Travel
Jinju’s three major autumn festivals set to fill the city with lights, arts and K-culture
Haps Magazine Korea
September 28, 2026
(Photo by Jinju City/courtesy of Haps Magazine Korea)
Jinju is preparing for a packed October as three of the city’s signature festivals bring lantern displays, traditional arts, performances and Korean drama content to the Namgang River and Jinju Fortress areas.
The 2026 Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival kicks off the festivities on October 3. This year’s event takes on added significance after being selected as a Global Festival by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The festival’s signature lantern displays will be expanded, with 165 sets of lanterns on the water and around 1,200 land-based lanterns. Another 186 new floating lanterns are also being produced for this year’s event.
New interactive attractions will include AI-powered lanterns featuring Jinju tourism characters Hamo and Ayo, multilingual voice recognition, projection mapping and a hologram experience that allows visitors to display their wishes over the Namgang River. Two large-scale works from Singapore’s i Light Singapore festival will also be featured, while visitors can take part in experiences including LED hanbok rentals.
The 75th Gaecheon Arts Festival begins October 9, celebrating traditional and contemporary arts with competitions, performances and events. One of its major attractions, the Costume Parade Contest, will expand this year with a new Public Institution Character Parade featuring characters representing local governments and other organizations.
The festival will also feature its traditional Pungmul Market alongside food trucks and a dedicated food zone.
Also opening October 9 is the 2026 Korea Drama Festival, which will put a stronger focus on contemporary Hallyu and digital content.
Global short-form dramas set in Jinju will be produced using AI production tools and international actors before being distributed through global social media platforms. The festival will also host the Korea Drama Awards, featuring Korean and international actors, along with a new KDF Concert featuring performances by popular singers along the Namgang riverside.
Drama fans will also be able to explore outdoor sets inspired by popular productions, including The Tyrant’s Chef, Scarecrow and True Education, as well as 12 exhibition spaces showcasing major works.
Jinju’s October festival season begins with the Namgang Lantern Festival on October 3, followed by the Gaecheon Arts Festival and Korea Drama Festival on October 9. Festival activities will continue around the Namgang River and Jinju Fortress through October 18.