Visiting Seoul in September? From the Seoul International Garden Show to a spectacular Seoul drone show, there are lots of ways to have fun at Seoul events in September 2026.
September in Seoul is a great time to visit from the Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2026 to the return of Seoul Outdoor Library, or raise a glass to the Seoul Oktoberfest beer celebrations – geonbae! Or enjoy a Seoul FC K-League soccer match or make a ‘home run’ to the KBO baseball games.
2026 Seoul Concerts in September include the Sound Planet Festival, Plave, izna and Silica Gel.
Here is our pick of the best Seoul events in September 2026 along with several other South Korea festivals in September like the Andong International Maskdance Festival, Muju Firefly Festival and the Hyoseok Cultural Festival.
Please remember late September is Chuseok, a long public holiday when many families travel and many places close for several days.
South Korea checklist
We love using agoda.com, expedia.com and booking.com for researching and booking all our hotels, and Hostelworld for booking hostels.
For booking tours, transfers and SIM cards we recommend Get Your Guide, Viator, Trazy or Klook.
For booking rental cars visit Discover Cars. For private drivers and taxis, check out our Transfer guide >
Find safe storage spaces across South Korea with Bounce (and get 5% discount).
Check out our South Korea travel booking resources >
All set for South Korea? Do one final check with our Seoul first timers guide and our South Korea packing list
South Korea public holidays in September 2026
There is one major public holiday in September in South Korea – Chuseok.
Chuseok (추석) is South Korea’s Autumn public holiday– it usually lasts several days as Korean families escape the cities and go on vacation.
Chuseok 2026 dates are Thursday 24 to Saturday 26 September 2026 – however, expect it to be busy from a few days before and after, as families travel for their vacation.
Please note many shops, stores and family run restaurants will close during Chuseok plus we would recommend not travelling during Chuseok – especially because Korean residents get first dibs on KTX train tickets during the holiday period. There is a blackout period for foreigners meaning many routes / times will be sold out once they go on sale to all.
Read our full Chuseok guide and FAQs >
Seoul International Garden Show 2026
Until 27 October 2026 at Seoul Forest Park
Twice as big as last year, the 2026 Seoul International Garden Show is back bigger and better than ever before and is themed “Seoul, Green Culture”. It takes place at Seoul Forest with other pop-ups at Ttukseom Hangang Park and in the Seongsu neighborhood.
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Over 150 garden displays (up from 111 in 2025) are on show until late October and Hechi (Seoul’s cute tourism mascot) will be part of the proceedings again. Lots of K-companies and iconic Korean brands are taking part including SM Entertainment Nongshim noodles, Musinsa fashion and Clio K-Beauty.
We visited the Seoul International Garden Show 2026 in May and spotted everything from the Kakao Friends garden to the Pokemon Secret Forest. That said, we were slightly underwhelmed with our visit as it was quite corporate and many gardens were quite small. Maybe a Seoul festival to combine with half a day in Seongsu-dong.
Open daily from noon until 7pm, check out the official Seoul International Garden Show 2026 website here >
Seoul Drone Show 2026
12 September 2026 (plus 9 and 31 October)
During the fall months, Seoul’s famous Hangang River parks are full of locals eating and drinking, having autumnal picnics and watching the sun set over the city – occasionally there are special drone shows too, the first of which is on September 12 2026.
The September 2026 Seoul drone show takes place at Ttukseom Hangang Park between 8.30pm and 8.45pm.
There is also a cultural arts performance before the drone show from 7.30pm to 8.30pm and another arts performance from 8.45pm to 9.15pm.
We were lucky enough to catch the recent Star Wars Seoul drone show in May and it was epic – very busy and chaotic but worth it (just).
Seoul International Fireworks Festival 2026
5 September 2026 (TBC)
Located at Yeouido Hangang Park in early September, this is South Korea’s largest fireworks festival held annually in Seoul.
In 2026, specialist pyrotechnics teams from South Korea, the USA, Japan and Italy will light up the city sky with several back-to-back firework displays, from 7pm onwards – it is free to view but get there early to secure a good viewing spot (or head further down the Hangang River and watch from another bridge or park like Wonhyo Bridge or Hangang Bridge).
Every year, over 1 million spectators, both locals and travelers, gather to witness the dazzling show of fireworks set against the stunning backdrop of Seoul night views.
Visit the official 2026 Seoul Fireworks website here >
Seoul Outdoor Library
From 4 September 2026 (usually Fridays to Sundays) – several locations
The annual Seoul Outdoor Library is definitely something you’ll want to ‘bookmark’ for your next South Korea trip and it is open throughout June to October every Friday to Sunday – it stops in July and August for a summer break (as it’s too freakin’ hot in Seoul).
Across September and October, the Seoul Outdoor Library pops up in several picturesque locations across the city including Seoul Plaza near Myeongdong.
Each of the Seoul Outdoor Libraries provides chairs, books and entertainment including an alfresco library which opens along the city’s Cheonggyecheon stream near Dongdaemun – sometimes there is music and performers too.
The 2026 Seoul Outdoor Library opening times are 11am to 6pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday (but on hot / extreme weather days, this changes to 4pm to 10pm). During the summer months and public holidays, there may be occasional later openings.
Read our Seoul Outdoor Library guide >
Seoul Oktoberfest 2026 / Seoul Beer Festival
11 to 20 September 2026
Full das glass! A little bit of Germany in South Korea, the inaugural 2026 Seoul Oktoberfest beer festival 옥토버페스트 서울 2026 일반석 launches at Oil Drum Park, with tickets costing 20,000 Won and upwards.
Based on Munich’s world-famous beer festival, Seoul’s Oktoberfest is officially recognised by Germany and it comes to Seoul for the first time ever this September.
The German-inspired festival will feature authentic Oktoberfest beer served in large steins including Paulaner, alongside dishes like Strudel, Schweinshaxe and Weisswurst, with German folk music performances, Oompah bands and more.
2026 South Korea / Seoul baseball season
Early September 2026 then play offs
South Korea’s most popular sport is baseball so after a day of exploring why not catch a game of baseball such as at the Seoul Jamsil baseball ground or Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome.
This year’s 2026 KBO baseball season is hotly anticipated and there are KBO baseball games most days in September 2026 except Mondays. Note the KBO play offs begin in mid September so tickets will be a lot harder to come by for foreigners.
The baseball season in South Korea runs from late March until September every year, and Seoul is fortunate enough to have three home baseball teams – the Doosan Bears, the Kiwoom Heroes and the LG Twins (last year’s KBO championship winners).
There will often be several baseball games a week played at Jamsil stadium (it is a huge stadium, holding 25,000 spectators). Foreigners can buy Seoul baseball tickets at Jamsil stadium and Gocheok Sky Dome for as little as 13,000 Won (around £8 / $10 USD).
We’ve been to Jamsil Stadium baseball three times plus one game at Gocheok Sky Dome and had an amazing evening every time watching baseball (and eating, singing, dancing…).
Click here to read our guide on how to buy Seoul baseball tickets >
You might like these Seoul neighbourhood guides:
Hannam-dong
Hongdae
Myeong-dong
Insadong
Ikseon-dong
Gangnam
Seongsu-dong
Euljiro
Itaewon
Dongdaemun
Or check out our best neighbourhoods in Seoul Guide >
K League Soccer (FC Seoul)
5 September 2026 at Seoul World Cup stadium
The perfect way to ‘kick-off’ your trip to South Korea, K League football (or soccer) is a popular sport, up there with baseball.
So if you are visiting Seoul in September consider a FC Seoul K League Game at the Seoul World Cup stadium. The Home FC Seoul game in September 2026 takes place on 5 September vs Incheon United FC.
South Korea K League game tickets are easy to purchase (and very cheap) plus the World Cup Stadium in Seoul has good transport links with its very own subway station.
From purchasing K League tickets for FC Seoul through to what types of food, drink and entertainment you can expect at the stadium, here is our guide to all things K League South Korea and the Seoul World Cup Stadium >
Seoul Autumn Festa
18 September to 29 November 2026
This year’s Seoul Autumn Festa spans 38 Festivals over 470 performances running across September, October and November (last year, it was just 40 days).
A variety of indoor and outdoor performances and pop-ups along the Han River, famous monuments and Seoul theaters.
Sub festivals will include the Seoul Street Arts Festival, Seoul International Dance Festival, and Seoul Opera Festival (all various dates).
Seoul concerts in September 2026
Here are some of the headline concerts in Seoul (K-Pop, classical and international artists) in September 2026:
SOUND PLANET FESTIVAL 2026
5 to 6 September 2026 at Incheon Paradise City
Plave World Tour
12 to 13 September 2026 at Incheon Munhak Main Stadium
izna Concert Tour: WHO DAT GIRL
19 to 20 September 2026 at Olympic Hall
Silica Gel Asia Tour〈Syn.THE.Size: Ballad of You〉
26 to 27 September 2026 at KSPO Dome Seoul
Seoul pop-ups September 2026
For a full list of all the Seoul pop-up stores in September 2026, check out this comprehensive guide (you need to change the date to ‘September’).
Regular events in Seoul (all year round)
NANTA Theatre Cooking Show
There are many theatre shows to see in Seoul on rainy days but perhaps the most famous (and long-running) is the NANTA theatre show.
This world renowned comedy cooking show has been packing in audiences worldwide since 1997. Possibly the best known Korean theatre show, NANTA Theatre has been performed over 50,000 times in over 60 countries and is a fun mix of slapstick and physical comedy.
There are very few spoken words used throughout so not understanding Korean (or English) won’t be an issue.
Myeongdong NANTA Theatre has at least two NANTA performances every day, with evening shows held at 5pm and 8pm Monday to Saturday (on Sundays, it is 2pm and 5pm).
Book your Myeongdong Nanta theater show ticket on Klook >
The Painters show
‘The Painters’ in Seoul is the world’s first live painting show combined with music – a few people have asked recently about an alternative to the ‘Nanta Cooking / Comedy Show’ and we’d recommend ‘The Painters’. It is on 7 nights a week in Seoul at 8pm (and 2pm and 5pm).
To be honest, we thought it was going to be naff (terrible) but it was surprisingly good and the theatrics and artistry were amazing. Even if you don’t like K-Pop style shows, the way they create incredible paintings from nothing is spellbinding.
Korean ‘idols’ recreate famous paintings such as Michelangelo’s ‘Creation of Heaven’ and Vincent Van Gogh’s ‘Self-Portrait’ with splendid choreography and live drawings. It sounds like it will be kitsch AF but we both loved it. There is also a photo opp with the boys at the end.
For more info and tickets, check out ‘The Painters’ on Klook >
For something a little more ‘adult’ and for women over 19 years of age, check out the “WILD WILD: After Party” in Euljiro, Seoul or the ‘Touch Five’ show musical – remember to pick a ‘touch’ or ‘no touch’ sticker!
Saturday Gugak Concert
Every Saturday afternoon in Seoul
Catch Seoul’s best unplugged talents in one wonderful weekly showcase, taking place every Saturday at 3pm at the National Gugak Center.
Listen to classical Korean performances on traditional instruments or amazing dance performances.
Book your Saturday Gugak Concert tickets on Klook >
Other South Korea September 2026 festivals and events
Busan Gwangalli Drone Show (free) – every Saturday night at 8pm and 10pm
Busan’s Gwangalli Beach is the place to be every Saturday night with the weekly Gwangalli M Drone display over the night sky.
Seriously for us, this had to be one of the top 5 things to do in Busan, not just Gwangalli. It is also a great thing to enjoy in Busan with kids.
Every Saturday night at 8pm and 10pm in September over 300 aerial drones take to the skies of Gwangalli Beach and create an incredible skyborne spectacle, with various scenes and characters created.
Each week, the official Gwangalli drone show website lists what the theme will be that Saturday.
More things to do in Gwangalli >
Other South Korea September 2026 festivals and events
- Muju Firefly Festival (무주반딧불축제) – 4 to 12 September 2026
- Hyoseok Cultural Festival (평창효석문화제) – 4 to 13 September 2026
- Andong Mask / dance Festival (안동국제탈춤페스티벌) – 24 September to 4 October 2026
- Chuseok ( 추석) nationwide – 24 to 26 September 2026
- 25th Hanseong Baekje Cultural Festival – 26 to 28 September 2026 in Songpa-gu, Seoul.
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