Travel
Busan festival review names top and lowest-rated events across expert and visitor surveys
Haps Magazine Korea
February 17, 2026
(Photo by City of Busan/courtesy of Haps Magazine Korea)
A comprehensive evaluation of 30 festivals held across Busan last year has revealed clear contrasts between the city’s highest-rated and lowest-rated events, based on separate assessments from experts and visitors.
In the expert review, the Dongnae Eupseong History Festival ranked first with the highest overall score.
Other highly rated festivals included the Busan International Rock Festival, Busan Port Festival, Busan Wheat Festival, Gwangalli Eobang Festival, Busan Sea Festival, Sasang Riverside Festival, and the Busan Mackerel Festival.
At the lower end of expert rankings were the Nakdong River Garden Cherry Blossom Festival, which recorded the lowest score, followed by the UN Nam-gu Water Festival, the Oncheoncheon Light Festival, and the Busan Jagalchi Festival.
Visitor satisfaction produced a different set of results.
The Gamcheon Culture Village Alley Festival received the highest rating from attendees. It was followed by the UN Nam-gu Water Festival, the Oncheoncheon Light Festival, the Jeonggwan Ecological Stream Learning Culture Festival, the Busan International Rock Festival, the Gwangalli Eobang Festival, the Gijang Anchovy Festival, and the Busan Jagalchi Festival.
Among visitors, the lowest-rated event was the Seomyeon Light Festival, with the Nakdonggang Gupo Naru Festival, the Busan Port Festival, and the Haeundae Dalmaji Hot Spring Festival also receiving relatively modest scores.
The evaluation, conducted by the Busan Festival Organizing Committee, surveyed both experts and approximately 6,000 attendees across city-hosted and district festivals.