Events

Sejong Hangeul Festival 2026 (Oct. 9–11): Drone Show Times and the Seoul Special Exhibition

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AI-generated night sky over a lake park with small drone lights gathered in a starburst shape and people's silhouettes on the shore, with thin white lines and the handwritten note 'Hangeul night sky'.

AT A GLANCE

Status
Ended Oct 11; Seoul exhibition runs to Feb 9, 2027
Festival dates
Friday, October 9 – Sunday, October 11
Hours
Oct. 9–10, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; Oct. 11, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Place
Around Sejong Lake Park and Sejong Central Park
Night shows
Oct. 9 at 8:40 p.m. drones; Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m. fireworks and media show
Special exhibition
Oct. 2, 2026 – Feb. 9, 2027, 3rd floor, National Museum of Korean Contemporary History (Seoul)
Cost, booking
Listed as free. Check the official site for any paid or pre-registered activities

The 2026 Sejong Hangeul Festival celebrates the 100th Hangeul Day (the holiday for the Korean alphabet) from Friday, October 9 to Sunday, October 11, around Sejong Lake Park and Sejong Central Park. It runs 10 a.m.–9 p.m. on the 9th and 10th, and until 7 p.m. on the 11th. The night shows are the highlight: a 2,000-drone show on October 9 at 8:40 p.m., and a fireworks and media show on October 10 at 7:30 p.m. If you stay in Seoul, a Hangeul special exhibition at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History is another option.

The hero image is AI-generated. It is not a photo of the real show.

The festival ran October 9–11 and has ended. It was selected by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a 2026–2027 culture and tourism festival, its first under that designation. The special exhibition in Seoul continues until February 9, 2027 (see below). Check sjfestival.kr for next year’s dates.

The festival at a glance

Hangeul Day began in 1926 as “Gagyanal,” so this year marks 100 years. Organizers aim for 330,000 visitors after 315,000 last year. Joongdo Ilbo, Oct. 1 (in Korean).

  • Daytime (Sejong Lake Park): Mostly activities for children and families, plus citizen performances.
  • Night (Sejong Central Park): Big shows such as the drone show and the fireworks and media show.
  • October 9 at noon: A Black Eagles air-show flyover is planned.
  • Also announced: K-pop shows, a Hangeul fun run and contests.

Night show times

Drones on the 9th at 8:40 p.m., fireworks and media on the 10th at 7:30 p.m. These are night shows, so check your trip home in advance.

  • Hangeul Drone Show (Oct. 9, 8:40 p.m.): 2,000 drones draw a story about Hangeul across the sky.
  • Fireworks and Media Show (Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m.): Drones carrying fireworks join ground fireworks. Reports say the fireworks are bigger than last year’s.

Marker-drawn pile of colorful wooden play blocks with a small drone and a crescent moon, with the handwritten note 'Hangeul playground'

Daytime: start at the Hangeul playground

With children, activities like the Hangeul playground with letter-shaped blocks stand out. For times and places, check the program page on the official website, which also shows whether any activities need pre-registration or a materials fee.

Getting to Sejong from Seoul

Sejong works as a day trip from Seoul.

  • KTX + BRT: Take the KTX from Seoul or Yongsan Station to Osong Station, then a BRT bus (bus rapid transit) into Sejong. For train tickets, see our guide to the two-month booking change.
  • Express and intercity buses: Buses to Sejong run from Seoul.

Check the official site for parking, shuttles and limits on moving around the grounds. Plan your trip home after the night shows.

If you are in Seoul: the special exhibition “Ilgu-iryuk, Muhan-iryuk”

A special exhibition for the 100th Hangeul Day runs from October 2, 2026 to February 9, 2027 on the 3rd floor of the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History in Jongno, Seoul. “Ilgu-iryuk” refers to 1926, the year of the first Gagyanal, and “Muhan-iryuk” is a hope that Hangeul will soar without limit. It shows 116 items (121 pieces) of Hangeul heritage. Seoul Shinmun, Oct. 1 (in Korean).

  • Part 1, “Gagyanal: Ilgu-iryuk”: The first Gagyanal and its background.
  • Part 2, “Clues to the familiar Gagya”: A replica of Ju Si-gyeong’s Malmoi manuscript, a manuscript of the Great Dictionary of Joseon, and a Hangeul syllable chart held by the National Library of France.
  • Part 3, “Hangeul Day: Muhan-iryuk”: Activities such as getting an AI-generated reply, finding Hangeul Day in old calendars, and a Hangeul fortune shop.

Check the museum’s visitor information for fees and hours. It is close to Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5). For the story of the Hangeul Day song, see our post on it.

Who it suits, and who it does not

A good fit

  • You want a free holiday outing with children
  • You like night shows such as drones and fireworks
  • You want to mark Hangeul Day inside Seoul (the exhibition)

Not a great fit

  • On a day trip from Seoul, the trip home after the night shows can run late
  • Crowds bother you, so consider daytime or the last day

Show times and sign-ups can change. Check the latest schedule on the official website (sjfestival.kr) before you leave.

FAQ

Is there an admission fee? It is listed as free. Check the official site for any activities with a materials fee or pre-registration.

When should I go for the drone show? The 2,000-drone show is on Friday, October 9 at 8:40 p.m. The fireworks and media show is on Saturday, October 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Is the Seoul exhibition open on Hangeul Day itself? Check the museum’s notice.

Checked on October 2, 2026. Times and programs can change. Also used: Newspim, Goodmorning Chungcheong.