Hangang River Festival 2026: Fall Dates and Free Show

The fall Hangang River Festival is now in its October 17–25, 2026 run, ending October 25. If you haven't booked an activity, the free ON Stage musical show at Jamwon Hangang Park on October 17 is a straightforward choice: it is scheduled for 17:30–19:00 and requires no advance reservation.

There is an important change for Sunday, October 18. Daily Workout at Hangang, Hangang One Meal and ON Stage at Jamwon are canceled because of the rain forecast. Seoul's October 16 notice says these programs will go ahead as scheduled on Saturday, October 17. The notice concerns these three programs, not the whole nine-day festival.

Choose the park as well as the date

This festival has venues across seven riverside parks: Jamwon, Gangseo, Ttukseom, Banpo, Yeouido, Nanji and Gwangnaru. There is no single daily opening time for the entire event. Your destination and arrival time depend on the program you choose.

Jamwon's sports field hosts the October 17 workouts and evening performance. If food is the main reason for your trip, the later Road Chef Hangang event at Ttukseom runs October 23–25. It does not begin on October 17. These are different parks, so a map search for the festival name alone is less useful than the specific program venue.

October 17: a free evening show at Jamwon

ON Stage: When Stars Rise Above Hangang River is a musical gala featuring student musical performers and musical stars. The venue is the Multi-Purpose Sports Field in Jamwon Hangang Park, also described as the rugby field.

Admission is free, participation is on-site, and no advance reservation is needed. The scheduled performance runs from 17:30 to 19:00.

The opening slot, 17:30–17:45, features the Iruda Dream children's musical team. Its advertised repertoire includes the Do-Re-Mi song. From 17:45–18:15, musical-theatre students from Dankook University perform highlights under the theme Can't Help Falling in Love on the Hangang River, including numbers from All Shook Up and Mamma Mia! This is a sequence of musical selections rather than a full production of either show.

Saturday's musical-star slot features Seo Beom-seok from 18:15–18:40, followed by a joint performance with the young performers from 18:40–18:50. For the children's opening, plan around 17:30 rather than arriving only for the star's later slot.

Some original program listings show October 17–18. For this show, use October 17 only: the newer cancellation notice overrides the October 18 date.

Workouts: closed bookings and conditional walk-ins

The October 17 workout sessions at the same sports field are Rhythm Training from 10:00–11:00, Pound Fit from 12:00–13:00, and Sliding Board from 14:00–15:00. The listed fee is KRW 5,000 per person for each activity. These are separate sessions, rather than an all-day class.

Rhythm Training uses steps along lines marked on the ground, moving to a beat. Pound Fit involves holding two drumsticks and drumming along with music. Sliding Board involves gliding movements on a sliding board. Choose by the activity you want to try, as well as the time you can reach the field.

The advertised online booking period ended October 14 at 17:00. Walk-in applications begin one hour before each session at the general information desk, but only for no-shows or remaining places. The on-site application rules require bank transfer only, and applications close when places fill. Remaining places have not been confirmed; visitors unable to make the required transfer should choose the free show instead.

For a walk-in attempt, first choose a session and check its age rule. The one-hour rule means applications start at 09:00 for Rhythm Training, 11:00 for Pound Fit and 13:00 for Sliding Board. At the general information desk, ask about remaining places for that specific session before attempting payment. An application window is not a confirmed place. If the session is full, avoid paying someone for a transferred ticket: tickets cannot be transferred to another person.

Rhythm Training and Pound Fit accept participants from age 6; Sliding Board starts at age 12. Participants age 12 or younger need a guardian. There is no changing room or separate luggage locker for these workouts, so arrive dressed for exercise. Comfortable exercise clothes and trainers suit the activities; bring a warm layer for the cooler weather and keep luggage manageable.

Already booked? Check-in opens one hour before your workout at the general information desk, where the reservation holder’s identity is checked. Plan around your own session, not the whole 10:00–15:00 timetable.

Photography and video recording take place during the workouts, and that material may later be used to promote Hangang projects. Alcohol cannot be brought into or consumed within this workout venue.

October 23–25: street food at Ttukseom

The Road Chef Hangang is a K-street-food competition at Ttukseom Hangang Park Swimming Pool. Participation is on-site and admission is free, but food and beverages cost extra. Free entry does not include a meal. The published hours are:

October 23: 17:00–21:00.
October 24: 13:00–21:00.
October 25: 13:00–20:00.

Finding Jamwon's sports field

For the October 17 show or workouts, search your map app for 잠원한강공원 다목적운동장(럭비장), meaning Jamwon Hangang Park Multi-Purpose Sports Field (rugby field). The event address is 2395 Olympic-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. This address is for the Jamwon programs, not every festival venue.

Two Line 3 options are Apgujeong Station, Exit 2, with an approximately 20-minute walk, or Sinsa Station, Exit 8, with an approximately 23-minute walk. Allow time for that walk when planning around the performance start. Public transport is the practical choice because nearby roads and parking areas may be congested; parking support is not provided.

Before you leave for the river

Outdoor programs remain subject to weather and on-site conditions. Before traveling, open the official festival notices and check your chosen program and date, starting with the October 16 Jamwon cancellation notice. Last checked: October 17, 2026.

Event information: Korea Tourism Organization (TourAPI)