Events
Korea Events Calendar: Mid-October to November 2026 (Festivals, Exhibitions and Passes)
AT A GLANCE
- Ongoing
- Busan Film Festival (to Oct 15), Lotte World parade (to Nov 15), Dongseo Trail trial (to Nov 30), K-Tour Pass (to Dec 31)
- This week
- Gochang Moyangseong Festival, Oct 15–19
- Next week
- Daejeon Bread Festival Oct 17–18; Gangneung Coffee Festival Oct 21–25
- Late Oct–Nov
- Public Design Festival Oct 23–Nov 1; JTBC Seoul Marathon Nov 1; Seoul Lantern Festival from Nov 1 (check dates)
This calendar lists events in Korea from mid-October into November 2026, in date order, with links to full guides. Dates and times were checked on 2026-10-12 and can change, so open each guide or official page before you plan a trip.
The hero image is AI-generated and is not a photo of a real festival.
Happening now
| Event | Dates | Where | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Busan International Film Festival | Oct 6–15 | Busan Cinema Center and other venues | BIFF guide |
| Lotte World Dark Fantasy Festival parade | Sept 12–Nov 15, daily 8:20 pm | Lotte World Adventure, Seoul | Parade guide |
| East-West Trail trial opening | Oct 1–Nov 30 | Taean to Uljin (512 km of 849 km) | Trail guide |
| K-Tour Pass | Oct 1–Dec 31 | Busan, for foreign visitors | Pass guide |
| Changdeokgung crown-prince program | Sept 22–Nov 8 | Changdeokgung, Seoul | See below |
Changdeokgung’s crown-prince program explores how a crown prince learned and spent his day. Huiuru, a small pavilion beside Seongjeonggak, opens its normally restricted interior. General pavilion visits run Tuesday to Saturday, 10:30 am–4:30 pm, by on-site registration, 15 minutes per group of up to eight. Sunday has a separate, advance-booked children’s activity. Check the palace’s official visitor information for the entrance route and admission.
October 15–25
| Event | Dates | Where | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gochang Moyangseong Festival | Oct 15–19, 10 am–10 pm, free | Gochang Eupseong Fortress, North Jeolla | Gochang old town trail |
| Daejeon Bread Festival | Oct 17–18, free | Daejeon Expo Science Park | Bread festival guide |
| Gangneung Coffee Festival | Oct 21–25 | Anmok Coffee Street and across Gangneung | Coffee festival guide |
For a half-day outing in Gangneung beyond the coffee street, see the Gangneung old-town walk.
October 23–November 15
| Event | Dates | Where | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Design Festival | Oct 23–Nov 1 | About 200 sites across Korea | Festival guide |
| Hwadamsup autumn leaves | Oct 23–Nov 15 | Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province | See below |
Hwadamsup is a wooded garden in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, a different Gwangju from the large city in the southwest. Its official notice lists the autumn peak period as October 23–November 15, with online booking for garden admission, Hwadamchae admission and first-station monorail tickets. A booking period does not guarantee peak leaf color on every day.
November
| Event | Date | Where | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| JTBC Seoul Marathon | Nov 1 | Sangam to Olympic Park | Full and 10K; registration has passed. See running race guide |
| Seoul Lantern Festival | From Nov 1 | Cheonggyecheon stream, Seoul | A search summary listed Nov 1 to Jan 31, 5–10 pm. Confirm on the official page |
For travelers abroad
The British Museum’s Korea exhibition runs until January 31, 2027 (exhibition guide), and PLAVE’s world tour continues through Asia and the US (tour guide).
Tips for using this calendar
- Pick one or two. Events are in different cities, so a full weekend is rarely realistic.
- Check the return trip. For festivals outside Seoul, plan buses or trains home first.
- Confirm the specific session. For workshops and seated shows, check the actual ticket and time, not just the festival dates.
- Watch the weather for outdoor events.
Sources
- Each linked guide lists its own sources.
- Changdeokgung visitor information https://royal.khs.go.kr/
- Seoul Lantern Festival, search summary: https://mediahub.seoul.go.kr/archives/2016566
Checked on 2026-10-12. Dates, times and booking rules change. The Seoul Lantern Festival dates and Hwadamsup details are from search summaries and earlier notices.