Busan Winter 2026–27: Light Festivals for Foreign Visitors

Haeundae Light Festival

Busan's signature winter night festival, staged around Haeundae Beach, Gunam-ro and Haeundae Square. The most recent (12th) edition ran November 29, 2025 – January 18, 2026, with free admission and lighting hours of 18:00–23:00. Expect a similar late-November-to-mid-January window and evening hours for the 2026–27 edition, with light sculptures and media-art installations along the beachfront.

Getting there: Haeundae Station (Line 2), Exit 3 or 5, then a short walk to the beach promenade.

Gwangbok-ro Winter Light Tree Festival

A shopping-street light festival along Gwangbok-ro and Gwangbokjungang-ro in Jung-gu, decorated with Christmas trees and colored lights. The most recent edition ran December 5, 2025 – February 22, 2026, with lighting hours of 17:30–22:00 — a notably longer run than Haeundae's, stretching well past the New Year.

Getting there: Nampo Station (Line 1), Exit 7, directly onto the Gwangbok-ro shopping street.

Gwangalli & the Gwangan Bridge

The Gwangalli waterfront area runs its own light displays at Millak Waterside Park, about a 15-minute walk from Gwangalli Beach, with views of the Gwangan Bridge lit up at night. Separately, the Gwangalli M Drone Light Show has been running as a recurring seasonal performance from October through February, with shows around 19:00 and 21:00 — check the current schedule since drone shows are more weather-dependent than fixed light installations and can be canceled on windy nights.

Getting there: Geumnyeonsan Station (Line 2), Exit 3, then about a 10–15 minute walk to Gwangalli Beach.

When to check for 2026-27 dates

Based on past years, Busan's city government and Visit Busan typically confirm each winter festival's exact dates roughly one to two months before it opens — later than Seoul, which tends to publish its full winter calendar earlier in the year. If you're planning a Busan trip for December 2026 or January 2027, revisit the official sources below in October or November 2026 for confirmed dates, and again closer to your trip for any weather-related schedule changes.