Korea in December 2026

25 festivals with confirmed dates · 8 concerts · exhibitions and performances · updated daily from official data

December is illumination season — light festivals, year-end concerts, and Christmas markets in the cities, with sunrise festivals gearing up on the east coast for New Year's Day. Short days, long lights.

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Guides for December

Seasonal

Christmas & New Year in Seoul 2026–27

Both holidays fall on a Friday this year. The Bosingak bell at midnight, a month of lantern and light festivals, the 1,000-won ice rink, and the east-coast sunrise trains that sell out in minutes.

Seasonal

Korea in winter 2026–27

Cold and dry rather than snowy — and Seollal lands on 7 February 2027, which moves the palace closing days. Ice festivals, ski timing, and the week to plan around.

Seasonal

Skiing in Korea 2026–27: which resort, and how to get there

Yongpyong and High1 for a proper trip; Vivaldi, Elysian Gangchon and Gonjiam for a day from Seoul. Shuttles, the KTX, day tours with gear, what lifts and rental cost, and the week to avoid.

Seasonal

K-pop award shows 2026–27: dates and how to get in

KGMA and the Melon Music Awards on back-to-back November weekends in Seoul, the broadcasters’ December festivals, and the big ones abroad this year. How tickets work and how to plan a trip around them.

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Concerts in December

• Dec 2, 2026Malcolm Todd: First Show in Korea · Myeonghwa Live Hall, Yeongdeungpo, Seoul
• Dec 4, 2026 – Dec 6, 2026THE VOICE: LEE SEUNG CHUL — 40th Anniversary Tour · KSPO Dome, Olympic Park, Seoul
• Dec 5, 2026KANA-BOON: Critical Hit Parade — Asian Adventure · YES24 Live Hall, Gwangjin, Seoul
• Dec 5, 2026Khalid: It's Always Summer Somewhere — Seoul · KINTEX Hall 10, Ilsan, Goyang
• Dec 5, 2026 – Dec 6, 2026RAIN Concert: THE SMOKE · Olympic Hall, Olympic Park, Seoul
• Dec 5, 2026 – Dec 6, 2026YUURI LIVE in Seoul · INSPIRE Arena, Yeongjong Island, Incheon
• Dec 6, 2026FKJ: Tyber — Seoul · KINTEX Hall 10, Ilsan, Goyang
• Dec 8, 2026Slowdive Live in Seoul · KBS Arena, Gangseo, Seoul

All concerts and venue guides →

Exhibitions and performances in December

• Jul 14, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026Discontinued Korean Games, Switched Back On · National Library of Korea
• Jul 21, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026Memory Project X: Warehouse of Memory · Ansan Fishing Village Folk Museum
• Jul 21, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026Harbour of Memory · Ansan Fishing Village Folk Museum
• Jul 21, 2026 – Dec 20, 2026If You Call the Name Kindly, · Hwaseong Living Culture Center
• Jul 24, 2026 – Dec 6, 2026Korea Artist Prize 2026 · MMCA Seoul
• Aug 11, 2026 – Dec 4, 2026Green Green Museum: Sensory Notes · Suwon Manseok Exhibition Hall

All exhibitions → · All traditional performances →

25 festivals in December 2026

D-40

Dec 5, 2026

HUG RUN 2026

Seoul

D-41

Dec 6, 2026

Busan Bridge Marathon

Busan

D-51

Dec 16, 2026 – Dec 27, 2026

QUAD, Questions of Theatre: Train to Xi'an

Seoul

D-19

Nov 14, 2026 – Dec 6, 2026

QUAD, Questions of Theatre: Incendies

Seoul

D-31

Nov 26, 2026 – Dec 25, 2026

Christmas Village Busan

BusanFree

D-58

Dec 23, 2026 – Feb 13, 2027

Korea Grand Sale

SeoulFree

Now

Aug 14, 2026 – Dec 11, 2026

Yuseong On-Day

Daejeon

D-5

Oct 31, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026

Unjeong Lake Park Fireworks Festival

GyeonggiFree

D-25

Nov 20, 2026 – Mar 28, 2027

20th Century Photography Masters: Light, Stopping Time

Seoul

Now

Nov 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2026

The Painters

Seoul

Now

Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026

Royal Guard-Changing Ceremony at Deoksugung Palace

SeoulFree

Now

Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026

Sungnyemun Gate Guard Ceremony 2026

SeoulFree

Now

Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026

Gugak Performance Jinyeon

Seoul

Now

Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026

DDP Architecture Tour

Seoul

Now

Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026

Namsan Beacon Ceremony and Traditional Culture Events

SeoulFree

Now

Jan 5, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026

Walk of the Royal Family

IncheonFree

Now

Mar 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026

2026 Visit Korean Islands Year

JeonnamFree

Now

Mar 12, 2026 – Dec 11, 2026

2026 Culture Day: Cheongchun Mic (Jeolla & Jeju)

GwangjuFree

Now

Mar 14, 2026 – Dec 26, 2026

Ssokssokdeul-i Festival

GyeonggiFree

Jeonbuk

Now

Mar 14, 2026 – Dec 12, 2026

K-Gugak Stage

Jeonbuk

Now

Apr 18, 2026 – Dec 15, 2026

Culture Lounge Gyeonggi-Jang

GyeonggiFree

Now

Apr 30, 2026 – Dec 6, 2026

Goesan Space City: Star Explorers

ChungbukFree

Now

May 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026

Seoul Street Performance: Every Corner Live 2026

SeoulFree

Now

May 6, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026

Culture Flows at Seoul Plaza

SeoulFree

Now

Jun 4, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026

Palsaek Chanran: Regions Full of K

SeoulFree

By region in December

Seoul (14)Gyeonggi (3)