Last updated: September 2026
Quick answer: The 24th Seoul Silvergrass Festival (서울억새축제) runs October 17–23, 2026 at Haneul Park inside World Cup Park in western Seoul. This year’s theme is “Silvergrass, Painted in Light” (억새, 빛으로 물들다), and the park’s roughly 60,000-pyeong (about 20-hectare) expanse of silvergrass is the main attraction. According to the Seoul city festival portal, it is a free outdoor event, so there is no ticket to book — the planning is all about timing, the walk up, and the weather.
Table of Contents
- What Is the Seoul Silvergrass Festival?
- When and Where Is It in 2026?
- How Do You Get to Haneul Park?
- When Is the Best Time to Go?
- What Else Can You Do Nearby?
- Where Should You Stay?
What Is the Seoul Silvergrass Festival?
Silvergrass (eoksae, 억새) is the tall, feathery grass that turns hillsides silver-gold every autumn across Korea. In Seoul, the best-known place to see it is Haneul Park, a hilltop park built on a former landfill and reshaped into one of the city’s signature autumn spots. The annual festival, run by the Seoul city government, marks the peak of the season with a week of events around the grass fields, and it has become one of the capital’s most popular free outings for locals and visitors alike.
If you’re building an autumn trip, think of it as the quiet counterpart to the mountain foliage — softer colors, wide skies, and a gentle walk rather than a hike. It also fits neatly alongside the leaf-peeping plans in our guide to autumn foliage in Seoul.
When and Where Is It in 2026?
The festival takes place from Saturday, October 17 to Friday, October 23, 2026, according to the official Seoul festival portal. The venue is Haneul Park and the surrounding World Cup Park in Mapo-gu. The 2026 theme, “Silvergrass, Painted in Light,” points to the evening atmosphere, when the grass catches low sun and lighting displays. Specific program details such as performances and hours are posted on the official page and can change, so check it closer to the date.
The festival is a fixed-week event, but the grass itself doesn’t follow the calendar exactly. Silvergrass is typically at its fullest in mid-to-late October, which is why the festival is scheduled where it is — the timing works well in most years, though a very warm or very wet autumn can shift how the fields look on a given day.
How Do You Get to Haneul Park?
Haneul Park sits within World Cup Park, near World Cup Stadium Station (Line 6) and Digital Media City. From central Seoul the subway is the simplest option; see our guide to getting around Seoul for how to use T-money cards and transfers. From the entrance, the walk to the silvergrass field is uphill — the park’s stairway is famously long — so wear comfortable shoes and allow extra time if you’re travelling with children or older relatives. An alternative shuttle-style route up the hill has run in past years, but confirm what’s operating this year on the official page.
When Is the Best Time to Go?
Weekends bring the biggest crowds, so a weekday visit (the festival runs through Friday, October 23) is calmer and easier for photos. Late afternoon into sunset is when silvergrass looks its best — the low light turns the seed heads silver and gold — and it also fits the “painted in light” theme. Bring a light jacket, since the hilltop is windier and cooler than the city below. If rain is forecast, the grass and paths get slick, so it’s worth postponing to another day within the week.
What Else Can You Do Nearby?
Autumn in Seoul is packed with free outdoor events, and our fall 2026 Seoul festival map shows how the silvergrass week fits alongside the rest of the season. If you’re planning a wider foliage trip beyond the capital, the 2026 Korea autumn foliage forecast tracks when the color peaks across the country. For a full sightseeing plan around the festival, our things to do in Seoul guide is a good next stop.
Where Should You Stay?
For easy subway access to Haneul Park, base yourself in the western side of the city, around Hongdae or Mapo, or stay central and take the subway out. It’s worth comparing hotel availability in Seoul🏨 for mid-October, since it’s a busy autumn stretch. Our guide to where to stay in Seoul explains which neighborhoods work best for different trips. And if you haven’t booked flights yet, you can compare current fares to Seoul✈️ for October.
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