Korea runs big festivals all year: ice fishing and snow in winter, cherry blossoms and lanterns in spring, mud and beaches in summer, and fireworks, mask dance and lantern rivers in autumn. Most festivals keep the same season every year, but exact dates change, and some move with the lunar calendar. Always confirm this year’s dates on the official site before booking trains or a room.
Key facts
| Busiest season | Late September to October |
| Lunar-based events | Lotus Lantern Festival (before Buddha’s Birthday), Gangneung Danoje (around the 5th day of the 5th lunar month) |
| Where to check | Each festival’s official site, or VisitKorea (english.visitkorea.or.kr) |
| Booking | Trains and rooms near big festivals sell out weeks ahead |
| Cost | Most outdoor events are free; some charge for programs or seats |
The calendar
| Usual month | Festival | Where | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival (화천산천어축제): ice fishing for mountain trout, sledding | Hwacheon, Gangwon | narafestival.com |
| January 1 | Sunrise festivals (해맞이): crowds watch the first sunrise of the year | East coast, e.g., Jeongdongjin, Homigot | Local city sites |
| Late March to early April | Jinhae Gunhangje (진해군항제): Korea’s biggest cherry blossom festival | Changwon, Gyeongnam | Changwon City (changwon.go.kr) |
| April | Yeouido Spring Flower Festival (여의도 봄꽃축제): cherry blossoms along the Han River | Yeouido, Seoul | Yeongdeungpo-gu Office |
| Late April to early May | Jeonju International Film Festival (전주국제영화제) | Jeonju | jeonjufest.kr |
| April or May | Lotus Lantern Festival (연등회): lantern parade through central Seoul before Buddha’s Birthday | Jongno, Seoul | llf.or.kr |
| May or June | Gangneung Danoje (강릉단오제): shamanist rites, folk games, market; UNESCO-listed | Gangneung | danojefestival.or.kr |
| July | Boryeong Mud Festival (보령머드축제): mud slides, mud pools, beach concerts | Daecheon Beach, Boryeong | mudfestival.or.kr |
| Late September or early October | Seoul International Fireworks Festival (서울세계불꽃축제) | Yeouido Han River Park | Seoul city and organizer announcements |
| Late September to early October | Andong International Mask Dance Festival (안동국제탈춤페스티벌) | Andong, Hahoe Village | maskdance.com |
| September or October | Busan International Film Festival (BIFF, 부산국제영화제) | Busan | biff.kr |
| October | Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival (진주남강유등축제): thousands of lanterns on the river | Jinju | yudeung.com |
| October | Jarasum Jazz Festival (자라섬재즈페스티벌) | Gapyeong | jarasumjazz.com |
| November (recent years) | Busan Fireworks Festival (부산불꽃축제) | Gwangalli Beach, Busan | Busan City (busan.go.kr) |
| December to January (recent years) | Seoul Lantern Festival (서울빛초롱축제) | Cheonggyecheon, Seoul | Seoul Tourism Organization, Seoul Media Hub |
Festivals timed by the lunar calendar shift by up to a month from year to year. For example, Buddha's Birthday falls on 24 May in 2026 but 13 May in 2027, so the Lotus Lantern parade moves too. See Korean Public Holidays for lunar holiday dates.
Season by season
Winter (December to February)
Gangwon Province hosts most winter festivals. Hwacheon’s ice fishing festival usually runs for about three weeks in January, depending on the ice. You fish through holes in the frozen river, then have your catch grilled. Dress for minus 10°C or colder. Seoul lights up Cheonggyecheon stream with lanterns late in the year.
Spring (March to May)
Cherry blossoms move north from late March (Jeju, Jinhae, Busan) to early or mid April (Seoul). Jinhae’s Gunhangje is the largest and most crowded; go on a weekday if you can. The Lotus Lantern Festival is one of Seoul’s best free events: a night parade of handmade lanterns, then a street festival near Jogyesa Temple where you can make your own lantern. Each spring the festival also recruits foreign supporters (LLF Friends) to help promote it.
Summer (June to August)
Gangneung Danoje is a week-long traditional festival with shamanist rituals (굿), mask plays, ssireum wrestling and a huge outdoor market. In July, Boryeong’s mud festival is famous with foreign residents: wear clothes you can throw away. Summer is also the season for beach festivals and outdoor music events.
Autumn (September to November)
The busiest season. Andong’s mask dance festival combines traditional talchum (탈춤) performances with mask groups from other countries and the historic Hahoe Village. BIFF in Busan is one of Asia’s biggest film festivals; tickets for popular films go fast online. Jinju floats thousands of lanterns on the Namgang River to honor the 1592 Battle of Jinju. Fireworks festivals in Seoul and Busan draw hundreds of thousands of people or more.
How to plan
- Check the official site in the months before. Dates for the year are usually announced a few months ahead, and weather can cancel or shorten events.
- Book transport early. For big festivals outside Seoul, book KTX or express bus tickets as soon as they open. See Public Transport in Korea.
- Go on a weekday or early. Weekend crowds at fireworks and cherry blossom festivals are intense. For fireworks, people arrive from midday to claim spots.
- Watch for safety notices. Since the 2022 Itaewon crowd disaster, large events use crowd control, one-way routes and road closures. Follow staff instructions.
- Bring cash and a T-money card. Small stalls may prefer cash, and taxis near venues are scarce.
Free and paid
Most street festivals, parades, fireworks and lantern displays are free. Programs inside venues, film screenings, concerts, ice fishing and mud experiences usually need tickets. Some festivals sell discounted tickets online before the event, and some return part of the ticket price as local vouchers.
Common questions
Where can I find festivals near me?
VisitKorea’s festival listings and your city’s tourism website list local events. District offices also run smaller seasonal festivals that are rarely advertised in English.
Are festivals held on public holidays?
Some are, especially around Chuseok and Children’s Day, but the biggest crowds are on weekends regardless.
Can I volunteer at a festival?
Many festivals recruit volunteers each year, and some, such as the Lotus Lantern Festival, recruit foreign supporters specifically. Look for recruitment notices on the official site a few months before. See also Cultural Programs for Foreign Residents.
Official sources
This guide explains the general rules as of the date above. Rules change and every case is different, so confirm with the office named here (or the 1345 Immigration Contact Center) before an important decision. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.