Chuseok in Seoul 2026: Your complete guide

(Photo courtesy of Haps Magazine Korea)

Chuseok, Korea’s harvest moon festival, is one of the most important holidays in the Korean calendar.

Falling on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, it’s a time when families gather from across the country to share food, perform ancestral rites, and give thanks for the harvest.

In 2026, Chuseok falls on Friday, September 25, with the official public holiday extending from Thursday, September 24 through Saturday, September 26. This year, many Seoul residents will treat it as a four-day break through Sunday, September 27.

For foreigners living in or visiting Seoul, Chuseok can feel like the city has emptied overnight, but it’s also one of the best times to experience authentic Korean culture, with free palace admission, traditional performances, special museum programmes, and the city’s parks at their most peaceful.

You can also check out our YouTube video about what to expect.

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YouTube: Chuseok in Seoul 2026 — Free Events, Palaces & Everything You Need to Know

What to Expect

Seoul’s population significantly decreases during Chuseok as locals travel to their hometowns. Major shopping streets like Myeongdong and Hongdae may feel quieter, and many small family-run restaurants and neighbourhood shops will close — especially on the morning of September 25. Traffic leaving Seoul on September 23–24 will be heavy, so avoid major highways if possible. Subway and public transport run normally throughout.

Free Palace Admission

Seoul’s five royal palaces — Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, and Gyeonghuigung — along with Jongmyo Shrine remain open during Chuseok 2026 and offer free admission to all visitors on September 24–26. This is one of the best opportunities of the year to visit these iconic sites without paying entry. Gyeongbokgung’s night viewing programme also continues through October 24 for those who want an evening visit.

Regular ceremonies continue throughout the holiday: the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony at 10:00 and 14:00, the Gwanghwamun Gate Sentry Ceremony at 11:00 and 13:00, and the Guard Patrol Ceremony at 15:00.

The Best Cultural Experiences Namsangol Hanok Village — Namsan Dalbit Madang (Moonlit Courtyard)

Namsangol Hanok Village will host Namsan Dalbit Madang (Moonlit Courtyard) from Friday through Sunday, with tightrope walking, Arirang performances, seven traditional experiences, quilted craft workshops, and hanbok-related activities. This is the single best Chuseok event in Seoul for foreigners — it’s free, easily accessible (three minutes from Chungmuro Station), and runs on Chuseok Day itself when most other venues are closed.

Friday–Sunday, September 25–27, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. | Namsangol Hanok Village, Jung-gu | Free (some paid activities)

4th World Pansori Festival @ Namsangol Hanok Village & Seoul Namsan Gugak Center

Running alongside the Chuseok festival, this international music event celebrates pansori — Korea’s UNESCO-recognized vocal performance tradition — with free performances across two venues.

Friday–Saturday, September 25–26, 1:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | Free

Unhyeongung Palace — ‘Fortune-Filled Hangawi’

Traditional games, craft experiences, and performances including gugak, fusion gugak, and Korean dance across all four days of the holiday. Some paid activities.

Thursday–Sunday, September 24–27, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Unhyeongung Palace, Jongno-gu | Free (some paid activities)

Seoul Museum of Korean Folk Music — ‘Under the Full Moon, Our Sound’

A special programme blending traditional music with modern presentations, with a full moon arrival game, Chuseok photo zones, and traditional games throughout the holiday. September 24 features special calligraphy, gugak performances, and a ganggangsullae circle dance experience.

Thursday–Sunday, September 24–27 | Free

Yeoyu-jak Outdoor Gugak Concert @ Seoul Donhwamun Traditional Theater

Free outdoor gugak concerts featuring emerging traditional music artists — two performances daily.

Thursday and Friday, September 24–25, 3:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m. | Free

35th National Dance Festival — World Dance Festival @ Seoul Nori Madang

Free outdoor performances by international dance companies on the opening evening of the holiday.

Thursday September 24, 6:00 p.m. | Seoul Nori Madang | Free

Korean Confucian Culture Expo @ Sungkyunkwan National Academy

Traditional rituals, folk games, K-Seonbi culture, and Korean medicine culture experiences at one of Seoul’s most historically significant sites.

Friday–Sunday, September 25–27 | Sungkyunkwan Myeongnyungwang | Free

Saturday September 26 — The Big Museum Day

Saturday is the best day for museum visits, with multiple institutions hosting special Chuseok events:

Hanseongbaekje Museum — ‘Hangawi Grand Festival’

Free samulnori percussion, Bukcheongsajachum lion dance, jegi kicking competition, Baekje quiz contest, kite and peg-top making, tteok pounding, and traditional games.

Saturday September 26 | Hanseongbaekje Museum, Songpa-gu | Free

Seoul Museum of History — ‘Hangawi Hanmadam’

Gugak busking, traditional farming and weaving activities, full moon wish lanterns, folk painting, yarn knot coaster making, and traditional games including seesaw jumping, tuho, jegichagi, and janggi chess.

Saturday September 26 | Seoul Museum of History, Jongno-gu | Free

Seoul Museum of Living History — ‘Culture Flows Through the Museum’

Magic balloon shows, fusion gugak performances, tuho, giant jegi kicking, and wooden fortune pouch making.

Saturday September 26, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Free

National Folk Museum of Korea — Chuseok Hanmadang

Seasonal customs, harvest experiences, and special performances tied to Chuseok, with folk activities open to all visitors.

Saturday–Sunday, September 26–27 | National Folk Museum of Korea, Jongno-gu | Free with museum admission

‘Seoul Dal’ (Seoul Moon Balloon) — Special Chuseok Event @ Yeouido Park

One of the most unique Chuseok experiences in the city this year. Seoul’s famous tethered gas balloon — which rises up to 130 metres above Yeouido for panoramic views of the Han River and city — hosts a special Chuseok event called ‘Under Seoul Dal, Full Moon Wish’ from September 24 to October 5. In week one (September 24–27), the event features large-scale yutnori, Chuseok wish tree decoration, and random dice games. In week two (September 28–October 5), a Seoul Dal game zone opens with trivia and missions — complete a mission and receive a souvenir including Seoul Dal keycaps, moon jar keyrings, and grip toks. Giant moon photo zones (3m and 2m diameter) are installed around the site. The balloon itself runs until 9:00 p.m. on Chuseok days and until 11:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Thursday September 24 – Sunday October 5 | Yeouido Park | Event: Free (balloon ride ticketed separately)

Seoul Outdoor Library — Chuseok Special Hours

Seoul’s outdoor library spaces extend their hours over Chuseok, open until 10:00 p.m. each evening Friday through Sunday. Special programming each evening:

Friday, September 25, 8:00 p.m. — Deep Talk reading session with author Kim Dong-yeon @ Gwanghwamun
Friday, September 25, 7:00 p.m. — Immersive ‘Sentence Collection’ reading experience @ Cheonggyecheon
Saturday, September 26, 7:00 p.m. — Pajama Reading Night for families @ Gwanghwamun
Sunday, September 27, 7:00 p.m. — Hip Reading session with poet Go Seon-gyeong @ Seoul Plaza

Chuseok special film screenings run on the large LED screen at Seoul Plaza throughout the weekend.

Friday–Sunday, September 25–27, 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. | Seoul Plaza, Gwanghwamun Square & Cheonggyecheon | Free

Seoul Autumn Festa

Seoul Autumn Festa, running from September 18 through November 29, connects more than 200 performances and festivals across the city, with dance, Korean traditional music, and theatre among the offerings during the holiday. Check the official website for events running specifically over the Chuseok weekend. koreatimes

Park Programmes

Nine city parks host special Chuseok holiday programmes:

World Cup Park (September 24–25) — traditional games, LED jwibulnori toys, evening telescope viewing of the full moon from 6:30 p.m.
Namsan Park (September 26–27) — beeswax candle making, gardening, and forest walks
Naksan Park — traditional board game Seunggyeongdo
Seoul Forest — ecological programs and traditional games (yutnori, jegichagi, tuho)
Bukseoul Dream Forest (September 24) — Chuseok moonlight walk with English-language programs for multicultural families and foreign residents
Yongsan Family Park, Seonyudo Park, Gyeongui Line Forest Park, Boramae Park — various programs
Seoul Botanic Park — open September 24, 26–27 (closed September 25)

Reservations for some activities at parks.seoul.go.kr and yeyak.seoul.go.kr.

Extended Evening Hours at Seoul Cultural Venues

Several major cultural institutions extend their hours over the Chuseok period:

Seoul Museum of History, Hanseongbaekje Museum, Seoul Craft Museum, Unhyeongung Palace — open until 9:00 p.m. Tuesday–Wednesday and Friday–Sunday
Namsangol Hanok Village, Seoul Namsan Gugak Center, Seoul Donhwamun Traditional Theater — open until 9:00 p.m. throughout the holiday period

What’s Closed

The National Folk Museum of Korea and the National Museum of Korea are both explicitly closed on Chuseok Day, Friday, September 25, 2026, though they operate normally with holiday programming on September 24 and 26 — plan museum visits around those two days rather than the main holiday itself. The War Memorial of Korea is also closed on Chuseok Day, Friday, September 25, 2026. koreavisiting

Many small neighbourhood restaurants and shops, particularly family-run businesses, will close on Chuseok morning. Large shopping centres, convenience stores, and most cafés in tourist areas remain open. Check ahead for individual restaurant closures.

Seoul Welcome Week for Foreign Visitors

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is operating a 23-day “2026 Seoul Welcome Week: Autumn Edition” from September 19 to October 11, at major tourism hubs including airports and Myeongdong. Free Discover Seoul Pass Heritage Editions are available for select foreign arrivals at Incheon and Gimpo airports, giving free entry to 12 heritage sites including Seoul’s four major palaces. A Seoul Culture Lounge at the Samil Building (11th floor, 85 Cheonggyecheon-ro) runs through October 10 with traditional dance lessons, songpyeon making, and Korean cultural experiences. A multilingual Seoul Welcome Center opens at Myeongdong Exit 6 from October 1–8. seoul

Practical Tips

Wear comfortable walking shoes — the best Chuseok experiences are outdoors
Bring a light jacket — late September evenings in Seoul can be cool
Book Gyeongbokgung Palace Night Viewing in advance through the lottery system
Use the T-Money card for all transport — no Chuseok disruptions on the subway
Book restaurants in advance if you want a sit-down meal on September 25 — many will be full or closed
Visit palaces early in the morning to beat the crowds on the free admission days
For a full schedule of all public service reservations including park forest walks and cultural programmes, visit yeyak.seoul.go.kr (in Korean — use Google Translate)