Seoul and Busan Events, November 2026: Dates, Costs, Exits

Checked Oct 23, 2026

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Gwangan Bridge at night, Busan. Photo: Korea Tourism Organization (KOGL Type 1)

In November 2026, Seoul and Busan have 11 events worth planning around. In Busan: the Busan Fireworks Festival on Sat Nov 7, the G-STAR game show at BEXCO from Nov 19 to 22 (public tickets are advance-only), and a free drone show on the beach every Saturday. In Seoul: free entry to the palaces and royal tombs until Nov 15, the Namsan Night Festival until Nov 14 (booking needed) and the Donggwol Dongrak palace night tour, Nov 10 to 15. The Donggwol lottery closes on Oct 28, so that one is time-sensitive. The Seoul Lantern Festival is not in November: Seoul lists it for December. Each event below has the date, place, subway exit, cost and one tip. The second half of October is in my October festivals guide.

WindowSun Nov 1 to Mon Nov 30, 2026 (some events started in October)

BusanBiennale last day (Nov 1) · Fireworks Festival (Nov 7) · Gwangalli drone shows (Saturdays) · G-STAR (Nov 19 to 22) · Haeundae Light Festival (dates not yet announced)

SeoulFree palaces and royal tombs (to Nov 15) · Namsan Night Festival (to Nov 14) · Donggwol Dongrak (Nov 10 to 15) · Seoul Cafe Show (public days Nov 13 and 14) · evening light shows

Free, no bookingPalaces and royal tombs · Gwangalli drone show · Sejong Center media wall

Book earlyFireworks paid seats (NOL Ticket) · G-STAR (advance only) · Donggwol Dongrak (lottery) · Namsan Night

Not in NovemberSeoul Lantern Festival: listed for December

Jump to: Calendar · Busan · Seoul · Autumn leaves · Exam day · Hotels · What needs booking · FAQ

What is on in Seoul and Busan in November, day by day?

The events in this post by date. Chart: Before You Go Korea

Dates (2026)	Event	City	Cost
Thu Oct 29 to Sun Nov 15	Palaces, Jongmyo and royal tombs, free entry	Seoul area	Free (Huwon tour 5,000 won)
Fri Oct 23 to Sat Nov 14	Namsan Night Festival (Nov: Campnic to Nov 7, Autumn Leaf Walk Nov 6 and 7, Palgak Club Nov 14)	Seoul	Refundable deposit, 5,000 won per person or 10,000 won per team
Sun Nov 1	Busan Biennale, last day	Busan	Ticketed
Sat Nov 7	Busan Fireworks Festival, 21st edition	Busan	Beach viewing free; paid seats 70,000 and 100,000 won
Every Saturday	Gwangalli drone show, 19:00 and 21:00	Busan	Free
Tue Nov 10 to Sun Nov 15	Donggwol Dongrak palace night tour	Seoul	40,000 won, by lottery
Wed Nov 11 to Sat Nov 14	Seoul Cafe Show (public days Nov 13 and 14)	Seoul	22,000 to 25,000 won a day
Thu Nov 19 to Sun Nov 22	G-STAR game show, BEXCO	Busan	18,000 won adult, 8,000 won youth
Until Mon Nov 30	Media art on the Sejong Center wall, 19:00 to 23:00	Seoul	No ticket listed
Every night	DDP 365 Light show	Seoul	No fee mentioned
Late Nov (not announced)	Haeundae Light Festival (last year it opened Nov 29)	Busan	Free last year

Busan in November: fireworks, G-STAR and drone shows

Busan Fireworks Festival, Sat Nov 7

Gwangan Bridge from Gwangalli Beach at night. Photo: Korea Tourism Organization (KOGL Type 1)

WhenSat Nov 7, 19:00 to 20:00 including a 10-minute break. Paid-seat gates open at 15:00

WhereGwangalli Beach, Igidae and Dongbaek Island area (광안리해수욕장, 이기대, 동백섬 일원)

SubwayLine 2, Gwangan Station (광안역), Exit 3 or 5

Paid seatsR seat with table and chairs 100,000 won · S seat with chair 70,000 won · on the sand in front of Hotel Aquapelis and Homers Hotel

BookNOL Ticket has an English page for international visitors (passport check, up to 4 tickets a person). Sales run until Nov 6, 17:00

TipBe in your paid seat by 18:00 or you lose entry and the refund

This is the 21st festival, held by Busan city and run by the Busan Festival Organizing Committee. Busan city says paid seats went on sale on Sept 4 through NOL Ticket and the Busan Bank app, and that the seat revenue pays for the fireworks, visitor facilities and safety staff. Booking is the part that catches foreigners. Tickets booked from Oct 12 cannot be posted, so you collect them on site, and the English page says someone else can collect with a copy of your ID and the confirmation. I could not see on the page whether seats are still available, so open it before you plan around a seat: NOL Ticket, Busan Fireworks Festival (English).

You do not need a seat to watch. Travel guides list beach viewing as free, and the paid seats are a reserved section of the sand. The organizers have a traffic-control notice (교통통제안내) on the official site that was not readable when I checked, so look at busanfireworks.com in the week before. I really don't like crowds. For this one, plan your way out of Gwangan Station before you plan your spot.

From Seoul, tickets for Nov 7 are already on sale: Korail opens sales 2 months ahead at 07:00 Korea time. Times, fares and the booking steps are in my Busan day trip by KTX guide and my KTX booking guide. Korail's English site is the official seller; Klook also sells KORAIL tickets if you would rather book in the Klook app (KTX tickets on Klook). Hotels near Gwangalli are covered below.

Gwangalli Drone Light Show, every Saturday

WhenEvery Saturday. October to February shows are at 19:00 and 21:00, about 12 minutes each

WhereGwangalli Beach (광안리해수욕장), watch from the beach

SubwayLine 2, Gwangan Station, Exit 3 or 5, about 10 minutes on foot

CostFree

EnglishThe show's site gwangallimdrone.co.kr has English and Korean versions

TipWeather or a technical problem can delay or cancel a show. Phone (051) 610-4882

Busan city's English event page lists the show for every Saturday of 2026 but does not list single dates, so the Saturdays in the window are Nov 7, 14, 21 and 28. It is the easy plan for a weekend when you did not get a fireworks seat.

G-STAR 2026, Nov 19 to 22

The BEXCO BUSAN sign outside the venue. Photo: Korea Tourism Organization (KOGL Type 1)

WhenThu Nov 19 to Sun Nov 22, 2026

WhereBEXCO, Haeundae-gu, Busan. Exhibition Center 1 and 2. All of Center 1 is space for public visitors

SubwayLine 2, Centum City (BEXCO) Station, Exit 1: about 50 m to Center 1, about 380 m to Center 2. Or Busan Art Museum Station, Exit 7, about 100 m to Center 1

CostPublic ticket 18,000 won adult, 8,000 won youth (same as last year)

BookAdvance reservation only, on the official G-STAR website and app. No on-site sales

From Busan StationLine 1 to Seomyeon, change to Line 2, about 45 minutes and 1,300 won (G-STAR traffic page)

G-STAR is a game show held at BEXCO. The organizers say it runs 100% on advance reservation, and public ticket sales opened on Sept 29 on gstar.or.kr. Do not plan to buy at the door. The Overwatch Champions Series Asia Stage 3 Grand Final runs Nov 20 to 22 at the BEXCO Auditorium, and a ticket for those match days also gives same-day entry to the public halls. Check the official site for what is on each day; I could not confirm a day-by-day public schedule.

It is a weekend that moves hotel prices, and the numbers are in the hotel section. If you have a spare day in Busan before it, my Haeparang Trail Course 1 ends at Haeundae Beach, and the K-Tour Pass and Busan attraction price comparison show what the pass saves.

Busan Biennale, last day Sun Nov 1

WhenAug 29 to Sun Nov 1, 2026. Open 10:00 to 18:00. Last entry 17:00 at the museum and the former school

WhereBusan Museum of Contemporary Art, the former Busan Nam High School and Space OneZ

CostTicketed. Prices change by date, see the ticket page

BookNOL Ticket, which has an English version for international users

If you land in Busan on the first weekend of November, this is the last day. The Biennale venues are in different places, so check each one on a map app before you pick a morning.

Just after the window: Haeundae Light Festival

The 2026 dates were not announced when I checked on Oct 23. Last season it opened on Nov 29, 2025 with a lighting ceremony and ran to Jan 18, 2026 along Haeundae Beach, from 18:00 to 23:00, free to walk through. If the 2026 season follows the same pattern, the first evenings fall on the last weekend of November. Busan's own page will carry the dates once they are set.

Seoul in November: free palaces, Namsan nights and city lights

Palaces and royal tombs free entry, until Nov 15

Changgyeonggung's Honghwamun gate at night. Photo: Korea Tourism Organization (KOGL Type 1)

WhenThu Oct 29 to Sun Nov 15, 2026 (18 days, part of the Korea Grand Festival)

WhereGyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, Jongmyo and the Joseon royal tombs

CostFree. Not free: the Changdeokgung Huwon (Secret Garden) tour, 5,000 won

ClosedMon Nov 2 and 9: Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, royal tombs. Tue Nov 3 and 10: Gyeongbokgung, Jongmyo

Late hoursDeoksugung until 21:00. Changgyeonggung until 21:00 except Nov 10 to 15

BookNo booking for palace entry

Closing days, hours by palace and a one-day route are in my free palace entry guide. Foreigners who want a ticketed night program should read the Donggwol Dongrak section next.

Donggwol Dongrak palace night tour, Nov 10 to 15

Tour datesTue Nov 10 to Sun Nov 15, starts at 18:00, 18:30, 19:00 and 19:30, 110 minutes

LotteryCloses Wed Oct 28, 23:59 Korea time. Free to apply, one application per Ticketlink account

ResultsFri Oct 30, from 17:00. Winners book Oct 31 to Nov 4, up to 2 tickets

Cost40,000 won per ticket, no on-site sales

WhereStarts at Honghwamun gate, Changgyeonggung. Hyehwa Station, Line 4, Exit 4, about 12 minutes on foot

EnglishThe notice and press release are Korean only

The tour walks through Changgyeonggung and into Changdeokgung's rear garden, with short plays and a gugak performance. Changgyeonggung's regular night opening is paused on those days. How a foreigner applies, what the lottery asks for and what to do if you do not win are in my Donggwol Dongrak guide.

Namsan Night Festival, until Nov 14

N Seoul Tower through maple leaves on Namsan. Photo: Korea Tourism Organization (KOGL Type 1)

DatesFri Oct 23 to Sat Nov 14, 2026 (Seoul Parks notice)

CampnicPicnic and camping at sunset on Fridays and Saturdays for three weeks until Nov 7, 17:00 to 22:00. Baekbeom Plaza. 100 teams a day, up to 4 people each. Deposit 10,000 won per team

Autumn Leaf WalkNov 6 and 7, 16:00 to 21:00. Yejang Park. 700 people a day. Deposit 5,000 won per person

Palgak ClubSat Nov 14, 17:30 to 19:00 and 19:30 to 21:00. In front of the Palgakjeong pavilion near N Seoul Tower. 300 people per session. Deposit 5,000 won

BookingPalgak Club opens Mon Nov 2, 10:00 Korea time. The deposit is refunded when your attendance is confirmed

ContactFestival office 070-5226-0759

Do not plan on a taxi: private cars and taxis have been barred from Namsan Park since May 1, 2005. The Namsan shuttle bus 01A stops at Baekbeom Plaza and at N Seoul Tower, and you can board it at Chungmuro Station. The dates, the booking steps and what the organizers do not say about foreigners are in my Namsan Night Festival guide.

Seoul Cafe Show, public days Nov 13 and 14

WhenWed Nov 11 to Sat Nov 14, 2026. Nov 11 and 12 are business days. Public days: Fri Nov 13, 10:00 to 18:00, and Sat Nov 14, 10:00 to 16:00

WhereCOEX, Gangnam-gu, all halls

SubwayLine 2, Samseong Station (삼성역), Exit 6 leads straight into COEX Mall

CostOne-day pass 25,000 won on COEX's page. NOL Ticket lists 22,000 won for pre-orders from Nov 1 to 8

TipCarriers (folding carts) are not allowed in

It is the 25th Seoul Cafe Show, a trade fair for coffee and cafe businesses that opens to the public for two days. On the business days minors are not admitted and a business card is required, so pick Nov 13 or 14.

Evening light shows: Sejong Center wall and DDP

Sejong Center wallMedia art by Han Seung-gu and Hong Na-gyeom, nightly 19:00 to 23:00, Sept 1 to Nov 30. Gwanghwamun Station, Line 5, Exit 9, about 2 minutes on foot

DDP 365 LightA laser, video and sound show of about 5 minutes every 30 minutes, 18:00 to 22:00 from November. Near the Yugu Exhibition Hall, Ulimlim Square, Dongdaemun Design Plaza. Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, Exit 1

CostNo ticket is listed for either in Seoul city's announcements

Both are outdoor screens you can fit into an evening in the old town. Seoul's announcement lists the DDP show as running from September 2026 with no end date, and says times may change. The Sejong Center wall is on the way to Gwanghwamun, so it pairs with the free palace entry.

Seoul Lantern Festival: not in November

Seoul's festival calendar lists the Seoul Lantern Festival along Cheonggyecheon for December 2026, with no dates yet. Last year's festival ran from Dec 12, 2025 to Jan 18, 2026, from 18:00 to 23:00.

Is there still autumn colour in Seoul and Busan in November?

Forecast peak dates from the Korea Tourism Organization and the Korea National Arboretum. Chart: Before You Go Korea

Less in Seoul, more in the south. The Korea Tourism Organization and the Korea National Arboretum's 2026 forecast puts peak colour in the Seoul area at the turn of the month: maple about Oct 29, ginkgo about Oct 31 and oak about Nov 2, measured at the National Arboretum in Pocheon. The Korea Forest Service's own maps give ginkgo about Oct 30 and maple and oak about Oct 31. In the south, the same forecast has the Gyeongsangnam-do Arboretum in Jinju at maple about Nov 8 and oak about Nov 16, and it describes the Gyeongsang and Jeolla regions as peaking in the first half of November. "Peak" is the Forest Service's term for half or more of the leaves having changed.

These are forecast dates, not Busan or Seoul city readings, and city streets can run later than mountains. For Seoul's trails and dates see my Namsan fall foliage guide.

Why is Thursday Nov 19 different?

Nov 19 is the national college entrance exam (Suneung), and it is also G-STAR's opening day in Busan. The government's plan asks offices to start after 10 a.m., runs more capital-area subway trains between 6:00 and 8:10 a.m. and restricts vehicles within 200 m of each test site. Aircraft take-offs and landings are rescheduled during the English listening test, 13:10 to 13:35, and buses and trains near test sites are asked to limit horn use. If you fly that day, check your flight time.

Do hotel prices in Busan jump on event weekends?

Median nightly price in three Busan areas, Booking.com sample by Before You Go Korea on Oct 23, 2026. Chart: Before You Go Korea

Yes, on the G-STAR weekend. On Oct 23 I looked at Booking.com for Saturday Nov 21 and Saturday Dec 5. The median price in Haeundae, the district that holds BEXCO, was 200,000 won against 142,000 won on Dec 5, 41% higher. Gwangalli was 249,000 won against 214,000 won (16% higher) and Nampo 162,000 won against 129,000 won (26% higher). Even the quiet-weekend price in Gwangalli, where the fireworks and the drone shows are, was the highest of the three. I did not sample Nov 7, so check the fireworks weekend for your own dates before you book anything that cannot be cancelled.

Which area suits which event, and what a night costs by area, is in my guide to where to stay in Busan. If your trip also takes in Seoul's palaces and Namsan, my guide to where to stay in Seoul covers that side. For the tickets other travellers book most, see my most-booked tickets, part 1 (it includes the Visit Busan Pass) and part 2.

Which November events need booking?

The events that need booking and the dates that matter. Chart: Before You Go Korea

Event	Booking	Where to book
Donggwol Dongrak	Lottery, closes Oct 28, 23:59	Ticketlink (Korea Heritage Agency notice)
Namsan Night Festival	Yes. Palgak Club opens Mon Nov 2, 10:00	The festival website (Seoul Parks notice)
Busan Fireworks, paid seats	Until Nov 6, 17:00	NOL Ticket (English page) or the Busan Bank app
G-STAR	Advance only, no door sales	The official G-STAR website and app
Seoul Cafe Show	Pre-order price until Nov 8	NOL Ticket or COEX
Busan Biennale	Ticketed	NOL Ticket (English version)
Palaces and royal tombs · Gwangalli drone show · Sejong Center wall · DDP 365 Light	No booking mentioned	—

FAQ

Is the Busan Fireworks Festival free?

Watching from the beach needs no ticket, according to travel guides, but the organizers sell reserved seats: 100,000 won for an R seat with a table and chairs and 70,000 won for an S seat with a chair. The seats are on the sand in front of Hotel Aquapelis and Homers Hotel.

Can a foreign visitor buy fireworks seats in English?

Yes. NOL Ticket's English page lists the seats in won, asks for your passport and allows up to 4 tickets a person. Tickets booked from Oct 12 are collected on site, and you must be in your seat by 18:00.

Can I buy G-STAR tickets at the door?

No. The organizers run it entirely on advance reservation, with no on-site sales. Public tickets are 18,000 won for adults and 8,000 won for youth.

When is the Seoul Lantern Festival in 2026?

Seoul lists it for December, not November. The 2025 festival ran from Dec 12 to Jan 18 along Cheonggyecheon.

Which Seoul events can I walk into without a ticket in November?

The palaces, Jongmyo and royal tombs until Nov 15 (closing days apply), plus the outdoor media shows at the Sejong Center wall and DDP, where no ticket is listed.

What is still to be announced

Three dates are not out yet: the Haeundae Light Festival, the Seoul Lantern Festival and the fireworks traffic-control plan. I'll add them here when they are published. The Namsan Palgak Club opens for booking on Mon Nov 2.

More Seoul and Busan guides

• Jeongdong Night Walk (2026): What to Do Without Booking, Oct 30 and 31
• Seoul Palaces Free Entry Oct 29 – Nov 15, 2026
• Busan Day Trip from Seoul by KTX: Times and Fares

Sources

• Busan Fireworks Festival: organizing committee official site (date, place, ticket window, read Oct 23, 2026) · Busan city press release, Sept 4, 2026 (Korean, via busan.go.kr) · YTN, Sept 4, 2026 (Korean) · NOL Ticket (Korean) and English page, read Oct 23, 2026 · KoreaToDo and Busan Trip for free beach viewing
• Gwangalli M Drone Light Show: Busan city English event page, Gwangalli M Drone Light Show, read Oct 23, 2026
• G-STAR 2026: Financial News (English), Sept 3 · Digital Today (English) · The Economist Korea, Aug 31, Digital Daily and Financial News, Sept 29 (Korean) · Youth Daily, Aug 18 (Korean) · G-STAR traffic and directions page
• Busan Biennale: Busan city English events list and NOL Ticket listing, read Oct 23, 2026
• Haeundae Light Festival (2025 season): KNN, Nov 29, 2025 (Korean) · Korea Trip Tips (KTO tourism data)
• Free palace and royal tomb entry, Oct 29 to Nov 15: see the sources in my palace entry guide and Etoday on the Korea Grand Festival (Korean)
• Donggwol Dongrak: Korea Heritage Agency notice (Korean) and Korea Policy Briefing press release (Korean), as used in my Donggwol Dongrak guide
• Namsan Night Festival: Seoul Parks, 2026 notice (Korean), read Oct 23, 2026 · Seoul Media Hub, Oct 2026 (Korean)
• Seoul Cafe Show: COEX exhibition page and NOL Ticket listing (Korean) · Samseong Station exits
• Evening light shows: Seoul city, Atelier Gwanghwa notice and media art spots (Korean) · DDP 365 Light and Seoul Light DDP (Korean)
• Seoul Lantern Festival: Seoul festival calendar (Korean) · 2025 festival report (Korean)
• Autumn colour forecast: WikiTree, Oct 8, 2026 and Financial News, Oct 8 (Korean, Korea Tourism Organization and National Arboretum) · Kyunghyang, Sept 22 (Korean, Korea Forest Service)
• College entrance exam day: Korea Policy Briefing (Korean)
• Hotel prices: Booking.com sample by Before You Go Korea, Oct 23, 2026: median nightly price, Saturday Nov 21 and Saturday Dec 5

— SeoulAslan