2026 Seoul Autumn Festa Opens on September 18… Opening Performance at Ttukseom Hangang Park: Seats Available by Advance Registration; Free Viewing from the Surrounding Area

The 2026 Seoul Autumn Festa will take place in Seoul for 73 days, from September 18 to November 29. On the opening day, September 18, an opening performance will be held on the waterside stage at Ttukseom Hangang Park. Visitors who have registered in advance can watch the performance from reserved seats, while those who have not registered can still enjoy the show for free on the grass or benches surrounding the stage.

International students residing in Seoul or those visiting the city during the event period can check the schedules and locations of the opening performance and related programs—such as the Seoul Street Arts Festival and Seoul Stage in Autumn—to plan their visit.

Seoul Autumn Festa to Run for 73 Days, from September 18 to November 29

According to information released by the Seoul Mediahub, the “2026 Seoul Autumn Festa” will run for a total of 73 days, from September 18 to November 29, 2026.

On the opening day, September 18, an outdoor performance will take place on the waterfront stage at Ttukseom Hangang Park. The title of the opening event, as disclosed on the Seoul Cultural Foundation’s “Culture+Seoul” guide, is *Seoul, Dancing on the Han River*.

As of September 11, 2026, the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture’s main information page lists the “2026 Seoul Autumn Festa Opening Ceremony” as taking place on September 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ttukseom Han River Park Waterfront Stage, along with instructions for advance registration.

How to Attend the Opening Performance

The way to attend the opening event varies depending on whether you have pre-registered.

According to the official Seoul Metropolitan Government guide, reserved seats will be provided to those who pre-register. However, since the official guide does not specify whether these pre-registered seats require a separate fee or are free, you should check the Seoul Foundation for Culture and Arts’ application guidelines for the specific terms and conditions.

Not having pre-registered does not mean you cannot watch the opening performance. The Seoul Metropolitan Government has announced that visitors who did not pre-register can also watch the performance for free on the grass and benches surrounding the stage.

How to Attend the Opening Event

The Seoul Street Arts Festival Continues the Day After the Opening

One of the major related programs introduced by Culture+Seoul, a project of the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, is the Seoul Street Arts Festival.

The festival runs from September 19 to 20, with Ttukseom and Seoul Forest listed as the main venues. Since the schedule begins the very day after the Seoul Autumn Festa opening performance, you can plan your itinerary to include both events.

However, the participation and viewing guidelines for individual performances or programs within the Seoul Street Arts Festival are separate from those of the opening ceremony. It is necessary to double-check the details in the official event guide before visiting any program.

“Seoul Stage in Autumn” Runs September 18–20

Another major associated program is “Seoul Stage in Autumn.”

The Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture describes this program as an event taking place at Seoul Forest from September 18 to 20. Therefore, during the first weekend—including the opening day—visitors can enjoy various related programs in the areas around Ttukseom Hangang Park and Seoul Forest.

For “Seoul Stage in Autumn” as well, specific ticket reservations and participation methods must be confirmed based on the program’s official guidelines. You should not apply the application requirements or viewing rules of other programs to the opening ceremony, nor should you apply the free admission policy of the opening ceremony to other events.

International Students: Check the Opening Time and Viewing Area on September 18

The key information that international students and visitors planning to attend the opening ceremony should check first is relatively clear.

The event will take place on September 18, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at the Waterside Stage in Ttukseom Hangang Park. If you wish to watch from a seated area, you must check the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture’s guidelines for advance registration; if you have not registered in advance, you can watch for free on the grass or benches surrounding the stage, as per the official guidelines.

Since the Seoul Autumn Festa runs through November 29, if you’re looking for programs other than the opening ceremony, it’s best to check the schedule and viewing conditions for each event individually. In particular, since ticket reservations, advance registration, and participation methods may vary by program, you should not assume that the conditions for the opening ceremony apply to other events.