Travel
Korea Destinations: 10 festivals worth traveling for this September
Haps Magazine Korea
August 24, 2026
(Photo by Jinju City/courtesy of Haps Magazine Korea)
September is one of the best months to travel around Korea, as the worst of the summer heat begins to fade and the fall festival season gets underway.
From illuminated palaces and historic night tours to fireflies, flowers, food, dinosaurs, and traditional mask dancing, the month offers plenty of reasons to get out of the city and explore somewhere new.
Here are 10 festivals and events around Korea to consider this September.
Gyeongbokgung Palace Starlight Night Tour
September 2 – October 24 | Jongno-gu, Seoul
Gyeongbokgung Palace takes on a completely different atmosphere after sunset. The Starlight Night Tour offers visitors a chance to experience the historic royal grounds in the evening, making it a good option for anyone looking for something beyond a standard daytime palace visit.
Jinju National Heritage Night Tour
September 3–6 | Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do
Jinju’s historic sites become the setting for four evenings of heritage-focused programming. The event offers another reason to explore a city already known for its fortress, riverfront, and strong connection to Korean history.
Muju Firefly Festival
September 4–12 | Muju, Jeonbuk
One of Korea’s better-known nature festivals, the Muju Firefly Festival celebrates the clean environment needed for fireflies to survive. The late-summer setting and nighttime focus make this one of the more distinctive September trips on the calendar.
Pyeongchang Hyoseok Cultural Festival
September 4–13 | Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do
Inspired by writer Lee Hyo-seok and his famous story When Buckwheat Flowers Bloom, this long-running festival combines literature with Pyeongchang’s countryside during buckwheat flowering season.
For visitors looking for an early taste of autumn outside the cities, it is one of September’s most scenic options.
Jangsu Hanwoo and Apple Festival
September 10–13 | Jangsu, Jeonbuk
Jangsu brings together two of the county’s best-known local products — Korean beef and apples — for its annual food festival.
It’s a straightforward reason for a weekend trip: eat well, sample seasonal produce, and experience a smaller rural destination that many international travelers might otherwise overlook.
Gamaksan Flower Star Trip
September 18 – October 11 | Geochang, Gyeongsangnam-do
Geochang’s Gamaksan becomes a fall destination with a festival centered around flowers and the mountain landscape.
Running into October, it provides a good excuse for a road trip through western Gyeongnam as Korea begins transitioning into the cooler fall season.
Suwon Hwaseong Media Art
September 19 – October 6 | Suwon, Gyeonggi-do
Historic architecture meets contemporary technology during Suwon Hwaseong Media Art.
The UNESCO-listed fortress provides the backdrop for large-scale media installations, offering a very different way to experience one of Korea’s most important historic sites after dark.
Gyeongnam Goseong Dinosaur World Expo
September 22 – November 1 | Goseong, Gyeongsangnam-do
One of the more family-oriented choices on the list, the Goseong Dinosaur World Expo returns in late September and continues through November.
Goseong is well known for its dinosaur fossil sites and footprints, making the expo a particularly good destination for families with younger children — or anyone with a long-standing fascination with dinosaurs.
Andong International Mask Dance Festival
September 24 – October 4 | Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do
The Andong International Mask Dance Festival is one of Korea’s major cultural festivals and one of the strongest choices for travelers interested in traditional performance.
The event showcases mask dancing and cultural performances while providing an opportunity to explore Andong, a city closely associated with traditional Korean culture and heritage.
Yeonggwang Bulgapsan Amaryllis Festival
September 18–27 | Yeonggwang, Jeonnam
For a very different September landscape, head to Bulgapsan Mountain during the flowering season for red spider lilies.
The vivid red flowers spread through the mountain surroundings for a relatively short period each year, making timing important but also giving visitors one of the month’s most distinctive seasonal scenes.
September is only the beginning of Korea’s busy autumn festival calendar, with many events continuing into October as cooler weather arrives.
As always, festival dates and programs may change due to weather or other circumstances, so visitors should confirm schedules with organizers before traveling.