All Events
August 21, 2026
Busan International Comedy Festival 2026 (BICF)
Korea's largest comedy festival returns for its 14th edition, August 21–30, 2026, opening at BEXCO and running across venues around Busan under the slogan "Comedy must go on."
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August 29, 2026
Seoul Sculpture Festival 2026
The third Seoul Sculpture Festival puts contemporary sculpture outdoors across the city, free and open to anyone. The festival week — opening ceremony, sculpture playground, busking and an outdoor cinema — runs August 29 to September 4, 2026 at Yeolin Songhyeon Green Plaza, and the outdoor exhibitions stay up at five sites across Seoul until...
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September 2, 2026
Frieze Seoul 2026
Frieze Seoul returns to COEX Halls C and D from September 2 to 5, 2026, held in partnership with the Galleries Association of Korea alongside Kiaf SEOUL. For four days Gangnam becomes the centre of the Asian art market, and the openings spill out into galleries across the city.
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September 4, 2026
World Music Theatre Festival 2026 — National Theater of Korea
The National Theater of Korea's festival built around changgeuk — Korean traditional opera — runs from September 4 to 26, 2026, with invited productions from Thailand and China alongside Korean companies. Three weeks of sung theatre at the foot of Namsan.
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September 5, 2026
Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2026
Seoul's biggest single-night event returns to Yeouido Hangang Park on Saturday, September 5, 2026. Sponsored by Hanwha and free to watch, the festival puts international and Korean fireworks teams over the Han River and draws around a million people to the riverbanks.
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September 5, 2026
16th Gwangju Biennale 2026 — You Must Change Your Life
Asia's oldest contemporary art biennale returns September 5 to November 15, 2026 under the title "You Must Change Your Life", with Ho Tzu Nyen as artistic director. Open 10:00–18:00 at the Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall, closed Mondays (open on September 7 and October 5).
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September 6, 2026
Car-Free Jamsu Bridge 2026 — Autumn Season
Every Sunday from September 6 to October 25, 2026, Jamsu Bridge closes to cars and becomes a pedestrian deck over the Han River, linked to Banpo Hangang Park. Free, weekly, and the lowest-effort way to stand in the middle of the river.
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September 18, 2026
Seoul Autumn Festa 2026
Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture runs Seoul Autumn Festa from September 18 to November 29, 2026 — 73 days that gather independent and public performing arts from across the city under one banner, with an opening performance and the Seoul International Arts Forum among the planned programmes.
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Holiday
September 24, 2026
Chuseok 2026 — Korean Thanksgiving
Chuseok 2026 falls on September 24–26, with the main holiday on September 25 (15th day of the 8th lunar month). One of Korea's two most important holidays, Chuseok is a time for family reunions, ancestral memorial rites (charye), and eating songpyeon rice cakes. Expect transport crowds, business closures, and folk performances nationwide.
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Festival
September 25, 2026
Andong Mask Dance Festival 2026
One of UNESCO's recognised intangible heritage festivals, held in and around the 600-year-old Hahoe village. International mask dance troupes from across Asia, Africa, and Europe perform alongside Korean talchum (mask dance drama). The opening bonfire ceremony on the first evening, staged on the river with the village behind it, is the unmissable highlight. Free outdoor...
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General
October 1, 2026
Armed Forces Day
Armed Forces Day (October 1) is observed with military parades and ceremonies, most visibly with flyovers by the Korean Air Force that are visible from central Seoul. It is not a public holiday — most businesses and shops operate on a normal schedule — but the military parade and air demonstration draw large crowds to...
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Festival
October 2, 2026
Jarasum International Jazz Festival 2026
Korea's premier jazz festival, held on a small island in the North Han River surrounded by mountains and pine trees. International and Korean jazz artists perform across three stages simultaneously for three days. Day passes run 50,000–80,000 KRW; camping on the island is the authentic experience. Gapyeong is 90 minutes from Seoul by ITX train.
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