Table of Contents
Autumn is widely considered the most beautiful season to visit Korea, and not only for the crisp blue skies and golden ginkgo streets. Between September and November, towns across the country host some of the most atmospheric festivals on the calendar, from glowing lanterns on a river to UNESCO-listed mask dances and silver grass turning whole wetlands gold. If you are planning a fall trip, build your itinerary around these five fall festivals worth traveling for.
1. Jinju Namgang Yudeung (Lantern) Festival
Held every October in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do, the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival turns the Namgang River into a moving gallery of light. Thousands of handmade lanterns, some shaped like animals, others like historic figures, drift across the water beside Jinjuseong Fortress while fireworks burst overhead. The tradition traces back more than 400 years to the 1592 Siege of Jinju, when soldiers floated oil lanterns to block enemy forces and to send messages home. Today visitors can write wishes on paper lanterns, walk the floating bridge, and sample street food along the riverbank. The 2026 edition runs October 3 to 18 and was named a Korea Global Promotion Festival by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
2. Andong Mask Dance Festival
If you want one festival that captures Korea's intangible heritage in a single weekend, head to Andong. The Andong International Mask Dance Festival centers on Hahoe Village, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the 800-year-old Hahoe Byeolsingut Tallori mask dance drama that was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2022. Wooden masks of the bride, butcher, monk, and nobleman come alive through humor, satire, and dance that gently mocks the old aristocracy. The festival also welcomes international folk dance troupes, hosts the lively Tallori Daedongnanjang parade, and lets visitors carve their own mask. The 2026 dates are September 24 to October 4.
3. Busan International Film Festival (BIFF)
Every October the coastal city of Busan turns into Asia's biggest movie set during the Busan International Film Festival. Founded in 1996, BIFF screens hundreds of films from across Asia and the world, hosting world premieres, masterclasses, and the famous Outdoor Cinema on Haeundae Beach. The 30th edition in 2025 introduced the festival's first competitive section with 14 Asian films vying for top prizes, and the red carpet at Busan Cinema Center drew everyone from Park Chan-wook and Lee Byung-hun to Blackpink's Lisa and Guillermo del Toro. For movie fans, the 2026 dates are October 6 to 15, and many screenings sell out the moment tickets drop.
4. Naejangsan Maple Festival
For peak Korean autumn foliage, few places rival Naejangsan National Park in Jeollabuk-do. Late October through mid November, the mountain becomes a riot of crimson, orange, and gold thanks to its famous danpoong (maple) tunnel: a long arched path lined with more than 100 maple trees leading to historic Naejangsa Temple. The neighboring Baekyangsa Temple, founded in the Baekje era, offers a quieter route through the same fiery valleys. The Naejangsan Danpoong Festival usually runs in late October with night-time foliage lighting, traditional performances, and a hiking ceremony, and tour buses from Seoul and Busan fill up fast on weekends.
5. Suncheon Bay Reed Festival
Where the maples close, the silver grass takes over. The Suncheon Bay Reeds Festival celebrates Korea's largest coastal wetland, a Ramsar-protected reserve where 55 square kilometers of reeds and silver grass ripple gold against the sea. From October into November, the reeds shift from green to bronze, and migratory birds, including hooded cranes, arrive for winter. Festival activities include reed-weaving workshops, eco-tours led by environmental experts, sunset cruises from the Yongsan Observatory, and night walks on lantern-lit boardwalks. It is one of the most photographable festivals in the country, and a perfect end-of-fall escape before the cold sets in.
Planning Your Korean Fall Festival Trip
Korean autumn moves fast, with peak weeks shifting from north to south through October and into November. If you want to mix culture, cinema, and nature, you can chain these festivals into a single multi-week trip: start at Andong for mask dance in late September, slide down to Jinju for lanterns in early October, then catch a BIFF screening in Busan mid-month before heading west to Naejangsan and Suncheon Bay as the foliage and reeds reach their peak. Book trains and hotels early, dress in layers, and leave room in your camera roll. Korea's fall festivals are some of the most photogenic events you will ever attend.
Explore More of Korea with Daebak
Want to bring a little piece of Korea into your life? The Daebak Box is packed with the best Korean snacks, ramen, and cultural goodies delivered monthly to your door.