What’s New at the 2026 Boryeong Mud Festival

The 2026 Boryeong Mud Festival takes over Daecheon Beach from July 24 to August 9, and this year’s edition is the biggest yet. Now in its 29th year, the festival has just been named an official Global Festival by Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which means more international programming and a longer list of things to do. If you have ever wanted to dive into a giant mud pool while K-pop idols perform a few hundred meters away, this is the summer to finally go.

What is the Boryeong Mud Festival?

The Boryeong Mud Festival started in 1998 as a small promotional event for the mineral-rich mud found along Daecheon Beach. It has since grown into one of Asia’s most recognized summer festivals, pulling in over a million visitors a year both locally and abroad. The mud used in the festival is harvested from tidal flats near Boryeong and is known for its high mineral content. This makes it not only fun to play in, but also fantastic for your skin, and it’s even used in many K-beauty products.

The festival takes place at Daecheon Beach in Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do, about 2 to 3 hours from Seoul by express bus or train. The event suits almost anyone: solo travelers looking for a wild story, couples wanting a beach weekend, groups who want a shared laugh in the mud pit, and families with young kids who can stick to the calmer Family Zone.

2026 Boryeong Mud Festival at a Glance

Here are the essential details before you plan your trip.

GET YOUR MUD FESTIVAL TICKET HERE

2026 Boryeong Mud Festival Program Highlights:

1. Mud Experience Zone

• Giant Mud Pool: the festival’s signature attraction, a huge pool where visitors wade, splash, and pose for photos.
• Mud Slides: slick slides that drop straight into the mud below.
• Mud Prison: a playful photo-op zone shaped like a jail cell, fully coated in mud.
• Mud Wrestling: a designated ring where friends and strangers face off in the mud.
• Mud Obstacle Course: a muddy assault course for anyone who wants a bit of a workout with their fun.
• Mud Bombardment: also known as mud mob-sneon, where staff blast the crowd with mud cannons to music.
• Foam Party: a foam-filled cooldown area for when the mud gets to be too much.

2. New for 2026

• Mud Cask Zone: The biggest addition this year is the Mud Cask Zone at the Mud Plaza. This self-service mud spa area is fitted with around 20 individual mud massage stations designed to help you relax. Entry is included with the general fee ticket.
• Mud Beauty Care Zone: The Mud Beauty Care Zone lets visitors try mud facials and mud-based skincare treatments using the same mineral-rich mud the region is famous for. It is a good stop for anyone who wants the wellness benefits of Boryeong mud without joining the full-contact mud pit chaos, and it typically sells related beauty products on-site.

3. Daily Performances and Entertainment

This is where the 2026 lineup really expands on past years. The festival’s keyword this year is simple: mud by day, concerts by night. Expect the following programs across the 17-day run, though exact stage times can shift slightly, so check the official schedule close to your visit date.

• K-POP Super Live (opening concert): July 25 around 19:20 at the special stage. This year’s lineup includes RESCENE, n.SSign, H1-KEY, STAYC, CRAVITY, LA POEM, Wendy, SAY MY NAME, izna, Lee Chaeyeon, Ha Sung Woon, & more!
• Mud Busking Performances: informal live sets held throughout the festival period near the beach promenade. No reservation needed.
• Sunset Stage: an open-air stage on the beach that runs performances timed around sunset. Best viewed from the sand facing west for the light show over the water.
• 8090 Night Show: July 26 at 20:00, featuring a lineup of retro Korean pop artists.
• K-Hip Hop Festival: July 31 and August 1, spread across two nights at the main stage feauting GP, DinDin, Hanhae, MC Sniper, YDG, MIRANI, Hangzoo, BLACK NINE, Marine, REDDY, BLOO, Queen WA$ABII, Tray B, & more.
• Boryeong Mud Song Festival: August 2, a singing competition style show open to the public.
• Mud Rock Festa: August 7 at 18:30, this rock-focused night show held near the plaza is set to host YB, ONEWE, Dragon Pony, hrtz.wav, & more!
• Big Mud Show: August 8, one of the closing weekend’s headline performances.
• Midnight Parade: a late-night procession through the festival grounds, best watched from the main walkway near the plaza.

4. Family-Friendly Programs

If you are traveling with young kids, the Family Zone is built for you. It is reserved for children aged 3 to 12 with an accompanying guardian, and adults without a child are not admitted on their own. Inside you will find a gentler Family Mud Zone, a Kids Water Park, and rotating children’s activities and interactive games throughout the day. It is the better choice for families, young children, and any visitor who wants a taste of the mud without the full-contact intensity of the General Zone.

5. Food and Shopping

Festival grounds and the surrounding beach strip are lined with food stalls covering a Global Food Zone, fresh local seafood, classic Korean street food like tteokbokki and hotteok, and regional Boryeong specialties worth trying at least once. Souvenir stalls sell festival merchandise and mud-based skincare products, so budget a bit of extra cash if you want to bring something home.

Tips Before You Go

What to Bring

• • A swimsuit or clothes you do not mind ruining
  • A full change of clothes for the ride home
  • A waterproof phone pouch
  • Sandals rather than sneakers, since closed shoes are not allowed inside the mud zones
  • A towel

Lockers and Showers

Simple shower facilities sit near the mud zones and along Daecheon Beach. Locker rental is also available on-site, priced by locker size, so you do not have to carry your bag through the mud pit.

Waterproof Belongings

Assume everything you carry into the General Zone will get muddy or wet. Seal your phone, wallet, and any electronics in a waterproof pouch or bag before you go anywhere near the pools, and consider leaving valuables in a locker entirely.

Best Time to Visit

Weekday afternoons are noticeably less crowded than weekends, and arriving right at opening time gives you the best shot at the mud pool before it gets packed. If your main goal is the concerts, plan your visit around the specific show date you want to catch, since the lineup changes across the 17-day run.

Getting There from Seoul

Boryeong sits about 2 to 3 hours from Seoul, and the easiest way to skip the logistics is a direct round-trip transfer. Trazy offers a private van transfer service direct from your hotel to the festival and back.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best new programs at the 2026 Boryeong Mud Festival?

The standout 2026 addition is easily the Mud Cask Zone. This self-service mud spa offers a slower, wellness-focused experience. The Mud Beauty Care Zone, offering mud facials and skincare treatments, is also worth building time for.

Are concerts included with the festival ticket?

Most concerts and open-air stages, including the Sunset Stage and Mud Busking performances, are included in festival access.

Is the Boryeong Mud Festival suitable for children?

Yes. The dedicated Family Zone is built specifically for children aged 3 to 12 traveling with a guardian.

What should I wear to the Mud Festival?

Wear a swimsuit or old clothes, along with sandals. Leave sneakers, as closed shoes are not permitted inside the mud zones. We recommend bringing a full change of clothes for after.

How many days should I spend at the Boryeong Mud Festival?

A single day is enough to cover the mud zones and a night show. Plus, it’s also perfect for a day trip from Seoul.

Photo Credits:
Boryeong Mud Festival Official Homepage