Festivals in Korea

Korean festivals by date and region, from music and food to seasonal traditions, with locations and travel tips.

Korea's festival season runs heaviest from spring through autumn, and the dates move by a few weeks each year - the Seoul fireworks festival shifted three weeks earlier in 2026. Most events listed here are free to enter; what costs money is getting there and finding a spot.

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Photo: Google

Aug 7 - Aug 13

Busan Sea Festival

Location: Haeundae Beach area, Haeundae-gu, Busan

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, this is Busan's representative summer festival, held for a week around Haeundae and Gwangalli beaches. Diverse programs such as water sports experiences, beach concerts, and nighttime fireworks shows are held daily, and it's a great place to enjoy summer nights against the backdrop of beaches that frequently appear as filming locations for various K-dramas and entertainment shows.

Photo: Google

Aug 13 - Aug 16

Hanbok Shop (Hanbok Expo)

Location: 281 Euljiro, Jung-gu, Seoul (DDP Art Hall)

A specialized hanbok exhibition and event where you can meet new works by hanbok designers and try them on in person. The event operates with domestic and international hanbok brand booths and experiential photo zones, allowing you to explore various styles from traditional hanbok to everyday hanbok. It's also popular as a course where visitors rent and wear hanbok from Insadong's hanbok street, walk to DDP, and take photos.

Photo: Google

Aug 29 - Aug 30

Seoul Comic World SUMMER 2026

Location: KINTEX Hall 1, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do

The country's largest-scale cosplay and creative works event. Cosplay stages featuring participants dressed as characters from animations, games, and dramas, as well as instant photo booths, are set up throughout the venue, while booths selling doujinshi creative works and merchandise fill multiple exhibition halls. The aisles are crowded with visitors wanting to see high-quality costumes, so it is recommended to move at a leisurely pace.

ⓒ한국관광공사 사진갤러리-IR 스튜디오

Sep 5 - Sep 5

Seoul World Fireworks Festival 2026

Location: 330 Yeouidong-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (Yeouido Hangang Park)

Asia's largest fireworks festival attracting over 2 million visitors annually. Domestic and international teams compete with spectacular fireworks displays against the backdrop of the Han River, and the standard way to enjoy it is to spread a picnic mat on the grass at Han River Park and watch while having a picnic. In 2026, it will be held on September 5th, three weeks earlier than usual.

Photo: Google

Sep 11 - Sep 20

Oktoberfest Seoul 2026

Location: Culture Reservoir (Munhwabichukgiji), Mapo-gu, Seoul

A Korean-German cultural exchange beer festival featuring Munich's authentic beer brand Paulaner along with Bavarian traditional foods such as Schweinshaxe, pretzels, and weisswurst. The festival takes place in the unique industrial heritage space of Culture Storage Base, which was regenerated from a defunct oil tank, and is held alongside live band performances. In the evening hours, additional lighting creates a distinctive atmosphere.

Sep 24 - Oct 4

Andong International Mask Dance Festival 2026

Location: 239 Yuksa-ro, Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do (Mask Dance Park)

Korea's only festival dedicated to mask dance, featuring Hahoe Byeolsingut Talnori -- a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage -- alongside mask dance troupes from around the world. Held over 11 days across Andong's Mask Dance Park and old downtown, with street parades and hands-on workshops from both domestic and international performers.

ⓒ한국관광공사 사진갤러리-한국관광공사 이범수

Oct 3 - Oct 18

Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival 2026

Location: 626 Namgang-ro, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do (around Jinjuseong Fortress)

A traditional floating lantern festival originating from commemorating the spirits of the Battle of Jinju Fortress during the Japanese invasions of Korea, featuring a spectacular nightscape created by thousands of floating lanterns on the Namgang River. It is best enjoyed with the nighttime opening of Jinju Fortress, and is also popular as a course where visitors wear traditional Korean clothing and walk among the lanterns to take photos.

Photo: Google

Oct 9 - Oct 11

Jara Island Jazz Festival 2026

Location: 60 Jaraseom-ro, Gapyeong-eup, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do

Korea's largest jazz festival where domestic and international jazz musicians perform live for four days on an island in the river. As a camping-style festival where visitors can spread out tents and straw mats to enjoy music alongside autumn foliage, it is popular as a day trip destination with convenient public transportation access from Seoul.

Photo: Google

Oct 14 - Oct 18

Icheon Rice Culture Festival 2026

Location: 17 Gyeongchung-daero 2422beon-gil, Icheon, Gyeonggi-do (Bokha Stream Waterside Park)

Icheon's signature autumn festival, celebrating the region's famous royal-grade rice at Bokha Stream Waterside Park. Rice-themed programs like cauldron rice cooking and rice-cake pounding run alongside local specialties including Icheon's renowned ceramics.

Photo: Google

Oct 17 - Oct 18

Grand Mint Festival 2026 (GMF)

Location: 424 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul (Olympic Park)

Korea's flagship indie/modern-rock festival, held every autumn across multiple stages at Olympic Park — the 88 Lawn, KSPO DOME, and more. The 2026 lineup includes YOUNHA, Jang Kiha, Lee Seung Yoon, CNBLUE, N.Flying, ONEWE, Roy Kim, and Bolbbalgan4. It's general-admission standing throughout, with a one-day ticket priced at 132,000 KRW.

Photo: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

Nov 1, 2026 - Jan 31, 2027

Seoul Lantern Festival 2026

Location: 14-1 Seorin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Cheonggye Plaza area)

Seoul's signature winter light festival illuminates the Cheonggyecheon stream every year, with large lantern installations lining the waterway from Cheonggye Plaza onward. The 2026 edition greatly expands its digital interactive lighting and introduces new exhibits tied to Hallyu content, running from November 1 through January 31 of the following year — about three months in total.

Nov 7 - Nov 7

Busan Fireworks Festival 2026

Location: 219 Gwangan Haebyeon-ro, Suyeong-gu, Busan (Gwangalli Beach)

Busan's representative autumn festival that unfolds with the Gwangan Bridge as its canvas, held at the Gwangalli night view spot that frequently appears as a romantic backdrop in various dramas and entertainment programs. It is a large-scale event extending to the Haeundae and Igidae areas, and the main fireworks show is ignited at 8 p.m. in the evening.

Worth knowing

•Weekends are far busier than weekdays; two hours early is normal for the larger festivals.
•Riverside and beach events have almost no shade or shelter - check the forecast that morning.
•Dates come from the organisers and can still change, so confirm before travelling.