Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2026
🎬 Watch videosToday's Videos
News
The Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2026 Concluded on September 5th — Results and Upcoming Fireworks Schedules
This year's Seoul International Fireworks Festival was held three weeks earlier than usual, on Saturday, September 5, 2026, in the Yeouido Hangang Park area. For the first time, a pre-festival event was held on Friday, September 4. Many people search for "Seoul Fireworks Festival when" in October, but this year's event has already ended. This page summarizes how the 2026 event was held, when to expect the 2027 event, and where to see the remaining fireworks this autumn.
At a Glance — 2026 Event Records
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Event Name | Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2026 with Hanwha |
| Date | Friday, September 4, 2026 (Pre-festival), Saturday, September 5, 2026 (Main Event) |
| Venue | Yeouido Hangang Park · Ichon Hangang Park area (Nodeul Island for paid zones) |
| Main Fireworks Show | September 5, 20:00 ~ 21:10, approximately 70 minutes |
| Participating Teams | South Korea (Hanwha) · USA · UK (3 countries) |
| Attendance | Over 1 million people (Financial News on-site report), approximately 200,000 online live stream viewers |
| Paid Seating | Nodeul Island Orange Play Zone, 110,000~220,000 won per zone |
| Traffic Control | Yeoui-dong-ro (south end of Mapo Bridge ↔ in front of 63 Building) September 5, 15:00~24:00, Wonhyo Bridge fully closed |
| Status | Concluded. 2027 schedule unannounced |
How This Year's Event Was Held
The biggest change this year was the significantly earlier date. The organizers stated that the event was moved up by three weeks compared to last year (late September) to accommodate the Chuseok holiday period (September 24-27) and autumn foreign tourist demand. As a result, the fireworks festival and Chuseok outings no longer overlap within the same month.
Fireworks were launched by three countries in sequence. According to on-site reports, the UK team presented a lively production set to Netflix animation music, the US team showcased a grand production matched with classical music, and the final Korean team (Hanwha) adorned the finale with a motif from Van Gogh's 'Starry Night'.
Safety management was announced to be the largest ever. Hanwha deployed approximately 4,700 personnel, including 1,200 employee volunteers, and applied real-time crowd density monitoring using communication data and CCTV monitoring in the areas outside Yeouido, Wonhyo Bridge, Mapo, and Ichon. Before the event, some spectators were seen climbing fences and facilities to secure better spots, which police intervened to stop. The Seoul Metropolitan Government collected unattended mats and belongings in advance to prevent the practice of reserving and reselling prime viewing spots.
Nodeul Island was operated as a paid zone, the 'Orange Play Zone', for the entire island for the first time this year. Prices per zone were 110,000 won for Zone 1, 165,000 won for Zones 2 and 3, and 220,000 won for Zone 4. The organizers announced that the view from these zones might be partially restricted due to their distance from the main production's front. Whether the same method will be maintained next year has not been announced.
The Battle to Go Home — Lessons from This Year's Transportation
It was even harder after the fireworks ended. Yeouinaru Station on Line 5 became overcrowded faster than expected, leading to trains passing without stopping from approximately 18:11, about 50 minutes earlier than planned. The non-stop passage was lifted around 22:10. Spectators had to disperse to Yeouido Station, Saetgang Station, Daebang Station, Singil Station, and other locations to return home.
| What happened this year | What to prepare for the next event |
|---|---|
| Yeouinaru Station non-stop from 18:11 | Assume Yeouinaru Station will be unavailable after evening and plan routes via Yeouido Station, Saetgang Station, Daebang Station first |
| Yeoui-dong-ro vehicle control from 15:00 | Assume only walking/subway is possible in the afternoon |
| Wonhyo Bridge fully closed from 09:00 on the day until 03:00 the next day | Do not plan to view from on the bridge |
| Parking lot in front of 63 Building closed from 18:00 the day before | Secure parking outside Yeouido in advance for private cars |
| Scrambling for spots, including climbing fences, before the event | If arriving in the morning is difficult, choose Ichon or distant points from the start |
Control times are re-announced each year, so the times in the table should only be referenced as 2026 records.
When Will It Be Held in 2027?
As of September 29, 2026, the date for the 2027 Seoul International Fireworks Festival has not been announced. We will not speculate on the date. However, there are facts that can be used for judgment.
- This festival is held once a year on a Saturday evening in autumn.
- In 2025, it was in late September, and in 2026, it was moved up to September 5 to avoid Chuseok. This means the date shifts depending on the Chuseok holiday's position that year.
- Like this year, the schedule is usually announced towards the end of summer, and paid seats are sold on a first-come, first-served basis shortly after via the Orange Play app.
When next year's schedule is announced, this page will be updated to reflect 2027 information. Announcement news will first appear on the official Hanwha Seoul International Fireworks Festival website and the Seoul City Festival Portal.
Remaining Fireworks This Autumn — Confirmed Schedules
If you missed the Seoul fireworks, the following fireworks with confirmed official schedules are available in October-November:
| Event | Date | Venue | Viewing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival Fireworks | October 3 (Sat) · October 9 (Fri) · October 17 (Sat) 20:00 | Jinju Namgang (Jinjugyo↔Cheonsugyo) | Free |
| Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival Drone Light Show | October 3 · October 17 19:50, October 10 20:00 | Jinju Namgang | Free |
| Busan Fireworks Festival | November 7 (Sat) | Gwangalli Beach · Igidae · Dongbaekseom area | Free for general public, paid seats via NOL Ticket (until November 6, 17:00) |
Jinju is good to combine with the lantern exhibition for a day trip, and the October 9 fireworks are on the first day of the Hangeul Day holiday. The Busan Fireworks Festival is the last major autumn fireworks event this year, with regular paid seat reservations open from September 4. As accommodation fills up quickly for this event, it's best to check lodging first if you plan to go. Other October events are gathered in the Autumn Festival Calendar.
Best Viewing Spots for Your Next Visit
The stage where the fireworks are launched is the Hangang section between Yeouido and Ichon. The comparison below is based on 2026 operations, and conditions that change annually, such as Nodeul Island's paid access, must be reconfirmed through that year's announcements.
| Viewing Spot | View | Crowdedness | Recommended Arrival Time (based on 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yeouido Hangang Park | Closest frontal view, music transmitted | Highest level | 11:00 AM ~ Noon |
| Ichon Hangang Park | Frontal view across the river, entire fireworks in one frame | High | Noon ~ 2:00 PM |
| Nodeul Island | Close range, some distance from the direct front | Ticket holders only | Enter after receiving wristband on-site |
| North end of Wonhyo Bridge riverside · Yongsan riverside | Wide side view, good for photography | Medium | 2:00 PM ~ 4:00 PM |
| Seonyudo Park | Distant western view, with night scenery | Medium | 3:00 PM ~ 5:00 PM |
For first-timers, the Ichon side has a lower chance of disappointment. While Yeouido transmits sound and vibration, if you don't arrive in the morning, there will be almost no open grassy areas with an unobstructed view. Eungbongsan and Seoul Forest are about 9km from Yeouido, and Namsan is in the line of sight, so they are not recommended. The area around the Yeouido Hangang Park Swimming Pool in summer becomes a completely different space on the festival day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the 2026 Seoul International Fireworks Festival ended? Yes. It was held on Saturday, September 5, 2026, with a pre-festival on Friday, September 4. There will be no additional events this year.
Are there no fireworks to see in Seoul in October? As of September 29, 2026, no major fireworks events in Seoul for October have been officially confirmed. The closest confirmed schedules are the Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival fireworks (October 3, 9, 17) and the Busan Fireworks Festival (November 7).
When will the 2027 schedule be released? In 2026, the date was reported in early August, followed by paid seat reservations. The announcement time for 2027 is not fixed, so you should wait for official website announcements.
Will Nodeul Island be paid next year as well? It has not been announced. In 2026, the entire island was a paid Orange Play Zone.
Which station was better for returning home this year? Yeouinaru Station passed without stopping from 18:11, and spectators were directed to disperse to Yeouido Station, Saetgang Station, Daebang Station, and Singil Station. For the next event, it is safer to plan your route excluding Yeouinaru Station.
Sources
- Kyunghyang Shinmun — Seoul International Fireworks Festival to be held on September 5, three weeks earlier than last year
- Financial News — The Battle to Go Home After 1 Million Fireworks (On-site report September 5)
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — 2026 Seoul International Fireworks Festival Traffic Control Information
- Seoul City Festival Portal — Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2026
- Hanwha Seoul International Fireworks Festival Official
- Busan Fireworks Festival Event Overview
- Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival Official Website
Last checked: 2026-09-29