2026 Seoul International Fireworks Festival: Everything You Need to Know (Sept 5, Yeouido)

Hanwha's "2026 Seoul International Fireworks Festival" lights up Yeouido Hangang Park on Saturday, September 5. This annual celebration, which has painted Seoul's autumn skies for years, has traditionally been held on the first Saturday of October — but this year, organizers moved the date up nearly three weeks, factoring in the Chuseok holiday and demand from international visitors. Last year's festival (held September 27) drew a crowd of over a million people, so expect Yeouido to be packed all day again this year. If you're thinking about going, it's worth planning your route and timing in advance.

What is this festival?

The Seoul International Fireworks Festival is Korea's largest fireworks event, featuring teams from Korea and abroad taking turns to light up the sky. This year, Hanwha represents Korea alongside pyrotechnic teams from the US and UK — three countries in total. The lineup of participating countries shifts slightly each year, which is part of the fun, as each team brings a distinct style. The exact show order and time allocations for each country's team will be announced on the official website as the festival date approaches.

This isn't a one-day event, either. According to the City of Seoul's festival information, there's a pre-festival event on September 4, the day before the main show, meaning Yeouido will be buzzing with festival energy for two full days. That said, the detailed program for the pre-festival hasn't been announced yet, so if you're planning to attend, keep an eye on official announcements closer to the date.

Details — Schedule and Viewing Areas

The main event on September 5 runs from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. The fireworks show everyone's waiting for kicks off at 8 p.m. and runs for about 70 minutes until 9:10 p.m., followed by an after-party DJ set until 10 p.m. If you want to stake out a good spot early, expect Yeouido Hangang Park to start filling up from the afternoon onward.

There are three viewing areas. Yeouido Hangang Park sits closest to the launch point, offering the most immersive view — but it's also the most crowded. Ichon Hangang Park, across the river, offers a wide-angle view of the entire show and is a good pick if you'd rather enjoy things at a more relaxed pace. Nodeul Island, unlike in previous years, is now a paid zone called the "Orange Play Zone." Seating prices vary by zone: 110,000 KRW for Zone 1, 165,000 KRW for Zones 2 and 3, and 220,000 KRW for Zone 4, with a maximum of five tickets per person. The general viewing areas at Yeouido and Ichon Hangang Park remain free with no ticket required — so if you're planning on watching for free, be careful not to accidentally head to Nodeul Island instead.

Visitor Tips — Transit and Safety

Last year, crowd surges caused Yeouinaru Station on Subway Line 5 to temporarily skip stops without stopping. A similar situation could happen again this year, so rather than relying solely on Yeouinaru Station, it's safer to also have alternate routes in mind — Yeouido Station (Lines 5 and 9), Mapo Station (Line 5), or Saetgang Station (Line 9 and Sillim Line). The City of Seoul and Hanwha say they'll deploy their largest-ever safety management team, with roughly 4,700 personnel — including 1,200 Hanwha employee volunteers — assigned to crowd control and safety across both the pre-festival and main event.

If you want to secure a solid spot, aim to arrive by 3–4 p.m. at the latest, and bringing a mat, portable chair, or handheld fan will make the wait a lot more comfortable. Exact traffic control zones and detailed schedules will be released in phases by the City of Seoul and Hanwha as the festival date approaches, so it's worth double-checking right before you head out.