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Festival

October 2026 Festivals in Seoul, Gyeonggi and Incheon

2026 · 10 · 12 5 min read Paper
Contents

This is a guide to festivals in the Seoul capital area (Seoul, Gyeonggi-do and Incheon) for October 2026, checked as of October 12. Many of the big ones were packed into the first week of the month and are already over, so this post focuses on what is still ahead and lists the finished ones at the end. For the rest of the country, see the October regional festivals post.

October festivals in the capital area

Dates were checked against official festival pages, Seoul’s festival portal, city and district notices, and 2026 news. Events with only last year’s dates are not in the main list. Check the official page for rain changes before you go.

A note on how these work: most district- and city-run festivals in Korea are free to enter, with paid hands-on activities and food stalls. Many use the Korean “Naver Map” for directions; English station names below match the subway signs.

At a glance

DatesFestivalWhereFee
until Oct 18Haengjusanseong Fortress Heritage NightGoyangsome reservations
until Oct 25Namhansanseong Autumn FestaGwangju (Gyeonggi)free
until Nov 1Gyeonggi Ceramic BiennaleIcheon, Gwangju, Yeoju₩11,000 combo ticket
Oct 14–18Icheon Rice Culture FestivalIcheonfree (past years)
Oct 14–25Seoul Design WeekDDP, Seoulvaries
Oct 16–18Mapo Naru Saeujeot FestivalWorld Cup Park, Seoulfree
Oct 16–18Gangdong Prehistoric Culture FestivalAmsa-dong site, Seoulfree
Oct 16–18Gwanak Gang Gam-chan FestivalNakseongdae Park, Seoulcheck site
Oct 16–18Seoul Wow Book FestivalHongdae, Seoulfree (past years)
Oct 16–18Myeongseongsan Silver Grass FestivalPocheonfree (past years)
Oct 16–Nov 8Nowon Moonlight WalkDanghyeoncheon stream, Seoulfree
Oct 17Subong Culture FestivalSubong Park, Incheonnot stated
Oct 17–18Paju Gaeseong Ginseng FestivalImjingak, Pajufree
Oct 17–23Seoul Silver Grass FestivalHaneul Park, Seoulfree (past years)
Oct 17–25Hangang Festival (Autumn)Han River parksvaries
Oct 23–25Hanseong Baekje Cultural FestivalOlympic Park, Seoulfree (past years)
Oct 23–25Yeoju Ogok Naru FestivalSilleuksa area, Yeojufree
Oct 23–25Ansan Festa (Kim Hong-do Festival)Hwarang Park, Ansannot stated
Oct 23–29Taste of SeoulDDP and restaurantsvaries
Oct 24–25Seoul BBQ FestivalNanji Hangang Parkfree entry
Oct 24–25Seafood Festival in the CityNoryangjin Fish Marketnot stated
Oct 30–31Jeongdong Night WalkDeoksugung area, Seoulmostly free
Oct 31–Nov 8Seoul Grand Park Autumn FestivalGwacheonnot stated

Seoul

Mapo Naru Saeujeot Festival (마포나루 새우젓축제)

  • When: Oct 16, 10:30–21:00; Oct 17, 09:00–21:00; Oct 18, 10:00–20:30
  • Where: Peace Plaza, World Cup Park (243-60 World Cup-ro, Mapo-gu)
  • Fee: free
  • Getting there: World Cup Stadium station (Line 6)

What is it? Saeujeot (새우젓) is salted fermented shrimp, essential for kimchi. Mapo was once the Han River port where shrimp boats unloaded, and this festival recreates that with a parade, a market for saeujeot and regional produce (10:00–20:00 daily), a 19 m gimbap roll on Oct 17 and fireworks to close on Oct 18 from 18:00. It is right before gimjang (김장), the autumn kimchi-making season, so locals stock up here.

Gangdong Prehistoric Culture Festival (강동선사문화축제)

  • When: Oct 16, 18:00–21:00; Oct 17–18, 10:00–21:00
  • Where: Seoul Amsa-dong Prehistoric Settlement Site (875 Olympic-ro, Gangdong-gu)
  • Fee: free
  • Getting there: Amsa History Park station (Line 8) or Amsa station

A festival on a Neolithic village site with a kids’ archaeology dig, a drone show on opening night, fireworks on the last night and light installations after dark. Good for families.

Gwanak Gang Gam-chan Festival (관악강감찬축제)

  • When: Oct 16–18; daytime 12:00–19:00, evening 19:00–21:00
  • Where: Nakseongdae Park (77 Nakseongdae-ro, Gwanak-gu)
  • Getting there: Nakseongdae station (Line 2)
  • Official: https://www.ggcfest.com

Nakseongdae is the birthplace of General Gang Gam-chan, a Goryeo-era hero. The highlight is a special show with aerial fireworks on Oct 17 at 19:00.

Seoul Silver Grass Festival (서울억새축제)

  • When: Oct 17–23, 10:00–21:00
  • Where: Haneul Park, World Cup Park (95 Haneulgongwon-ro, Mapo-gu)
  • Fee: free in past years
  • Getting there: World Cup Stadium or Mapo-gu Office station (Line 6), then a long walk and a climb. An electric shuttle runs from the Nanjicheon Park parking lot. The city recommends public transit.

Haneul Park is a hilltop park built on a former landfill, covered in eoksae (억새), Korean silver grass that turns silver-gold in mid to late October. During the festival it stays open until 21:00, so you can catch the grass at sunset. The saeujeot festival is right next door on Oct 16–18.

Nowon Moonlight Walk (노원달빛산책)

  • When: Oct 16–Nov 8, daily 17:30–22:00
  • Where: along Danghyeoncheon stream near Junggye station
  • Fee: free
  • Getting there: Junggye station (Line 7) exit 1, about 500 m

An outdoor light-art trail by 24 artist teams along a stream walk. It runs for over three weeks, so it works as a weekday evening stroll.

Hangang Festival, Autumn (한강페스티벌 가을)

Eleven programs: yachts and kayaks, tubing, cruises, an outdoor library, a paper-airplane contest and a car-free Jamsugyo bridge. Popular activities need booking.

Hanseong Baekje Cultural Festival (한성백제문화제)

  • When: Oct 23–25; experience village 10:00–19:00, market 11:00–21:00, concerts 19:00 on Oct 23 and 25
  • Where: 88 Lawn, Olympic Park (424 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu)
  • Getting there: Mongchontoseong station (Line 8) exit 1, or Hanseongbaekje station (Line 9) exit 2

Before Seoul was Seoul, the Baekje kingdom had its first capital here, and the earthen walls of Mongchontoseong inside Olympic Park are part of it. The festival has a Baekje village and market.

Taste of Seoul (서울미식주간)

  • When: Oct 23–29
  • Where: DDP (281 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu) and restaurants and markets around Seoul
  • Getting there: Dongdaemun History & Culture Park station (Lines 2, 4, 5)
  • Official: https://tasteofseoul.visitseoul.net

Seoul’s restaurant week, with special menus and discounts at Michelin-listed restaurants and markets, plus a food market and market-tour cooking classes at DDP. Restaurant deals need reservations.

Seoul BBQ Festival (서울 바비큐 페스티벌)

  • When: Oct 24–25, 12:00–20:30
  • Where: Nanji Hangang Park (162 Hangangnanji-ro, Mapo-gu)
  • Fee: free entry; meat is paid, and the self-BBQ zone needs a reservation
  • Getting there: shuttle from DMC station exit 5 (about 15 min), or buses 7011, 7016, 7019, 172, 271, 670, 9707 to “Nanji Hangang Park”
  • Official: https://seoulbbqfesta.com

Seafood Festival in the City (도심 속 바다축제)

  • When: Oct 24–25
  • Where: Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market (674 Nodeul-ro, Dongjak-gu)
  • Getting there: Noryangjin station (Lines 1 and 9)

A mock auction, shrimp catching, cooking demos and a direct-sale market. Autumn is the season for jeoneo (gizzard shad) and blue crab, so it is a good time to visit the market anyway.

Jeongdong Night Walk (정동야행)

  • When: Oct 30, 18:00–22:00; Oct 31, 14:00–22:00
  • Where: Deoksugung-gil and Jeongdong-gil, around Deoksugung Palace
  • Fee: mostly free; some guided tours need online registration
  • Getting there: City Hall station (Lines 1 and 2)
  • Official: https://www.jeongdong-culturenight.kr

Jeongdong was Seoul’s diplomatic quarter in the late Joseon era. For two nights, embassies and historic buildings that are normally closed open their doors. A palace concert is planned in front of Junghwajeon Hall on Oct 30 at 19:00.

Also in Seoul

  • Seoul Design Week: Oct 14–25, DDP and around the city
  • Seoul Wow Book Festival: Oct 16–18, Hongdae “Red Road”
  • Seoul Music Festival: Oct 24, Nodeulseom island
  • Seoul Petlympic: Oct 24–25, Olympic Park
  • Seoul Grand Park Autumn Festival: Oct 31–Nov 8

Gyeonggi-do

Icheon Rice Culture Festival (이천쌀문화축제)

Icheon rice was once served to the royal court and is still the country’s best-known rice brand. Expect new-crop rice sales, a big food court and rice delivery. The venue changed this year, so do not navigate to the old one.

Myeongseongsan Silver Grass Festival (명성산 억새꽃축제)

  • When: Oct 16–18
  • Where: Sanjeong Lake and Myeongseongsan mountain, Yeongbuk-myeon, Pocheon

One of the best-known silver grass fields near Seoul, on a mountain ridge above Sanjeong Lake. Reaching the field is a proper hike, so wear hiking shoes. There is a fireworks show on the lake.

Paju Gaeseong Ginseng Festival (파주개성인삼축제)

  • When: Oct 17–18
  • Where: Imjingak Plaza, Paju (near Imjingang station on the Gyeongui-Jungang line)
  • Fee: free

Six-year-old ginseng sold at 15–20% below market price, ginseng bibimbap and outdoor films at night. Imjingak sits close to the DMZ, so you can combine it with the Peace Nuri park.

Yeoju Ogok Naru Festival (여주오곡나루축제)

A harvest festival for Yeoju’s “five grains”, with giant-cauldron bibimbap and a royal tribute parade. New this year: night performances on the Namhan River with a fireworks tug-of-war, tightrope walking and nakhwa (traditional falling-fire) displays.

Also in Gyeonggi

  • Goyang Haengjusanseong Fortress Heritage Night: until Oct 18, 18:00–22:00
  • Goyang Flower Fragrance Festa: Oct 17–25, Starfield Goyang outdoor plaza
  • Gyeonggi Ceramic Biennale: until Nov 1, Icheon / Gwangju / Yeoju (₩11,000 combo ticket). Pairs well with the Icheon and Yeoju festivals
  • Namhansanseong Autumn Festa: until Oct 25, free. The fortress’s autumn foliage peaks in late October
  • Ansan Festa: Oct 23–25, Hwarang Park, built around the painter Kim Hong-do
  • Gunpo Ollae Festival: Oct 16–24
  • Seongnam outdoor concerts: Oct 17 and 25 at 19:00, free

Incheon

Incheon’s big October festivals (Soraepogu, Bupyeong Pungmul, the Jjajangmyeon Festival and the Open Port Heritage Night) all finished in the first two weeks. The one left is the Subong Culture Festival at Subong Park on Oct 17 from 18:00.

Note that Incheon’s Jung-gu and Dong-gu merged into Jemulpo-gu in 2026, so notices for the Open Port and Chinatown area now use that name.

Already over (for next year)

2026 datesFestivalWhere
Oct 1–11Goyang Autumn Flower FestivalIlsan Lake Park
Oct 2–4Soraepogu FestivalIncheon
Oct 2–4Bupyeong Pungmul FestivalIncheon
Oct 2–5Anseong Baudeogi FestivalAnseong
Oct 2–11Seoul Light Hangang Bitseom FestivalNodeulseom
Oct 3–4Incheon Jjajangmyeon FestivalIncheon Open Port
Oct 4–11Suwon Hwaseong Cultural FestivalSuwon
Oct 9–11Jarasum Jazz FestivalGapyeong
Oct 9–11Incheon Open Port Heritage NightIncheon

The Seoul International Fireworks Festival was held on September 5 this year, not in October.

References