Festivals across Korea — when to go, how to get there, and what locals actually do.
September 3, 2026 |
Seoul's fireworks festival is officially confirmed for September 5, 2026 — the earliest date in its history — and the National Museum's costume play has tripled in size on its way to a September 19 final. What is now confirmed, what is new, and how the two events collide on one Saturday.
Sep 2026 |
Once a year the National Museum of Korea invites people to dress as its own artifacts and compete. The 2026 edition went nationwide, with regional rounds at four museums in September and the final on September 19 at the museum's Open Plaza. Free.
Oct 2026 |
Suwon Hwaseong is a UNESCO fortress that a king built out of grief for his father. Every October the city fills its walls with the largest royal procession reenactment in Korea. The 2026 festival runs October 4-11, and admission is free.
July 31, 2026 |
More than a million people watch Seoul's fireworks festival over the Han River in a single evening. The show is free and easy to reach. Getting home afterward is the part that catches visitors out. A practical guide to viewing spots, arrival times, road and subway closures, and the exit.
Gimje is the only place in Korea where the land runs flat to the horizon. Each October its harvest festival fills a 1,700-year-old reservoir site with dragon plays, torch parades and cauldron rice. The 2026 edition runs Oct 1-5.
Thousands of lanterns float on the Namgang River each October, honoring a 430-year-old wartime tradition. Jinju's lantern festival is one of Korea's most visually stunning night events.
Apr 17 – 26, 2026 |
Walk through 5 million flowers along a glowing riverside path at night. Hwasun's spring flower festival is Jeollanam-do's best-kept secret, running April 17-26, 2026.
Sep 26 – Oct 5, 2026 | Festival | hellokr.kr
A UNESCO-rooted street festival in Andong. Watch centuries-old mask dances, join global troupes in parades, and experience Korea's intangible heritage up close.
Jul 24 – Aug 9, 2026
Two million people. Seventeen days. One beach covered in mineral-rich mud. Korea's biggest summer party and one of Asia's most iconic outdoor festivals.
May 1 – 5, 2026
Walk through 2.4 km of towering bamboo forest, ride bamboo rafts, make bamboo crafts, and eat bamboo rice. This year adds dramatic night illuminations.
May 1 – 6, 2026
A green tea festival in Korea's tea capital. Pick tea leaves, soak your feet in green tea, and walk between bright green terraced hillsides.