What's on in Seoul in October 2026
Festivals, pop-ups, free events and deals in Seoul in October 2026, from our guides. Dates are checked against official sources; each line links to the full guide with stations, Korean names and maps.
Travelling soon? This week in Seoul lets you pick your trip dates, and the month calendar has holidays and busy days.
Events and dates
- SEP 4–NOV 1Seoul Outdoor Library (closes Nov 1, 2026): 3 free reading spots, hours and how to get there
Seoul Plaza · Free, no booking
- SEP 18–NOV 19Step into 40 K-dramas for free at HiKR Ground
HiKR Ground, 4F · Free entry
- OCT 1–3Seoul market night festivals, Oct–Nov: every date
23 markets in 12 districts · Free entry
- OCT 9–18New Seongsu pop-ups in October 2026: KICKDOONGS, Mamma Ham Store, Kakao Pay
Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu · Free to walk in
- OCT 12–31Incheon Airport free prize draw for foreign visitors (Oct 2026): Visit Seoul Starter Pack at HiKR Station
HiKR Station, Incheon Airport Terminal… · Free
- OCT 16–NOV 8Nowon Moonlight Walk 2026: light art on Danghyeon Stream (from Oct 16)
Danghyeon Stream, Nowon-gu
- OCT 16–NOV 30Korean show discounts for foreign tourists: Korea In Motion and AI subtitle glasses (2026)
- OCT 17–NOV 14Seoul night market festivals Oct–Nov 2026: dates for 6 traditional markets
6 markets across Seoul · Free entry
- OCT 17–DEC 31Free Bibigo welcome kit at Gyeongbokgung (Oct–Dec 2026): how to get one on the free palace tour
Gwanghwamun → Gyeongbokgung Palace · Tour and kit free
- OCT 17–JAN 24Crayon Shin-chan immersive exhibition in Seongsu (Oct 17 – Jan 24) + this week's Seongsu pop-ups
Yeonmujang 5-gil 9-29, Seongdong-gu
- OCT 19–31Hanbok discount at Lotte World (50% off) and Seoul Sky (35% off), until Oct 31
Jamsil, Songpa-gu, Seoul
- OCT 23–NOV 1Musinsa Standard Super Sale in Seoul (Oct 23 – Nov 1, 2026): up to 80% off Korea's basics brand
44 Musinsa Standard stores in Korea +…
- OCT 23–NOV 6Busan Hanwoo Gourmet Tour: foreign visitors get up to ₩30,000 toward a Korean beef meal
4 restaurants in Haeundae, Gwangalli
- OCT 23–NOV 6₩30,000 Hanwoo BBQ for foreigners in Seoul (Oct 23 – Nov 6, 2026): Majang-dong, Taste of Seoul
3 restaurants, Majang-dong meat market
- OCT 23–NOV 14Namsan Night Festival 2026 (Oct 23 – Nov 14): free night picnic, autumn night walk & silent disco under N Seoul Tower
Namsan Park · Free
- OCT 24–DEC 31How to get the free K-snack bag at Gyeongbokgung (Oct–Dec 2026): step by step
Gwanghwamun → Gyeongbokgung Palace · Tour and kit free
- OCT 26–NOV 4Free night temple walk in Seoul: Bongeunsa, Jogyesa, Hwagyesa (Oct 26 – Nov 4, 2026)
Bongeunsa, Jogyesa, Hwagyesa · Free, no booking, no…
- OCT 26–NOV 15Seoul Hiking Week 2026 (Oct 26 – Nov 15): free hiking gear for foreign visitors, programs and how to sign up
3 Seoul Hiking Tourism Centers…
- OCT 29–30FUN&FUN Gangnam: free Thursday street shows at Gangnam Station Exit 12 (until Oct 29)
Gangnam Station Exit 12 · Free, no booking
- OCT 29–NOV 15Seoul palace fall leaves 2026: peak this week, free entry Oct 29 – Nov 15
- OCT 29–NOV 15Seoul palaces free entry Oct 29 – Nov 15, 2026: Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Jongmyo and more
4 palaces, Jongmyo shrine, Joseon… · Free regular admission
- OCT 29–NOV 15Korea Grand Festival 2026 (K-Sale Festa): Oct 29 – Nov 15 deals for tourists
Nationwide, in store and online
- OCT 30–31Jeongdong Night Walk 2026 (Oct 30–31): 34 historic buildings by Deoksugung open till 10 PM
Deoksugung Palace and the Jeongdong…
- OCT 30–31Seoul City Tour Bus Halloween 2026: ghost actors on the open-top night bus (Oct 30–31)
Board at the DDP ticket booth · Night: ₩22,000 adult
- OCT 30–NOV 1Seoul TCG Con Halloween card show in Seongsu (Oct 30 – Nov 1, 2026): hours, tickets, how to get there
BLANKBEAM Studio 2F, Seongsu · From ₩10,000 at the door
- OCT 30–NOV 8SSG Day 2026: Shinsegae Duty Free sale up to 70% off (Oct 30 – Nov 8)
- OCT 31Namsan Costume Hike on Halloween (Sat Oct 31, 2026): how to sign up, plus free hiking gear for foreign visitors
Namsan, central Seoul
- OCT 31Hangang Drone Light Show, Oct 31 2026: free drones over the Han River at Ttukseom
Ttukseom Hangang Park, riverside stage · Free, no ticket
- OCT 31Halloween in Seoul 2026: where to go and what to know (Sat Oct 31)
- OCT 31Han River drone light show on Halloween night, Oct 31 2026: times, Ttukseom Hangang Park, free
Ttukseom Hangang Park, riverside… · Free
- OCT 1–11Seoul Welcome Week 2026: free gifts and deals for tourists (until Oct 11)ENDED
Free programs
- OCT 1–27Seoul International Garden Expo at Maeheon Citizen's Forest: free, Oct 1–27, 2026ENDED
Maeheon Citizen's Forest, Seocho-gu · Free, no booking
- OCT 2–11Seoul Hanok Week 2026: programs for visitors in Bukchon & Seochon (Oct 2–11)ENDED
Bukchon & Seochon, Jongno-gu
- OCT 2–11Seoul Light Hangang 2026: free laser shows on Nodeul Island (Oct 2–11)ENDED
Nodeul Island · Free, walk in
- OCT 4Gangnam Festival 2026: free K-pop concert with PSY, parade and schedule (Oct 3–5)ENDED
Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu · Free
- OCT 5–11Creative x Seongsu, Oct 5–11: the free festival scheduleENDED
All over Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu · Every program is free
- OCT 6–8Seoul AI Robot Show 2026 at COEX: K-pop robots, parade and hours (Oct 6–8)ENDED
COEX Hall B, 1F, Gangnam-gu
- OCT 7–11Royal Culture Festival, Oct 7–11: the full scheduleENDED
Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung…
- OCT 8Hangul Day 100th anniversary in Seoul: free events at Gwanghwamun (Oct 6–11, 2026)ENDED
Gwanghwamun Square, Jongno-gu · Free
- OCT 8–27Free K-beauty gifts at Seongsu pop-ups (Oct 2026): SENNOK, SKIN&LAB, CLIOENDED
Seongsu-dong & Seoul Forest… · Free entry
- OCT 11Seoul on Oct 11: 4 free events on their last day (Light Hangang, palaces, Gwanghwamun)ENDED
Free
- OCT 12–18Things to do in Seoul this week (Oct 12–18, 2026): free festivals and showsENDED
Mostly free
- OCT 14–18DDP Design Fair 2026 (Oct 14–18): tickets, hours and what's insideENDED
DDP Art Hall, Dongdaemun · ₩15,000 regular
- OCT 16–17Jeongdong Night Walk 2026 (Oct 16–17): Seoul's night festival on Jeongdong-gilENDED
Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu
- OCT 16–18Seoul weekend plan, Oct 16–18 2026: festivals by day and area (mostly free)ENDED
Mostly free
- OCT 16–18Garak Oktoberfest 2026: free rooftop beer festival at Garak Market (Oct 16–18)ENDED
Garak Mall 3F Sky Park, Songpa-gu · Free entry
- OCT 16–18Gangdong Prehistoric Culture Festival 2026 (Oct 16–18) at Amsa-dong Prehistoric SiteENDED
Amsa-dong Prehistoric Site, Gangdong-gu · Free
- OCT 17–23Seoul Silver Grass Festival 2026 at Haneul Park: dates, hours and how to get thereENDED
Haneul Park
- OCT 17–25Hangang Festival Fall 2026: silent yoga, river workouts and a K-street food cook-off (Oct 17–25)ENDED
7 Han River parks + on the water · Mostly free
- OCT 18Free Taekwondo shows at Namsangol Hanok Village (weekends until Oct 18, 2026)ENDED
Cheonugak stage, Namsangol Hanok Village · Free
- OCT 19–25Hanbok Week 2026 in Seoul (Oct 19–25): free Hanbok Day fashion show + free palace entry in hanbokENDED
National Museum of Korea, Open Plaza · Free
- OCT 23–25Things to do in Seoul this weekend (Oct 23–25, 2026): drone show, free concert, Namsan night picnicENDED
Mostly free
- OCT 23–25Hanseong Baekje Festival 2026 at Olympic Park: 900-drone show (Oct 23), Kep1er & Dynamic Duo (Oct 25), free entryENDED
88 Lawn, Olympic Park, Songpa-gu · Free entry
- OCT 24Seoul Music Festival 2026 on Nodeul Island (Oct 24): free concert with Paul Kim, Kwon Jin-ah & Kim Chang-wan BandENDED
Nodeul Island, Yongsan · Free
- OCT 24–25Seoul Market Fair 2026 at Cheonggye Plaza (Oct 24–25): food, crafts, stamps and timesENDED
Cheonggye Plaza · Free entry, no booking
- OCT 24–25Seoul Barbecue Festival 2026 (Oct 24–25): grill your own K-BBQ at Nanji Camping GroundENDED
Nanji Camping Ground, Mapo-gu
- OCT 25Jamsu Bridge Chicken Day 2026 (Oct 25): the 400m chicken table, times, and what to do if you didn't bookENDED
Jamsu Bridge · Free to walk in
- OCT 25Car-free Jamsugyo Bridge Sundays (till Oct 25, 2026): free walk, food trucks & Refresh DayENDED
Jamsugyo & Banpo Hangang Park · Free
Seoul guides from October 2026
- SHOPPINGJapan tax-free changes Nov 1, 2026 vs Korea instant tax refund: what to do if you visit both
- TRAVEL TIPSSeoul bus says "jan-aek-i bu-jok-ham-ni-da"? Your T-money is empty: how to top up
- TRAVEL TIPSCulture Day in Korea: every Wednesday, Seoul museums open until 9 PM
- TRAVEL TIPSSeoul Halloween 2026: road closures and subway stations that may be skipped
- TRAVEL TIPSBukchon Hanok Village visiting hours: tourists 10 AM – 5 PM, ₩100,000 fine after
Red zone: Bukchon-ro 11-gil and around
- SHOPPINGSeoul department store discounts for foreigners: Lotte, Shinsegae and Hyundai memberships (2026)
- TRAVEL TIPSClimate Card tourist pass in Seoul (2026): unlimited subway and bus from ₩5,000 a day
- FREEGuess the Seoul night spot: the 5 answers and how to get to each (2026)
All five are free to walk…
- K-CULTUREKPop Demon Hunters Seoul locations: 8 real spots from the movie and how to get there by subway
Free to walk around
- FREEIs the National Museum of Korea free? Yes, for now: what the entry-fee study means for visitors
Ichon Station · Free
- FOODMangwon Market QR menu translation: how the AI Tourism Butler works (no app)
Mangwon Market, Mapo-gu, Seoul
- TRANSPORTCheonggye A01: Seoul's self-driving bus now runs at night, free for now (2026)
- TRAVEL TIPSDo I need a K-ETA for Korea in 2027? The 22-country exemption ends Dec 31, 2026
- TRAVEL TIPSIncheon Airport to Seoul: AREX train, airport bus or taxi? How to get into the city (2026)
- TRAVEL TIPSIncheon Airport taxi fare to Seoul: normal price, and what to do if you're overcharged (2026)
- K-CULTUREGyeongbokgung Palace: hours, tickets, the guard ceremony and free entry in hanbok (2026)
- TRAVEL TIPSHow to find a public toilet in Seoul (subway, Myeongdong, Hongdae, Gyeongbokgung, Seongsu)
- SHOPPINGSend your shopping bags to your hotel in Seoul: The Hyundai Seoul luggage delivery (2026)
The Hyundai Seoul, 1F Tourist Desk · ₩16,900 per shopping bag
- TRAVEL TIPSClimate Card vs T-money: how to pay for the subway and bus in Seoul (2026)
- SEASONSeoul fall foliage 2026: 3 free leaf walks you can reach by subway (Namsan, Seoul Forest, Olympic Park)
Free, no booking
- TRAVEL TIPSWhat to pack for Seoul in late October and November (weather + checklist)
- SHOPPINGTourist-only shopping cards in Seoul (2026): Lotte Tourist Membership × CHECK iN SEOUL and CJ ONE Global
- SEASONSeoul fall foliage 2026: peak dates and where to see autumn leaves in the city
- FOODChipotle in Seoul: Gangnam store address, menu prices and hours (2026)
Gangnam-daero 423, Seocho-gu · ₩12,800
- TRAVEL TIPSK-Tour Pass for foreigners: price, what's included and where to get it (2026)
₩15,000
- SHOPPINGSeongsu pop-ups this week (Oct 2026): SENNOK, SKIN&LAB, Superdry × Park Ji-hoon, CLIOENDED
Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu · Free entry
- K-BEAUTYWhat tourists are buying at Olive Young right now (with Korean names)