Seoul Lantern Festival
🗓️ 2026.12.11 ~ 2027.01.31
The Seoul Lantern Festival began in 2009 and is now in its 18th iteration. It is one of Seoul’s representative night light festivals, drawing an average of 3.4 million visitors over the last three years. The 2026 festival will take place in the Cheonggyecheon area (Cheonggye Plaza ~ Samilgyo Bridge) under the theme “Seoul’s Romance: Symphony of Light.”
The exhibition area is divided into four sections: ▲Section 1 “Hanyang Overture,” ▲Section 2 “Analog Rhapsody,” ▲Section 3 “Neon Sonata,” and ▲Section 4 “Fantasia of Light,” with differentiated productions on display in each. The event offers exhibitions of various light sculptures, including traditional Hanji lanterns and media art, along with experience and event programs.
The festival runs from Friday, December 11, 2026, to Sunday, January 31, 2027. Viewing hours are 18:00 to 23:00 daily, and admission is free.
📍 Address: Taepyeong-ro 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
🛏️ Accommodation near the event
💰 Fee: Free
📞 Inquiry: 02-3788-8168
⭐️ Instagram: instagram.com/seoullanternfestival
🖥️ Homepage: stolantern.com
Cheonggyecheon is a 10.9-kilometer urban stream in Seoul. It runs west to east from Cheonggye Plaza near City Hall to the Han River. The waterway is largely reconstructed: the original stream had become polluted in the postwar period and was covered by an elevated highway in the late 20th century. In 2005 the city removed the highway and restored the stream as part of a larger renewal project.
The stream now serves several functions: recreation, stormwater management, and a habitat corridor. Its banks are lined with stone, and footbridges and walkways run along much of its length.
During the Seoul Lantern Festival, the stream is used as an exhibition venue. Illuminated lanterns are placed on the water and along the banks. The site is a few minutes’ walk from downtown subway stations, and its narrow, straight layout lets visitors follow the displays in a continuous sequence. That layout is the main difference between this festival and those held in open plazas or parks.
