 °C (79/64 °F), 142 mm of rain 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 from Yeouido Hangang Park and the riverbanks; in 2026 all of Nodeul Island was a paid zone (₩110,000–220,000 per seat, news-reported prices).Viewing from Yeouido Hangang Park and the riverbanks: Free · Nodeul Island Orange Play Zone, zone 1: ₩110,000 · Nodeul Island Orange Play Zone, zones 2 and 3: ₩165,000 (2026 prices) |
| Venue | Yeouido Hangang Park서울특별시 영등포구 여의동로 330 |
| Nearest station | Yeouinaru Station (여의나루역), Seoul Subway Line 5, Exits 2 and 3The exits open straight onto the park, but trains skip the station and exits may close on festival evenings; walk in from Yeouido or Mapo stations instead |
| From Seoul | In Seoul · SubwayFull route |
| Organizer | Hanwha Group (with SBS)한화그룹 (공동 주최 SBS) |
| Usual timing | One Saturday evening in early autumn: 8 Oct 2022, 7 Oct 2023, 5 Oct 2024, 27 Sep 2025 and 5 Sep 2026, when Hanwha moved it three weeks earlier to avoid the Chuseok holiday and suit overseas visitors. Hanwha announces the date between early August and early September. Browse September / October festivals. |
| First held | 2000 |
| Last checked | 18 October 2026Checked against 23 sources · See sources |
What it is like
Since 2000 the Hanwha group has staged one evening of fireworks over the Han River off Yeouido in Seoul, with effects on the river's bridges. Invited companies from two other countries each fire a set of about 15 minutes, and Hanwha closes with a longer show of its own, synchronised to music and including letters written in fireworks. The festival was not held in 2001, 2006, 2009, 2020 and 2021, so the 2026 show was the 22nd.
The date moves. It was the first or second Saturday of October from 2022 to 2024, 27 September in 2025 and 5 September in 2026, brought forward to avoid the Chuseok holiday and to suit overseas visitors. In 2026 the British company Pyrotex Fireworx opened at 20:00, the American Ace Pyro followed at 20:20 and Hanwha's finale started at 20:40, with new tower fireworks on Wonhyo Bridge. A first eve programme ran on Friday 4 September at the Yeouido and Ichon Hangang parks, and the US Embassy added fireworks and a drone show that evening.
Watching is free from Yeouido Hangang Park, between Mapo Bridge and the Hangang Railway Bridge, and from the opposite bank. Paid seats exist only in a defined zone: in 2026 the whole of Nodeul Island became a ticketed "Orange Play Zone", with news-reported prices of ₩110,000 to ₩220,000. In 2025 there were no general seat sales at all, only prize draws.
The honest caveats: this is one of Seoul's biggest crowds (an estimated 530,000 on the night in 2026, about 1 million by Hanwha's count), riverside spots are claimed with mats days in advance, Line 5 trains pass Yeouinaru Station without stopping for most of the evening, and leaving takes a long time. The show itself lasts about 70 minutes.
Highlights
- About 70 minutes of fireworks over the Han River from 20:00 on 5 September 2026: Pyrotex Fireworx (UK), Ace Pyro (USA) and a finale by Hanwha
- Hanwha's signature mirror-image 'decalcomanie' effect, letters written in fireworks, and effects on the Han River bridges (new tower fireworks on Wonhyo Bridge in 2026)
- Free viewing along Yeouido Hangang Park between Mapo Bridge and the Hangang Railway Bridge, and from Ichon Hangang Park across the river
- Hillside viewpoints on the south bank recommended by the city: Hyosajeong Park, Yongyangbongjeojeong Park and Sayuksin Park in Dongjak-gu
- First eve programme on Friday 4 September 2026 at the Yeouido and Ichon Hangang parks, about 100,000 people by police count
- Ticketed Orange Play Zone across all of Nodeul Island in 2026 (₩110,000–220,000 per seat, news-reported prices)
Who it suits. Best for anyone in Seoul on the night who can handle a long wait in a very large crowd; families with small children and people uneasy in dense crowds will find a south-bank hill or a seat on Nodeul Island easier than the Yeouido riverside.
Getting there
From Seoul
Line 5 to Yeouinaru Station, whose Exits 2 and 3 open onto the park; but on festival evenings trains pass through without stopping (18:11 to about 22:10 in 2026). The city recommends Yeouido Station (Lines 5 and 9), Saetgang Station (Line 9) or Mapo Station (Line 5, across Mapo Bridge) instead, then walking to the riverside. For the north bank, Ichon Station (Line 4 and the Gyeongui–Jungang Line) is the stop for Ichon Hangang Park.
From Incheon Airport
AREX to Gongdeok Station, then Line 5 towards Yeouido; get off at Mapo or Yeouido Station on festival evenings, when trains skip Yeouinaru.
Last leg from Yeouinaru Station
Seoul Subway Line 5, Exits 2 and 3. The exits open straight onto the park, but trains skip the station and exits may close on festival evenings; walk in from Yeouido or Mapo stations instead
Getting home
No later last trains were announced in 2026; Line 5 ran 18 extra trains and Line 9 65 on festival day. The city asks people to wait ten minutes before leaving ('10 minutes slower') to spread the crowd at Yeouido, Mapo and Saetgang stations.
Parking
The Yeouido Hangang Park car park in front of the 63 Building was closed from 18:00 the day before to midnight on festival day in 2026, Yeouidong-ro was closed to traffic 15:00–24:00, and illegally parked cars around Yeouido, Ichon and Noryangjin were towed. Come by public transport.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Viewing from Yeouido Hangang Park and the riverbanks | Free | |
| Nodeul Island Orange Play Zone, zone 1 | ₩110,000 | News-reported official price; max 5 tickets per person, collected on site |
| Nodeul Island Orange Play Zone, zones 2 and 3 | ₩165,000 | |
| Nodeul Island Orange Play Zone, zone 4 | ₩220,000 |
- Booking
- No booking for the free park. Nodeul Island tickets for 2026 went on sale in early August, up to 5 per person and collected on site; the city said only advance ticket holders could enter. The official sales channel was not confirmed. In 2025 there were no general seat sales, only prize draws and corporate sales.
- English on site
- KTO lists the festival in English; the city's notices are in Korean only, and the official site could not be checked for an English version.
- Crowds
- One of Seoul's biggest crowds: an estimated 530,000 people on the night in 2026 (organizer and police; Hanwha later said about 1 million), plus about 100,000 at the eve programme.
- Best time to go
- Claim a riverside spot in Yeouido by early afternoon (mats were laid days ahead in 2026, and the city removed unattended mats from the morning of the day before), or head to the south-bank hills in Dongjak-gu for a less crowded view.
- What to bring
- A mat (shade tents are banned in marked areas), water and food for a long wait, a KF80 mask if smoke bothers you (the city advised one for children and people with breathing problems), a charged phone, and a bag for your rubbish.
- Rain
- No policy published. During a typhoon in 2018 Hanwha announced at 10:00 on the day whether the show would go ahead, and it did; all past cancellations (2001, 2006, 2009, 2020, 2021) were for other reasons.
- Toilets
- 94 temporary toilets were set up in 2026.
- Step-free access
- No festival-specific measures were published. On ordinary days Yeouido Hangang Park has accessible parking and lends wheelchairs and strollers at the Yeouido Information Center, but on festival day the car park is closed and the crowd is dense. Two information tents (zones B and E) handle first aid and lost children.
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | A Saturday between early September and mid-October 2027 (recent dates: 5 Oct 2024, 27 Sep 2025, 5 Sep 2026); not announced as of 18 October 2026. The city has said it is reviewing the festival's timing and running time after residents' complaints. | expected | Hanwha has announced the date between early August and early September (6 Aug in 2026, 28 Aug in 2025, 2 Sep in 2024). |
| 2026 | 5 Sep 2026 | ended | All of Nodeul Island was a paid zone for the first time. |
| 2025 | 27 Sep 2025 | ended | Nodeul Island was reserved for invited families. |
| 2024 | 5 Oct 2024 | ended | Theme 'Light Up Your Dream'. About 1 million visitors by Hanwha's count. |
| 2023 | 7 Oct 2023 | ended | About 1 million visitors by the organizer's estimate. |
Nearby
- 63 Square (63스퀘어). The gold-glass 63 Building complex beside the park, Yeouido's best-known landmark.
- Yeouido Park (여의도공원). A large city park in the middle of Yeouido, a short walk from Yeouido Station.
- E-Land Hangang River Cruise (이랜드크루즈). Han River cruises from the Yeouido pier, which sells a fireworks cruise on festival night.
- Nodeul Island (노들섬). An island in the Han River crossed by Hangang Bridge, now a culture space; a paid viewing zone on festival night in 2026 and open to all on other days.
Questions travelers ask
When is the Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2027?
Not announced yet. Recent editions were on Saturdays: 5 October 2024, 27 September 2025 and 5 September 2026. Hanwha usually announces the date between early August and early September, and this page updates when it does.
When was the 2026 festival?
Saturday 5 September 2026 at Yeouido Hangang Park, with fireworks from 20:00 to about 21:10 by teams from the UK, the US and Korea. A first eve programme ran on Friday 4 September.
Is the Seoul fireworks festival free?
Yes, watching from Yeouido Hangang Park and the riverbanks is free. Only a defined zone is ticketed: in 2026 all of Nodeul Island, with seats reported at ₩110,000–220,000.
Where are the best places to watch?
Yeouido Hangang Park between Mapo Bridge and the Hangang Railway Bridge is the main site. Ichon Hangang Park across the river sees the whole display, and the city points to three hillside parks on the south bank in Dongjak-gu: Hyosajeong, Yongyangbongjeojeong and Sayuksin. Do not stop on the bridges or roadsides; the city warns it is dangerous.
Which subway station should I use?
Yeouinaru Station (Line 5) is closest but trains skip it during the evening (18:11 to about 22:10 in 2026). Use Yeouido (Lines 5 and 9), Saetgang (Line 9) or Mapo (Line 5) and walk to the river.
How crowded is it?
Very. The organizer and police estimated 530,000 people on the night in 2026 and Hanwha later said about 1 million; earlier editions drew about 1 million. Riverside spots fill hours ahead and the walk out after the finale is slow.
What is the weather like during Seoul International Fireworks Festival?
September in Seoul: average high 26 °C (79 °F), low 18 °C (64 °F), 142 mm of rain (Seoul station, KMA 1991–2020 normals). 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
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 festival safety and traffic noticeofficial — 5 Sep 2026 13:00–22:00, fireworks 20:00–21:10; eve 4 Sep 13:00–19:00; Yeouinaru non-stop 19:00–22:00 expected; recommended stations; road closures; 6,800 safety staff; Nodeul paid zone; car-park closure
- Seoul Mediahub — 2026 festival guidemunicipal — Free viewing except Nodeul Island; viewing area Mapo Bridge to Hangang Railway Bridge; extra trains (Line 5 ×18, Line 9 ×65); fireworks end time given as 21:20; mask advice
- Seoul Mediahub — hidden viewing spots (2 Sep 2026)municipal — Hyosajeong, Yongyangbongjeojeong and Sayuksin parks; Nodeul Island ticketed areas; warning against stopping on roads
- Seoul Shinmun — date moved three weeks earlier (6 Aug 2026)news — 5 Sep 2026 date and the reason (Chuseok, overseas visitors)
- Dailian — 2026 programme (27 Aug 2026)news — Teams and running order (UK Pyrotex Fireworx, USA Ace Pyro, Hanwha), themes, Wonhyo Bridge tower fireworks, decalcomanie effect, letter fireworks
- Segye Ilbo — 2026 schedule (4 Sep 2026)news — Show 20:00–21:10 (about 70 minutes); all of Nodeul Island a paid Orange Play Zone
- Segye Ilbo — Nodeul Island ticket prices (4 Sep 2026)news — Zone 1 ₩110,000, zones 2–3 ₩165,000, zone 4 ₩220,000
- HuffPost Korea — Nodeul Island tickets (27 Aug 2026)news — Ticket prices, sale from early August, max 5 per person, on-site pickup and day-of sales
- Financial News — Yeouinaru non-stop (5 Sep 2026)news — Trains skipped Yeouinaru from 18:11 to about 22:10
- Hankyung Magazine — 22nd edition results (6 Sep 2026)news — 22nd edition, first held 2000, Hanwha's estimate of about 1 million visitors
- CBS Nocut News — eve crowd (5 Sep 2026)news — About 100,000 people at the eve programme by police estimate
- Dailian — cancelled years (25 May 2020)news — Not held in 2001, 2006, 2009 and 2020
- The Fact — 2025 programme (28 Aug 2025)news — 27 Sep 2025, Italy, Canada and Korea teams, theme, prize-draw tickets
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — 2025 festival measuresofficial — 2025 road closures and subway measures
- Financial News — no general seat sales in 2025 (25 Sep 2025)news — 2025 seats only by prize draw or corporate sale
- Seoul Mediahub — 2024 festival measures (2 Oct 2024)municipal — Fireworks 19:20–20:30 on 5 Oct 2024; Japanese, American and Korean teams
- Dailian — 2024 date and tickets (2 Sep 2024)news — 5 Oct 2024; team names and themes; Ticketlink seats from 2 Sep
- Seoul Shinmun — 2023 festival (7 Oct 2023)news — 7 Oct 2023, start about 19:20, Polish team skipped, about 1 million visitors
- KTO — Hanwha Seoul International Fireworks Festival (English listing)kto — English name, hosts Hanwha Group and SBS, venue address
- KTO — Yeouido Hangang Parkkto — Address 330 Yeouidong-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu
- Yeongdeungpo-gu — Yeouido Hangang Park informationmunicipal — Yeouinaru Station Exits 2 and 3; nearby attractions
- Aju News — typhoon decision in 2018news — Decision announced at 10:00 on the day; show went ahead
- KTO Korea Tourism Content Lab — Japanese and Chinese listings (contentId 780502, 791059, 791062)kto — Japanese name ソウル世界花火祭り; Chinese names 首尔世界烟花庆典 / 首爾世界煙火節
What we could not confirm
- Fireworks end time in 2026: 21:10 (city notice, Segye) or 21:20 (city Mediahub); the official Hanwha site could not be read
- 2026 crowd: 530,000 (organizer and police on the night) or about 1 million (Hanwha's post-event release)
- Official sales channel for the 2026 Nodeul Island tickets and how zones 1–4 map to the island; prices come from news reports
- Whether hanwhafireworks.com has English pages and published rain, pet or accessibility rules
- Coordinates are from a mirror of KTO data and were not checked against KTO itself
- The 2027 date, and whether the city's review of timing will move it again
Changes: 2026-10-18 — New record: 2023–2027 editions, 2026 programme, prices, viewing spots, station closures and sources. · 2026-10-18 — Added a photograph from the Korea Tourism Organization (Korea Tourism Content Lab), KOGL Type 1. · 2026-10-18 — Simplified Chinese name aligned with KTO (首尔世界烟花庆典). · 2026-10-20 — Announcement window corrected to early August–early September (6 Aug 2026, 28 Aug 2025, 2 Sep 2024).
