The 2026 Seoul Lantern Festival runs from Friday, December 11, 2026 to Sunday, January 31, 2027 along Cheonggyecheon Stream, from Cheonggye Plaza to Samilgyo Bridge. Lights are on from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. This is the 18th edition, its theme is “Seoul’s Romance: A Symphony of Light,” and it sits inside the city’s Seoul Winter Festival, which uses the same December 11 to January 31 window.
Updated November 8, 2026. Dates and hours from the Seoul Tourism Organization’s festival page and the Seoul festival portal.
Dates, hours and route for 2026
The Seoul Tourism Organization, which runs the festival, lists the 2026 edition from December 11, 2026 to January 31, 2027, with operating hours of 18:00 to 23:00. The displays sit in and along Cheonggyecheon, the restored stream in central Seoul, between Cheonggye Plaza and Samilgyo Bridge. The program combines traditional hanji paper lanterns with media art, plus hands-on activities.
Counting both ends, the festival runs for 52 days. That is noticeably longer than recent editions, which makes it easier to fit into a winter trip that does not land exactly on the holidays.
| Edition | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Dec 13, 2024 – Jan 31, 2025 | Cheonggye Plaza to Samilgyo Bridge |
| 2025 | Dec 12, 2025 – Jan 18, 2026 | Planned to Jan 4, extended to Jan 18 on the main Cheonggyecheon section |
| 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 | 18th edition, 18:00–23:00 |
What else runs during Seoul Winter Festival 2026
The lantern festival is one part of the city-wide Seoul Winter Festival. The Seoul festival portal lists the festival frame as December 11, 2026 to January 31, 2027 across Gwanghwamun Square and other sites. Programs listed there include the lantern displays on Cheonggyecheon, Seoul Light DDP with media facade shows and a Christmas town, SeoulCon, and the Seoul Plaza skating rink.
Programs at Gwanghwamun, the Seoul Light Gwanghwamun facade show and the Gwanghwamun Market, appear with slightly different end dates across city notices, so check the portal for those two before planning a visit specifically for them. The lantern festival dates above come from the organizer’s own page.
| Program | Where | 2026 status |
|---|---|---|
| Seoul Lantern Festival | Cheonggyecheon | Dec 11 – Jan 31, 18:00–23:00 |
| Seoul Winter Festival (frame) | Gwanghwamun Square and other sites | Dec 11 – Jan 31 |
| Seoul Light DDP | Dongdaemun Design Plaza | Listed in the program |
| Seoul Plaza skating rink | In front of City Hall | Listed; 2026 season dates to be posted |
How to plan your evening
The route is a one-way walk along the stream, so start at one end and finish near a subway station at the other. Cheonggye Plaza, the upstream end, is a short walk from Gwanghwamun Station on Line 5. Samilgyo Bridge, the downstream end of the lantern section, is closer to Jonggak and Euljiro.
- If your dates are flexible, choose a weekday evening rather than Christmas week or New Year’s Eve.
- Arrive around 6 p.m. to see the lanterns as they come on, or later in the evening if you prefer to walk after dinner.
- Start at Cheonggye Plaza and walk downstream toward Samilgyo Bridge.
- Dress for the cold. The path is next to water and below street level, and December nights in Seoul are often below freezing.
- Pair it with a nearby stop such as Gwanghwamun Square or the Myeong-dong department store Christmas displays.
The bridges that cross Cheonggyecheon let you look down on the lanterns from street level, which is a good option when the stream-side path is busy.
Plans by visitor type
| You are | Best time | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| A couple | Weeknight around 7 p.m. | Walk the full route, then dinner around Euljiro or Jongno |
| A family with children | Right at 6 p.m. | Short walk near Cheonggye Plaza, finish before the late crowd |
| A photographer | After 9 p.m. | Shoot from the bridges and avoid tripods on narrow paths |
| On a short trip | Any evening Dec 11 – Jan 31 | Combine with Gwanghwamun and Myeong-dong on the same night |
Common mistakes
- Planning a November visit. The 2026 festival starts on December 11.
- Arriving after 11 p.m. The lights switch off at 23:00.
- Assuming Gwanghwamun programs end on January 31 too. Check their dates separately.
- Underdressing for the stream-level path.
FAQ
When is the 2026 Seoul Lantern Festival?
December 11, 2026 to January 31, 2027.
What are the hours?
6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Where exactly is it?
Along Cheonggyecheon Stream from Cheonggye Plaza to Samilgyo Bridge in central Seoul.
Is it free?
Walking the lantern route has been free in past editions. Some hands-on programs may need separate registration, so check the organizer’s notices.
What is the 2026 theme?
“Seoul’s Romance: A Symphony of Light.”
Is this the same as the Lotus Lantern Festival?
No. The Lotus Lantern Festival (Yeon Deung Hoe) takes place in spring around Buddha’s Birthday.