Seoul Seasonal Events Calendar 2025-2026

Plan your visit to Myeongdong and Seoul with our comprehensive monthly calendar of festivals, traditional holidays, cultural events, and seasonal celebrations. From traditional Korean holidays to modern K-pop festivals, discover what makes each month special in Seoul.

📅 Complete Event Calendars

New: Comprehensive event calendars with official contacts and downloadable iCal files:

📅 Seoul Events Calendar 2025 - October-December with detailed event information
📅 Seoul Events Calendar 2026 - Full year coverage with all major events

Each calendar includes official contact information, booking details, and downloadable calendar files for Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, and Outlook.

🗓️ Quick Calendar Navigation

January 2025: New Beginnings

January in Seoul celebrates fresh starts with traditional lunar new year festivities and winter illuminations that create a magical atmosphere throughout the city.

Major Events

New Year's Day - January 1 (National Holiday)
Seollal (Lunar New Year) - January 27-30 (4-day holiday celebration)
Seoul Lantern Festival - Through January 31 at Cheonggyecheon Stream
Gwanghwamun Square Market - Winter market through January 5
Seoul Philharmonic New Year Concert - January 10

🏮 Cultural Spotlight: Seollal

Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year, is one of the most important traditional holidays. Families gather to perform ancestral rites called "charye," children wear traditional hanbok and perform "sebae" (deep bows) to elders for blessings and money gifts called "sebaetdon," and everyone enjoys tteokguk (rice cake soup) which symbolically adds a year to your age.

February 2025: Fashion & Romance

February brings Korean fashion to the forefront with Seoul Fashion Week while romance fills the air for Valentine's Day celebrations throughout the city.

Major Events

Valentine's Day - February 14 (Major shopping occasion in Myeongdong)
Spring Seoul Fashion Week - Late February/Early March

💕 Myeongdong Valentine's Shopping

February is peak season for K-beauty shopping in Myeongdong. Korean couples celebrate not only Valentine's Day but also "White Day" (March 14), creating extended romantic shopping opportunities with special beauty sets and couple items.

March 2025: Cherry Blossoms & Independence

March marks the arrival of spring with early cherry blossoms and important commemorations of Korea's independence movement, creating a perfect blend of natural beauty and historical significance.

Major Events

Independence Movement Day - March 1 (National Holiday)
Day off for Independence Movement Day - March 3 (observed)
March Equinox - March 20
Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival - March 23-April 6
Seoul Grand Park Cherry Blossom Festival - March dates

🌸 Spring Planning Tips

Late March is when Seoul's cherry blossoms begin to appear. For the best viewing, plan visits to Yeouido Park, Seoul Forest, or day trips to Jinhae. The weather can still be cool, so layers are essential for comfortable sightseeing.

April 2025: Festivals & Gardens

April explodes with activity as Seoul awakens fully to spring. Major festivals launch, outdoor libraries open, and the city becomes a canvas of blooming flowers and cultural celebrations.

Major Events

Arbor Day - April 5
Seoul Outdoor Library Opening - April 18 at Gwanghwamun Square
Seoul Festa - April 30-May 6 (Major K-content festival)
Yeouido Spring Flower Festival - Early April
Hangang River Light Show - April dates

🎪 Seoul Festa Highlights

Seoul Festa is one of the largest cultural festivals, featuring K-pop concerts, cultural performances, food markets, and technology showcases. Major performers include NMIXX, TWS, god, STAYC, THE BOYZ, and NCT WISH across three big shows: Wonder Show, Signature Show, and Road Show.

May 2025: Family & Traditions

May is Korea's family month with multiple holidays celebrating children, parents, teachers, and Buddha's birthday. The weather becomes perfect for outdoor activities and river festivals.

Major Events

Workers' Day - May 1 (Bank Holiday)
Buddha's Birthday - May 5 (National Holiday with lantern festivals)
Children's Day - May 5 (National Holiday)
Day off for Children's Day - May 6 (observed)
Parents' Day - May 8
Teacher's Day - May 15
Hangang Space-Out Competition - May 12
Seoul International Garden Show - May 22-October 20

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Travel Perfect Timing

May is ideal for family visits to Seoul. With Children's Day and Parents' Day both celebrated, many attractions offer family discounts. The Hangang Space-Out Competition is a uniquely Korean event where participants compete to do absolutely nothing—a perfect stress relief activity!

June 2025: Summer Preparations

June brings longer days and the beginning of summer festival season. Memorial Day honors fallen heroes while cultural festivals celebrate Korean traditional music and arts.

Major Events

Presidential Election - June 3 (Public Holiday)
Memorial Day - June 6 (National Holiday)
June Solstice - June 21 (Longest day of the year)
Seoul International Travel Mart - June 30
Seoul Gugak Music Festival - June dates
SPO Riverside Concert - June 13-14

July 2025: Summer Heat & Cool Festivals

July brings Seoul's hottest weather, but also some of the city's coolest music festivals. From traditional Korean music to electronic dance beats, summer festivals provide relief and excitement.

Major Events

Constitution Day - July 17
WATERBOMB Festival Seoul - July 4-6 (Water dance music festival)
Daegu Chimac Festival - July 2-6 (Chicken & beer festival)
Lotus Flower Cultural Festival - June 27-August 10 at Semiwon Garden
Summer Gugak Festival - July dates

🌊 Beat the Heat

Seoul summers can reach 35°C (95°F) with high humidity. WATERBOMB Festival is perfect for cooling off with water games and top K-pop and international EDM artists. Always carry water and seek air-conditioned spaces during peak afternoon hours.

August 2025: Liberation & Rivers

August commemorates Korea's liberation from Japanese rule while celebrating summer with river festivals, beer events, and traditional performances that showcase both historical significance and modern joy.

Major Events

Liberation Day - August 15 (National Holiday)
Hangang River Festival Summer - August 1-17
Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival - August 1-3
Songdo Beer Festival - August 22-30
Boryeong Mud Festival - July 25-August 10
Seoul Beauty Week - August dates
Concert for 80th Liberation Anniversary - August 15

🎉 Liberation Day Significance

August 15 marks both Korea's liberation from Japanese rule (1945) and the establishment of the Republic of Korea government (1948). The word "Gwangbok" (광복) means "restoration of light." Special ceremonies are held at major historical sites throughout Seoul.

September 2025: Autumn Arts

September brings autumn colors and sophisticated cultural events. Art installations, jazz festivals, and traditional performances create an elegant atmosphere as temperatures become comfortable again.

Major Events

September Equinox - September 23
Seoul Forest Jazz Festival - September 19-21
Cultural Heritage Media Art Show - September 27-October 12 at Suwon
Car-Free Jamsugyo Bridge Festival (Fall) - September-October
Andong Mask Dance Festival - September 26-October 5
F/W Seoul Fashion Week - September dates

October 2025: Harvest & Heritage

October is Korea's most celebrated month, featuring the most important traditional holiday Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) along with national foundation celebrations and spectacular autumn foliage.

Major Events

Armed Forces Day - October 1
National Foundation Day - October 3 (National Holiday)
Chuseok (Harvest Festival) - October 5-8 (4-day holiday)
Hangeul Day - October 9 (National Holiday celebrating Korean alphabet)
Seoul Light Hangang Bitseom Festival - October 3-12
Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival - October 4-19
Seoul International Fireworks Festival - Fall 2025
Halloween - October 31

🌕 Chuseok: Korean Thanksgiving

Chuseok is Korea's most important holiday after Lunar New Year. Families gather to honor ancestors, share newly harvested foods, and eat traditional songpyeon (half-moon rice cakes). Like American Thanksgiving, it's a time for gratitude, family reunions, and traditional foods.

November 2025: Christmas Preparations

November signals the start of Seoul's spectacular Christmas season. Major shopping districts begin their holiday illuminations while traditional events wind down for the year.

Major Events

Seoul Outdoor Library - Final weekend November 2
Seoul Christmas Activities - Begin early November
Seoul K-Food Festival 'Knock Knock' - Every Fri-Sun until Dec 31
DDP Architecture Tour - Tue-Sun 1:30pm until Dec 31
Clean Bandit Concert - November 14
Teddy Swims Concert - November 14

🎄 Christmas Shopping Season

November marks the beginning of Seoul's famous Christmas displays. Myeongdong becomes especially magical with Shinsegae Department Store's millions of LED lights and special Christmas markets. Start planning holiday shopping as this is when the best selections are available.

December 2025: Winter Wonderland

December transforms Seoul into a winter wonderland with spectacular Christmas displays, ice skating rinks, lantern festivals, and year-end celebrations that create memories for a lifetime.

Major Events

December Solstice - December 22
Christmas Eve - December 24
Christmas Day - December 25 (National Holiday)
New Year's Eve - December 31
Seoul Plaza Ice Skating Rink - Mid-December opening
New Year's Bell-Ringing Ceremony - December 31
Seoul Lantern Festival - December 2025-January 2026

Christmas Shopping Paradise

Lotte World Adventure Christmas - Late November-December 31
Shinsegae Myeongdong Christmas Lights - November 1-January 31
The Hyundai Seoul Christmas Village - November 1-December 31
DDP Christmas/Winter Lights Festival - December dates

❄️ Winter Travel Tips

Seoul winters can reach -10°C (14°F) with snow. However, the city's Christmas displays are among the world's most spectacular. Indoor shopping areas like Myeongdong underground shopping center and major department stores provide warm shopping havens with holiday decorations.

Year-Round Experiences in Seoul

Beyond seasonal events, Seoul offers consistent cultural experiences perfect for any time of year:

Daily Performances

NANTA Theatre Show - Myeongdong location with daily performances (2pm, 5pm, 8pm)
The Painters Show - World's first live painting performance (8pm nightly)

Weekly Events

Seoul K-Food Festival - Every Friday-Sunday at Sejongno Park (4pm-9pm)
DDP Architecture Tour - Tuesday-Sunday 1:30pm (free, advance booking required)

Planning Your Visit

📅 Best Times to Visit by Interest

Traditional Culture: January (Seollal), May (Buddha's Birthday), October (Chuseok)
Modern Festivals: April-May (Seoul Festa), July-August (Music festivals)
Shopping & Christmas: November-December (Holiday displays, winter sales)
Cherry Blossoms: Late March-Early April
Autumn Foliage: October-November
Comfortable Weather: April-May, September-October

Transportation During Festivals

Major holidays like Seollal and Chuseok see increased travel as families reunite. Book accommodations early and expect crowded public transportation. During festival periods, additional subway services often run to major venues.

Cultural Etiquette

During traditional holidays, dress modestly when visiting palaces or temples. During Seollal and Chuseok, many shops close for 2-4 days, but tourist areas like Myeongdong typically maintain reduced hours. International restaurants and convenience stores usually remain open.

🎫 Festival Planning Tips

Book Early: Popular events like Seoul Festa and Christmas displays draw massive crowds
Weather Preparation: Seoul's four distinct seasons require different clothing strategies
Cultural Respect: Traditional holidays involve family time—be respectful in public spaces
Language: Download translation apps; many festival staff speak English in tourist areas

Seoul's seasonal events calendar reflects the city's unique position as a bridge between ancient traditions and cutting-edge modernity. Whether you're drawn by traditional Korean culture, K-pop excitement, or world-class shopping, each month offers distinctive experiences that showcase why Seoul has become a global cultural capital.