September is a great time to be out and about in Korea. The worst of the summer heat begins to ease, the evenings feel a little cooler, and the festival calendar starts filling up. From lantern displays and street-food stalls to live K-pop stages and traditional performances, plenty is happening across the country, so read on for a list of ones to check out!
1. 2027 S/S Seoul Fashion Week
- Address: Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), Lotte World Tower/Lotte Town Jamsil
- Dates: Sept 1st (Tues)~6th (Sun)
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The 2027 S/S Seoul Fashion Week will take place from September 1st to 6th, 2026, with events held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) and, for the first time, around Lotte World Tower in Jamsil. The citywide fashion event will present upcoming spring and summer collections from Korean designers through runway shows and presentations, while also bringing fashion closer to the public with pop-ups, exhibitions, shopping events, and K-culture experiences.
DDP will host most of the designer programme, including 17 runway shows, eight presentations, and a trade show featuring 97 brands. Meanwhile, the Lotte World Tower area will host outdoor fashion events and visitor-friendly activities from September 3rd to 6th. If you’re interested in seeing what’s on during your visit, check the official Seoul Fashion Week schedule closer to the event, as show times, participating brands, and visitor programmes may be updated.
Check out the top things to do around DDP:
- Seoul at Night: Private Seoul City Night Tour with City Views & Landmarks
- Seoul Travel Snap Photoshoot (Day/ Night)
- SPAREX Sauna Entrance Ticket (Jjimjilbang) – Dongdaemun/Dongmyo Branch
Experience K-beauty & DIY workshop in Seongsu:
- May One Hair Salon in Seongsu, Seoul
- NaNalog Hair Salon in Seongsu/ Hongdae/ Sinchon
- Private Korean Skincare Class for Glowing Skin in Seongsu (UAHAGE)
- Custom Silver Ring Workshop in Seongsu
2. Jinju National Heritage Night Tours
- Locations: Jinju Fortress, the old downtown, and nearby streets
- Dates: Sept 3rd (Thurs)~6th (Sun)
- Hours: 6pm – 10pm daily
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The Jinju National Heritage Night Tours will take place from September 3rd to 6th at Jinju Fortress and the surrounding old downtown area. Held under the theme of a Joseon-era secret royal inspector, the event invites visitors to see Jinju’s heritage after dark through illuminated fortress walks, themed performances, hands-on activities, cultural exhibitions, and a night market. The festival centers on the “Jinju Eight Nights” program, which includes night scenery, walking tours, stories, performances, food, markets, and stay-over experiences. Admission is generally free, though some activities may require advance reservation or charge a separate fee. It’s a great way to combine sightseeing, culture, and food!
- [Fall Special] 2026 Jinju Lantern Festival & Gimhae UNESCO Heritage Tour (Oct 3~18) – from Busan
- [Fall Special] 2026 Jinju Lantern Festival & Pink Muhly Tour from Busan (Oct 7~16)
- [Fall Special] 2026 Jinju Lantern Festival & Hadong Green Tea/ Sacheon Ocean Cable Car 1 Day Tour – from Busan (Oct 3~18)
3. Seoul Upcycling Festival
- Address: Indoor and outdoor areas of Seoul Upcycling Plaza, and Upcycling Street area (Kakao Maps)
- Dates: Sept 4th (Fri)~6th (Sun)
- Hours: 11am – 8pm (Fri, Sat), 11am – 6pm (Sun)
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If you enjoy browsing markets, trying a craft activity, or finding a more thoughtful souvenir, the Seoul Upcycling Festival is well worth a stop. Held at Seoul Upcycling Plaza, the event gives unwanted materials a second life through repair sessions, hands-on workshops, design displays, and a market full of upcycled goods. You can bring along an item that needs fixing, watch designers turn everyday waste into useful products, or simply wander around and pick up a few ideas for reducing waste in daily life. It’s an easy, family-friendly way to spend an afternoon while supporting more sustainable habits in Seoul.
4. Muju Firefly Festival
- Address: Jinam Park, 326-17 Hanpungru-ro, Muju-eup, Muju-gun, Jeollabuk-do (Kakao Maps)
- Dates: Sept 4th (Fri)~12th (Sat)
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Get ready to light up your September nights at the magical Muju Firefly Festival, Korea’s glowing celebration of nature’s tiniest nightlights! The festival is best known for its firefly-themed experiences, including a guided night exploration and an overnight ecological adventure where visitors can learn more about these small but important insects. There’s plenty to enjoy beyond the fireflies too, from camping, stargazing, media-art displays, parades, traditional performances, Taekwondo shows, and family-friendly activities to live busking and an EDM party!
5. Seoul Outdoor Library
- Locations: Seoul Plaza, Gwanghwamun Square, Cheonggyecheon Stream
- Dates: Sept 4th (Fri)~Nov 1st (Sun) (every Fri-Sun)
*Opening hours are subject to change based on weather conditions or other circumstances.
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For a slower way to enjoy Seoul in September, stop by the Seoul Outdoor Library, where public spaces become open-air reading rooms. Set across Seoul Plaza, Gwanghwamun Square, and the Cheonggyecheon stream area between Mojongyo and Gwanggyo, the free programme provides books, chairs, beanbags, and relaxed spaces for anyone who wants to sit down and read for a while. The autumn season runs on Fridays through Sundays from September to November, with daytime or evening hours adjusted according to the weather. Pick a book, settle in among the lights and city views, and take a quiet break between sightseeing stops.
6. Seoul International Fireworks Festival
- Address: Yeouido Hangang Park (Kakao Maps)
- Date: Sept 5th (Sat)
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The 2026 Seoul International Fireworks Festival will light up the Han River on September 5th at Yeouido Hangang Park. Fireworks teams from Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom will take turns filling the night sky with music-synchronized displays, with Seoul’s riverside skyline as the backdrop. The main fireworks show begins at 8:00 PM, but the festival area opens earlier in the afternoon, so you can arrive early, grab dinner nearby, and settle in before the show starts. It’s one of the busiest autumn events, so booking our viewing package is a convenient way to skip the early scramble for a good spot and watch from a more comfortable area.
7. Wanju Retro Pocha Festival
- Address: Wanju-gun, Jeonbuk State
- Date: Sept 5th (Sat)
Step into the past at the Wanju Retro Pocha Festival, where the area around Samnye Station is recreated as a 1920s-style food street filled with retro pojangmacha (street food) stalls. Come hungry for grilled pork belly, fried chicken, nostalgic desserts, and Wanju’s traditional makgeolli, along with local craft beer and non-alcoholic drinks. Live performances and a relaxed evening atmosphere make it a fun stop for anyone who wants to try Korean street-food culture with a nostalgic twist. Join our one-day tour, which pairs the festival with an afternoon hike at Daedunsan Provincial Park.
Explore Daedunsan and Wanju’s rich history on an unforgettable day trip!
8. SKA SPOTV K-POP Awards
- Address: KINTEX (Kakao Maps)
- Date: Sept 6th (Sun)
- Anticipated Line-up: RESCENE, AND2BLE, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, KISS OF LIFE, KickFlip, KiiKii, YENA, and more
Catch some of K-pop’s rising acts at the 2026 SPOTV K-POP Awards (SKA), a global music awards show that brings together performances, award presentations, and fan voting, with winners chosen through a combination of Circle Chart data and votes from fans around the world. This year’s line-up includes RESCENE, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, AND2BLE, Billlie, KISS OF LIFE, CLOSE YOUR EYES, KickFlip, IDID, KiiiKiii, 82MAJOR, Yena, xikers, and more, so it’s a good chance to see a mix of newer groups and established performers in one night.
9. Car-Free Jamsugyo Bridge Festival
- Address: Jamsugyo Bridge and Banpo Hangang Park area (Kakao Maps)
- Date: Sept 6th (Sun)~Oct 25th (Sun)
- Hours: 2pm – 10pm
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Spend a Sunday evening by the Han River at the Car-Free Jamsugyo Bridge Festival, when Jamsugyo Bridge closes to traffic and becomes a long, walkable festival space. Stroll between Banpo Hangang Park and the bridge while stopping for food-truck snacks, small markets, live performances, hands-on activities, and riverside photo spots. This autumn’s programme also includes a water-gun event, university club performances, a friendly sports day, traditional performances from Korea and several other countries, and evening media art along the bridge. It’s free to visit, so bring comfortable shoes, arrive by public transport, and take your time enjoying the Han River after dark!
- Complete Guide to the 12 Hangang Parks in Seoul
- Best Things to Do at Han River in Seoul
- Top Han River View Cafes in Seoul
10. Seoul Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival
- Address: Namsangol Hanok Village (Kakao Maps)
- Date: Sept 12th (Fri)~13th (Sat)
- Hours: 11am – 5pm
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Spend a weekend getting to know Seoul’s living traditions at the Seoul Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival. Held at Namsangol Hanok Village, the festival brings together traditional music and performance, craft demonstrations, exhibitions, and hands-on activities led by heritage practitioners. It’s sure to be a lot of fun if you’re a history buff and if you want to see skills that are passed down through generations and try a few traditional activities for yourself. Most of the festival is free to enter, although certain experience programmes may charge a small fee.
11. Bucheon International Comics Festival
- Address: Korea Manhwa Museum (Kakao Maps)
- Date: Sept 18th (Fri)~20th (Sun)
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If comics, webtoons, and cosplay are your thing, make time for the Bucheon International Comics Festival (BICOF). One of Korea’s biggest events for comic fans, the festival brings together special exhibitions, creator meet-and-greets, webtoon industry programmes, hands-on play areas, and an outdoor market where you can browse character goods and independent artists’ work. This year’s theme, “Comics and Webtoons Are for Everyone,” keeps the mood open and approachable, whether you’re a dedicated fan or simply curious about Korea’s massive comic culture. Don’t miss the International Cosplay Championship, where cosplayers from 14 countries take the stage with detailed costumes and performances.
12. Suwon Hwaseong Media Art
- Address: Hwaseomun Gate (Kakao Maps), Janganmun Gate (Kakao Maps), and the Jangan Park area (Kakao Maps)
- Dates: Sept 19th (Sat)~Oct 6th (Tues)
- Hours: 6pm – 10pm
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Take an evening trip to Suwon to check out the Suwon Hwaseong Media Art, where digital projections, light installations, and sound bring the walls and gates of UNESCO-listed Suwon Hwaseong Fortress to life after dark. The event stretches from Hwaseomun Gate through Jangan Park to Janganmun Gate, so you can enjoy it as a relaxed night walk rather than staying in one place. This year’s theme, Saebit Dongrak: Suwon Hwaseong Blossoms in Light, looks at the fortress’s history and architecture through new media, with the main show at Hwaseomun running three times each evening. Entry is free, making it an easy add-on to a Suwon day trip – just arrive after sunset and give yourself enough time to explore the full route.
March into history with these Suwon Hwaseong tours:
- Suwon Lovely Runner Filming Spot 1 Day Tour: Starfield + Haengnidan-gil Street – from Seoul (Join-in/ Private)
- Suwon Hwaseong Fortress + Waujeongsa Temple + Starfield Library 1 Day Tour – from Seoul
- Korean Folk Village & Suwon Hwaseong Fortress 1 Day Tour – from Seoul
- Suwon Hwaseong Fortress + Gwangmyeong Cave + Starfield Suwon 1 Day Tour – from Seoul
13. Busan Seven Bridges Tour
- Course Route: Gwangan Bridge > Sinseondae Underpass > Busan Harbor Bridge > Namgang Bridge > Cheonma Tunnel > Jangpyeong Underpass > Eulsukdo Bridge > Gonghang-ro (Turning Point) > Gwangan Bridge
- Date: Sept 20th (Sun)
- Hours: 6:30 am ~ (approx. 4 hours)
For a very active way to see Busan’s coastline, join the Busan Seven Bridges Tour, a non-competitive cycling event that’ll take you across the city’s bridges, underpasses, tunnels, and waterfront roads. The 77 km route starts near BEXCO and includes the rare chance to cycle over Gwangan Bridge and Busan Harbor Bridge, which are usually reserved for vehicle traffic. It’s a proper early-morning challenge rather than a casual bike ride, but the sea views and open-road feeling make it a memorable pick for confident cyclists.
Challenge yourself as you take in the sights:
14. Chuseok Holiday
- Dates: Sept 24th (Thurs)~26th (Sat)
Chuseok, often called Korean Thanksgiving, is one of Korea’s biggest family holidays, and it can be a surprisingly pleasant time to explore the cities at a slower pace. As many Koreans travel home to spend time with family, central Seoul and other usually busy neighborhoods will likely be less crowded than usual, giving you more room to wander around places like Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon, and the Han River. Major attractions, hotels, convenience stores, and many chain restaurants generally remain open, while royal palaces often offer free entry during the holiday period. Just keep in mind that small independent restaurants, traditional markets, banks, and government offices may close or run on shorter hours, so it’s best to check ahead and make restaurant plans early.
Read more about Chuseok:
15. Andong Maskdance Festival
- Dates: Sept 24th (Thurs)~Oct 4th (Sun)
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Ready to slip on a mask and unleash your inner dancing queen (or king)? The 2026 Andong Maskdance Festival is turning up the fun from September 24th to October 4th! Catch Korea’s iconic UNESCO Hahoe Mask Dance and wild global performances, then jump into the parade like a culture ninja. Expect cheeky satirical plays, folk games that get you giggling, and a party vibe so contagious you’ll forget your own name. For ten days, Andong is the place where ancient tradition gets seriously funky!
Explore more of Andong’s rich heritage and vibrant culture with these tours:
Check out more to do in Korea this fall on our blog:
- Korea Autumn Foliage Forecast 2026: Best Time & Places to Visit
- Best Cafes in Seoul to Enjoy the Fall Foliage
Pre-book your fall & winter Korea trip NOW & SAVE!
From lantern-lit nights to sizzling street food and live performances, September in Korea is a feast for the senses. Book your festival adventures now on Trazy.com, Korea’s #1 Travel Shop!
