Seoul plans to position itself as a year round festival destination through a new strategy that links major seasonal events under the concept of a “365 day festival city.”

The city government announced that it will connect four signature seasonal festivals: the Seoul Spring Festival, the summer Hangang “Relaxed Triathlon” festival, the Seoul Autumn Festival, and the Seoul Winter Festival.

Together, they are designed to create a continuous calendar of events across the year while expanding festival venues beyond central districts to include the Han River and neighborhoods across the city.

Officials say the plan is built around four main pillars: expanding the Han River as a festival venue, increasing citizen participation, improving access to festival information, and supporting local economic activity.

Participation in the city’s seasonal festivals has grown significantly in recent years. Attendance rose from about 80,000 visitors in 2022 to roughly 13 million in 2025, while online views related to the events reached about 340 million last year.

Spring events will run from April 10 to May 5 with the Seoul Spring Festival held at several Han River parks including Yeouido, Ttukseom, and Banpo. The program will feature cultural performances, K culture content, and a large drone light show to open the festival.

Summer programming will focus on the Hangang “Relaxed Triathlon” festival scheduled for June 5 to 7 around Ttukseom and Jamsil. The event combines swimming, cycling, and running, with expanded categories to encourage wider participation from beginners, families, and international visitors.

In autumn, the Seoul Autumn Festival will run from September 19 to November 29. The event will bring together more than 200 performing arts programs across venues throughout the city, with Daehangno serving as a central hub for theater and creative performances.

The Seoul Winter Festival, which attracted around 11 million visitors last year, will return from December 4 through January 31. Winter programming will feature light displays, media art installations, and night time attractions across locations such as Gwanghwamun Square, Cheonggyecheon, Seoul Plaza, and the Han River.

To support the initiative, the city plans to strengthen access to festival information through a redesigned “Fun Seoul” website, an annual festival calendar, and a digital festival map. City officials say the strategy is aimed at strengthening Seoul’s global brand while encouraging more visitors to explore different parts of the city throughout the year.

USAG Yongsan

Camp Casey