Busan events from now to the end of the year are bunched into three stretches: the film festival this week, a run of local festivals in mid-October, and the big one, the fireworks festival on 7 November. This page lists the Busan events I could confirm for October to December 2026 and what each means for a visitor. Dates were checked against published sources on 11 October and can change, so confirm anything you plan around.
The calendar
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 6–15 Oct | Busan International Film Festival (31st), closing on 15 October |
| 16–18 Oct | Dongnae Eupseong History Festival, Geumjeongsanseong Festival, Gupo Naru Festival |
| 17–18 Oct | Jeonpo Coffee Festival |
| 25 Oct | Busan Sea Marathon (assembly at BEXCO; entries closed) |
| Sat 7 Nov | Busan Fireworks Festival, Gwangalli, around 19:00 to 20:00 |
| 6–8 Nov | Busan Illustration Fair, in Haeundae |
| 6 Dec | Busan Bridge Marathon, at BEXCO (one source gives different dates, so check) |
| 31 Dec | New Year bell-ringing at Yongdusan Park |
| Every Saturday | M Drone Light Show at Gwangalli |
The fireworks festival on 7 November
The 21st Busan Fireworks Festival is on Saturday 7 November over Gwangalli Bay, with viewing from around 19:00 to 20:00. Regular tickets are reported on sale until 17:00 on 6 November through NOL Ticket, and the organisers decide at noon the day before whether to hold, postpone or cancel because of the weather. My Busan Fireworks Festival guide covers seats and free viewing spots.
I have watched it from a steak restaurant with a view. It works, but restaurants charge noticeably more in fireworks season than on a normal day, so check the menu price before you book. Traffic around the bay is also very complicated, so unless you are staying for several nights, take the subway rather than driving.
Mid-October: three local festivals
On 16 to 18 October the Dongnae Eupseong History Festival, the Geumjeongsanseong Festival and the Gupo Naru Festival all fall on the same weekend, and the Jeonpo Coffee Festival runs on 17 and 18 October. These are local festivals rather than big tourist productions, which is part of the appeal. I have not been to these four, so check each festival’s own page for the programme and the exact venue.
Winter lights
The Haeundae Light Festival lit the beach and Gunam-ro from 29 November to 18 January last year, from 18:00 to 23:00. This year’s dates are not announced yet, so expect something similar but check before you plan. See the Haeundae guide. At Gwangalli, the weekly drone light show runs year-round, and on 31 December the bell-ringing at Yongdusan Park sees in the new year.
Dates and times come from published news and event listings (checked 11 October 2026) and can change, especially weather-dependent events. Confirm with the organiser before you travel.
Photos: Korea Tourism Organization (KTO).
Sources: Busan Fireworks Festival official site; Busan International Film Festival.