If you are visiting Seoul in early September 2026, one of the city’s biggest outdoor events will take place along the Han River.
The 2026 Seoul International Fireworks Festival with Hanwha will be held on September 4 and 5, 2026, with the main fireworks show taking place on Saturday, September 5 at Yeouido Hangang Park. Hanwha’s official festival website specifically announces September 5 as the main festival date, while the Seoul Metropolitan Government lists a pre-event programme on September 4 and the main event on September 5.
This year, fireworks teams from Korea, the United States and the United Kingdom are scheduled to participate. Seoul City says the three teams will present shows reflecting their own styles over the Han River.
출처: 내손안에 서울 홈페이지
2026 Seoul Fireworks Festival at a Glance
Category
Official Information
Festival
Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2026 with Hanwha
Dates
September 4–5, 2026
Main fireworks
Saturday, September 5
Main venue
Yeouido Hangang Park
Seoul City event areas
Yeouido and Ichon Hangang Parks
September 4
Pre-event programmes, 1:00 p.m.–8:20 p.m.
September 5
Main festival, 1:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
Participating countries
Korea, United States, United Kingdom
Organiser
The official Seoul schedule lists citizen participation programmes, international fireworks performances and food-truck areas as part of the festival.
The Main Fireworks Show Is on September 5
For international visitors, the most important date is Saturday, September 5.
Hanwha’s official website currently displays the message, “See you at Yeouido Hangang Park on Saturday, September 5, 2026.” Seoul City also lists the main festival programme on that date from 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
The exact sequence and start times for each country’s fireworks performance were not clearly published in the official text pages I could verify, so I would not recommend relying on unofficial schedules circulating on blogs or social media.
What is confirmed is that teams from Korea, the United States and the United Kingdom will participate in the main fireworks programme.
September 4 Is the Pre-Event Day
The festival is officially listed as a two-day event in Seoul City’s September programme.
On Friday, September 4, pre-event activities are scheduled from 1:00 p.m. to 8:20 p.m. The main fireworks show, however, is scheduled for the following day.
If your main reason for visiting is to see the large international fireworks display, September 5 is therefore the date to plan around.
반응형
Yeouido Is the Main Festival Area
The primary location is Yeouido Hangang Park, on the southern side of the Han River.
Seoul City also identifies Ichon Hangang Park, on the opposite side of the river, as part of the festival area.
The fireworks festival is one of Seoul’s long-running major cultural events. Hanwha has organised the event since 2000 as part of its social contribution activities, inviting international fireworks teams to Seoul each autumn.
For map searches in Korea, these Korean names may be useful:
여의도한강공원 — Yeouido Hangang Park 이촌한강공원 — Ichon Hangang Park 노들섬 — Nodeulseom
출처: 한화 서울불꽃축제홈페이지
Be Careful Not to Confuse Nodeulseom with the Main Festival Area
One point may be confusing when searching for 2026 festival information.
Nodeulseom is operating as a separate ticketed “Orange Play Zone” this year.
Hanwha officially states that the entire Nodeulseom area will be operated as the Orange Play Zone on September 5 and that only visitors who purchased tickets in advance will be allowed to enter.
The official Orange Play ticket page currently lists four zones:
ZoneTicket Price
Zone
Ticket Price
Zone 1
KRW 110,000
Zone 2
KRW 165,000
Zone 3
KRW 165,000
Zone 4
KRW 220,000
These prices specifically apply to the Nodeulseom Orange Play Zone. The ticket page lists September 5 as the event date and allows a maximum of five tickets per person.
This distinction is important because some festival listings show Nodeulseom and its ticket prices prominently, which can make it look as though the entire Seoul Fireworks Festival requires one of these tickets.
The Seoul Fireworks Festival attracts very large crowds, so transportation planning is especially important.
According to Hanwha’s official 2026 traffic-control notice, Yeouidong-ro between the southern end of Mapo Bridge and the area in front of the 63 Building will be closed from 3:00 p.m. until midnight on September 5. Access from nearby roads may also be restricted.
The Yeouido Hangang Park parking area in front of the 63 Building will be closed from 6:00 p.m. on September 4 until midnight on September 5. Wonhyo Bridge will also face full closures at designated times for fireworks installation and operation.
For that reason, driving directly into the main festival area is likely to be difficult.
Important Notice About Yeouinaru Station
International visitors often associate Yeouido Hangang Park with Yeouinaru Station on Seoul Subway Line 5, but there is an important restriction after the festival.
The official 2026 notice states that Yeouinaru Station is scheduled for temporary control from 8:40 p.m. to 9:40 p.m. on September 5. Hanwha notes that this may be announced only on site rather than through advance station announcements.
Because crowd-control measures can change according to conditions on the day, visitors should check Seoul Metro and the official festival website again before travelling.
Do Not Plan to Leave Immediately After the Fireworks
This is one of the few practical recommendations that the organiser itself provides.
Hanwha advises visitors that leaving about 30 minutes after the festival ends may allow for a less crowded journey home. The organiser also warns that food delivery can be difficult inside the crowded festival area.
For foreign visitors who are unfamiliar with Seoul’s subway system, trying to move with the largest wave of spectators immediately after the show may be particularly uncomfortable.
It may be easier to wait until some of the crowd has dispersed before beginning your journey.
Food Trucks Are Part of the 2026 Festival
Seoul City confirms that food-truck zones will operate as part of the festival. A separate city recruitment notice states that food trucks are scheduled to operate from 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. during the September 4–5 event period at Yeouido Hangang Park.
However, the exact participating vendors and menus were not listed in the official materials I verified.
What Should Foreign Visitors Prepare?
The official Hanwha site has dedicated sections for festival preparation, safety information and directions. It also warns that the festival area will be extremely crowded.
For this article, I would avoid claiming specific items are mandatory unless the organiser explicitly requires them.
The most important preparation is actually transportation: confirm subway operations, road restrictions and the latest festival notice before travelling.
Weather should also be checked on the day, since the event takes place outdoors beside the Han River.
Can You Listen to the Fireworks Music?
Hanwha provides the ORANGE PLAY app for festival music and promotes it as a way to hear the fireworks soundtrack even from farther locations. The official festival website links directly to the service.
This may be particularly useful if you are watching from somewhere farther away from the main speaker area.
The festival runs on September 4–5, but the main fireworks are on Saturday, September 5.
The main venue is Yeouido Hangang Park, with Seoul City also listing Ichon Hangang Park as an event area.
Fireworks teams from Korea, the United States and the United Kingdom are participating.
Nodeulseom is a separate paid Orange Play Zone requiring advance tickets.
Major roads around Yeouido will be closed on September 5.
Yeouinaru Station is scheduled for temporary crowd control from 8:40 p.m. to 9:40 p.m.
Check the official festival website again on the day because transportation and crowd-control measures may change.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 Seoul International Fireworks Festival is taking place earlier than in some previous years, with the main show scheduled for September 5 at Yeouido Hangang Park. Seoul City says this year’s event was moved roughly three weeks earlier than last year, taking factors such as the Chuseok holiday period and international visitor demand into account.
For foreign travellers, the fireworks themselves are the easy part.
The important part is planning how to get there and, especially, how to leave afterward.
Road closures, temporary subway crowd controls and the very large number of visitors mean that this is not an event where arriving at the last minute is a good idea. The Nodeulseom ticketed zone should also be understood separately from the main Yeouido festival area.
If you are travelling to Seoul in early September, September 5 is one date worth checking carefully when planning your itinerary.
The 2026 Songdo Beach Festival will take place at Songdo Dalbit Park in Incheon from August 8 to August 15, 2026.
The eight-day summer festival will feature temporary water-play facilities, an artificial sandy area, performances, water-gun events, a foam party and rest areas for visitors. The event is organised by Yeonsu-gu and operated by the Yeonsu Cultural Foundation.
출처: 연수구청
Songdo Beach Festival 2026 at a Glance
CategoryOfficial Information
Event
The 7th Songdo Beach Festival
Dates
August 8–15, 2026
Venue
Songdo Dalbit Park, Incheon
Korean map search
송도달빛공원
Organiser
Yeonsu-gu, Incheon
Operator
Yeonsu Cultural Foundation
The festival is held near the Seongji Apartment area in Songdo. Despite the word “beach” in its name, the official programme describes an artificial sandy area and temporary water-play facilities inside the park, rather than a natural swimming beach.
Water-Play Area and Artificial Beach
The main water-play area is scheduled to operate daily from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. It will include large pools, water slides, water tunnels and other inflatable water facilities.
The artificial beach and sand playground will operate from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Other scheduled water activities include:
Water-gun battles, planned twice daily
Bubble foam parties, planned twice daily
Canoe experiences from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The official poster states that the water-gun events and foam parties will take place inside the water-play area. Exact session times are not listed and may be announced or adjusted at the venue.
Opening and Closing Performances
The opening ceremony is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on August 8, with a performance by Korean singer Chaeyeon.
The closing ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. on August 15, with a performance by Korean rock band Crying Nut.
Fireworks are scheduled on the opening and closing dates only:
August 8: 8:50 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
August 15: 8:50 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Visitors planning to see the fireworks should therefore visit on August 8 or August 15.
출처: 연수구청
Other Festival Programmes
Busking performances are scheduled from August 9 to August 14, between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Random-play dance events will take place at 4:00 p.m. on August 8, 9 and 15. Beach yoga is scheduled at 6:00 p.m. on August 11 and 13, while running classes are scheduled at 6:00 p.m. on August 10, 12 and 14.
The official poster states that advance registration is available for the campnic area, beach yoga and running classes through the Yeonsu Cultural Foundation website. Availability should be checked directly through the official registration page.
반응형
Food, Rest and Experience Areas
The festival grounds will include a food zone and a campnic area with an LED campfire feature.
A themed experience area inspired by the former Songdo Amusement Park will include attractions such as a Viking ride and carousel, along with a photo zone.
The official poster also lists the following visitor facilities:
Shaded tents
Showers
Changing rooms
A nursing room
An air-conditioned cool zone
These facilities and rest areas are scheduled to operate from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
How to Get to Songdo Dalbit Park
By Subway
Take Incheon Subway Line 1 to Campus Town Station and use Exit 4.
The official transportation page states that the festival grounds are approximately 800 metres from the station.
By Bus
Get off at the Sinsong High School bus stop, which is approximately 300 metres from the festival venue.
The official page lists the following routes:
Local buses: 6, 6-1, 8 and 58
Circular buses: 41, 42 and 46
Metropolitan bus: 1301
Seated buses: 303 and 320
By Car
The official transportation page lists parking areas near Songdo International Children’s Library, Saeachim Park, Sinsong High School, Sinsong Elementary School and Sinsong Middle School.
However, parking space is officially described as very limited, and visitors are advised to use public transportation whenever possible. Some temporary parking areas may have restricted operating dates or hours.
Vehicles are not permitted to enter the main festival grounds.
Heat-Wave and Schedule Information
Festival programmes may change because of extreme heat or other site conditions.
When a heat-wave warning is forecast, outdoor programmes between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. may be shortened or rescheduled.
When a severe heat warning is forecast, the festival may temporarily close from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The official poster also states that programme schedules and content may change depending on circumstances. Visitors should check the official festival page again before travelling.
Information for International Visitors
Many of the main activities, including the water-play area, sand playground, performances and fireworks, can be understood visually.
However, the official festival materials do not confirm whether English-speaking staff, interpretation services or multilingual programme registration will be available.
The official materials reviewed also do not state that admission or every activity is free. Visitors who need information about fees, reservations or participation conditions should check the official page or contact the organisers before attending.
Official Contact Numbers
For additional information, the official poster provides the following telephone numbers:
Yeonsu Cultural Foundation: 032-822-1000
Yeonsu-gu Culture and Tourism Division: 032-749-7330
Final Thoughts
The 2026 Songdo Beach Festival will offer eight days of water activities, an artificial sandy area, performances and summer events at Songdo Dalbit Park.
The water-play facilities and artificial beach will operate throughout the festival period, while the main celebration performances and fireworks are scheduled specifically for the opening day on August 8 and the closing day on August 15.
Public transportation is recommended because parking is limited. Programme times may also be adjusted during extreme heat, so checking the official Yeonsu-gu festival information before visiting is important.