2026 Seoul Lantern Festival: A Fantastic Light Extravaganza in the Heart of the City

2026 Seoul Lantern Festival: A Magical Spectacle of Light in the Heart of the City

The Seoul Lantern Festival, which brightly illuminated Seoul's city center from December 2025 to January 2026, was a spectacle of light held along Cheonggyecheon Stream and Uicheon Stream under the theme 'My Light, Our Dream, Seoul's Magic.' Diverse light sculptures, combining traditional hanji (Korean paper) lanterns and media art, beautifully adorned Seoul's winter nights. This page summarizes the main information and features of the 2026 Seoul Lantern Festival.

Festival at a Glance

Overview of the 2026 Seoul Lantern Festival

Held from December 12, 2025, to January 18, 2026, the Seoul Lantern Festival is one of Seoul's representative winter festivals, showcasing spectacular light sculptures primarily along Cheonggyecheon Stream and Uicheon Stream. In particular, the Cheonggyecheon section was divided into four themes: 'Miracle Seoul,' 'Golden Secret,' 'Dream Light,' and 'Seoul Fantasia,' expressing Seoul's past, present, and future through light. In the Uicheon Stream section, the <Royal Procession> (어가행렬) artwork, which was the most popular from the 2024 festival, was displayed again, capturing the attention of many visitors.

The festival was originally scheduled to run until January 4, 2026, but the approximately 1.1km section from Cheonggye Plaza to Samilgyo Bridge along Cheonggyecheon was extended for two weeks, operating until January 18. Operating hours were also extended by one hour, from 10 PM to 11 PM, allowing even more citizens to enjoy the festival. January 5, 2026, was closed for exhibit reorganization and reopening.

Key Exhibition Works and Themes

The 2026 Seoul Lantern Festival presented various light sculptures and media art under the theme 'My Light, Our Dream, Seoul's Magic.' The main exhibition works were as follows:

• Cheonggyecheon Section Themes:
  • Miracle Seoul: Expressing Seoul's past, present, and future through light, this theme recreated historical moments related to light, such as the first lighting of electric lamps at Gyeongbokgung Palace, daily life in the era when electricity was introduced as a source of power, and the wisdom of ancestors to illuminate the darkness. <Palma (八馬), meaning Eight Horses> was an artwork featuring eight horse sculptures made with hanji lanterns and LED lights, celebrating the 2026 Year of the Red Horse. <Light of Cheonggye: Future of Cheonggyecheon>, commemorating the 20th anniversary of Cheonggyecheon's restoration, depicted AI-imagined future scenes of Cheonggyecheon using LEDs.
  • Golden Secret: This theme, embodying secret dreams in one's heart, offered visitors an experience of finding their inner light.
  • Dream Light: A theme centered on our 'dreams' in contemporary life, it featured collaborative works with Pokémon Korea, such as <I Love Magikarp> (아이러브잉어킹) (ended January 4), the fire-breathing peacock <Wings of Dreams> (꿈의 날갯짓) (ended January 4), and the moon jar <Phantom Moon> (환월) made from discarded headlights (ended January 4). Additionally, <Polar Bear Story> (북극곰 이야기), carrying a message about the climate crisis, was presented.
  • Seoul Fantasia: A theme that sparked childlike wonder, it showcased Seoul's representative character Haechi (해치) and various other character sculptures, as well as sculptures embodying overseas architectural landmarks.
• Uicheon Stream Section Theme:
  • Soul Light: The <Royal Procession> (어가행렬) artwork, the most popular piece from the 2024 Seoul Lantern Festival, was displayed again, recreating a Joseon Dynasty king's procession with traditional hanji (Korean paper) lanterns.

Programs and Special Events

During the festival period, various participatory programs and side events were held, providing abundant enjoyment for visitors.

• Experience Programs: Experiential programs such as <Magikarp Shop> (잉어킹 상점) and <Making a Wish with Magikarp> (잉어킹과 소원빌기) were held every weekend on Jangtonggyo Bridge. In addition to these, various traditional lantern-making experiences were offered.
• Gwanghwamun Market: In conjunction with the festival, a Christmas market themed 'Santa's Village in a Winter Fairy Tale' with a European ambiance was operated at Gwanghwamun Square from December 12 to 31, 2025. The market featured three themed areas – Santa's Village Entrance, Santa's Village Play Plaza, and Santa's Village Market Village – where Christmas seasonal goods, handicrafts, and food were sold, and brand experience zones by global partners like Disney Korea were also operated.
• Media Art Performance: Under Samilgyo Bridge, a complex media art performance, <Aurora of Light> (빛의 오로라), combining lasers, fog, and sound, was presented.

Visitor Facilities and Transportation

Public transportation was recommended for smooth festival viewing.

• Transportation:
  • Subway: For the Cheonggyecheon (Cheonggye Plaza) direction, it was convenient to use Subway Line 1/2 City Hall Station Exit 4 (325m walk) or Subway Line 5 Gwanghwamun Station Exit 5 (145m walk) or Exit 9 (approx. 3-5 minute walk). For the Uicheon Stream direction, public transportation use was recommended.
  • Parking: Public parking lots around Cheonggyecheon Stream were paid and crowded. Uicheon Stream had even more limited parking space than Cheonggyecheon, so public transportation was highly recommended.
  • Bicycles: Bicycles were prohibited on the Cheonggyecheon promenade. Visitors had to park their bicycles at nearby racks and enter on foot. Uicheon Stream had bicycle paths, allowing visitors to bring their bicycles.
• Facilities:
  • Nursing Room: Operated from 5 PM to 11 PM at the Cheonggye Plaza Information Center.
  • Restrooms: Located near Cheonggye Plaza, Gwangtonggyo Bridge, Supyogyo Bridge, and Ogansu Bridge.
  • Pet-friendly: Pets were not permitted in the Cheonggyecheon section. However, it was allowed to bring them in a stroller or carry them. In the Uicheon Stream section, pets were allowed if pet etiquette was observed, such as leash use and waste disposal.

Nearby Attractions to Explore

Alongside the Seoul Lantern Festival, visitors could explore various attractions in Seoul for an even richer experience.

• Gwanghwamun Square: During the festival, 'Gwanghwamun Market' was held, offering a variety of sights and activities.
• Media Facade: Visitors could also enjoy media facade events that brilliantly adorned Seoul's night. These included 2026 Seoul Light DDP Autumn (September 3 ~ September 13) and 2026 Seoul Light Gwanghwamun (December 11 ~ January 3, 2027).
• Autumn Festivals: During the autumn season, visitors could refer to the Autumn Festival Calendar to enjoy various festivals, such as the September 2026 Autumn Flower Festival. Checking information about the September Autumn Festival Culture Nuri Card or Autumn Festival Local Currency Discounts could make for a more economical trip.
• Other Attractions: Visitors could plan itineraries to fully enjoy Seoul's charm by combining their visit with Myeongdong shopping, Gwangjang Market, DDP night views, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Insadong, Namsan N Seoul Tower, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What was the admission fee for the 2026 Seoul Lantern Festival?

A1: The 2026 Seoul Lantern Festival was free to attend. However, some experience programs incurred separate fees.

Q2: Were pets allowed at the festival?

A2: Pets were not permitted in the Cheonggyecheon section. However, it was allowed to bring them in a stroller or carry them. In the Uicheon Stream section, pets were allowed if pet etiquette was observed, such as leash use and waste disposal.

Q3: Where was the best place to park when visiting the festival?

A3: During the festival period, public parking lots around Cheonggyecheon Stream were crowded and paid. Uicheon Stream had even more limited parking space, so using public transportation was recommended for festival visitors.