If you're traveling in Seoul today and suddenly hear huge explosions coming from somewhere near the Han River, don't panic.

There's a good chance you're hearing one of Seoul's biggest annual events: the Seoul International Fireworks Festival (서울세계불꽃축제).

The festival takes place today, September 5, 2026, around Yeouido Hangang Park, and it's much bigger than a small local fireworks show. More than one million people are expected to gather around the Han River this year.

If you happen to be traveling in Seoul at the right time, I think it's an event worth knowing about—even if you don't plan to go directly to Yeouido.

Seoul's Fireworks Festival Has Been Around Since 2000

One thing that might surprise visitors is how long this festival has been running.

The Seoul International Fireworks Festival has been organized by Hanwha Group since 2000 as a social-contribution event. Every year, professional fireworks teams from different countries are invited to Seoul to create large-scale shows over the Han River.

For the 2026 festival, three countries are taking part: South Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Each team brings its own style to the show, which is one of the reasons it's officially called the Seoul International Fireworks Festival.

The entire festival program runs from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., while the main fireworks begin at 8 p.m. This year's theme is Your Infinite Colors.

And the setting is one of my favorite parts.

The fireworks are launched around Yeouido along the Han River, with Seoul's famous 63 Building nearby. Since the festival usually takes place around the beginning of autumn, it can also be a nice opportunity to walk along the Han River and enjoy Seoul at night.

This year is actually earlier than usual—the festival was moved to September 5 partly because of the Chuseok holiday schedule and demand from international tourists.

You Don't Necessarily Have to Watch From Yeouido

When people think about the Seoul Fireworks Festival, Yeouido Hangang Park is naturally the first place that comes to mind.

But there's one problem:

It gets incredibly crowded.

People sometimes arrive many hours before the fireworks with picnic mats to secure a spot. More than a million visitors are expected around the Han River for the festival this year.

Personally, I don't think you necessarily need to stand directly in front of the fireworks to enjoy them.

These are enormous fireworks in an open sky above the Han River, which means they can be seen from several places across the river as well.

For example, Ichon Hangang Park on the opposite side of the river is another known viewing area. There are also viewpoints around the Noryangjin side of the river.

You may see recommendations for Nodeul Island too, but there's an important change this year: Nodeul Island is operating as a designated Orange Play Zone, so I wouldn't simply head there expecting it to work like an unrestricted public viewing spot.

Watching from farther away means the fireworks may look smaller, of course. But sometimes I actually prefer seeing the fireworks together with the Han River and Seoul skyline rather than being surrounded by the biggest crowd.

Don't Like Crowds? Watch the Fireworks Online

If huge crowds aren't your thing, there's another option: you can watch the Seoul Fireworks Festival online.

Around the time the fireworks begin, live streams are usually available on YouTube, allowing you to watch the show in real time and in high quality. Try searching for “Seoul Fireworks Festival live” or “서울세계불꽃축제 라이브” on YouTube around the scheduled start time. https://www.youtube.com/live/nLZKpuCxmpM

Of course, watching fireworks on a screen isn't quite the same as standing beside the Han River and hearing them explode above you. But considering how crowded Yeouido becomes—and how difficult transportation can be after the show—watching online can actually be a comfortable alternative.

So if you're in Korea but don't feel like spending hours securing a spot or dealing with the crowds afterward, grab some food, open YouTube, and enjoy the fireworks from your hotel room.

Be Careful With the Subway Today

This is probably the most important information if you're traveling in Seoul today.

Because so many people gather in Yeouido, public transportation around the festival is being controlled.

On September 5, 2026, Line 5 trains will NOT stop at Yeouinaru Station from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

So don't make a plan that depends on getting off at Yeouinaru Station just before the fireworks.

Seoul recommends using nearby alternatives such as:

• Yeouido Station — Lines 5 & 9
• Mapo Station — Line 5
• Saetgang Station — Line 9 & Sillim Line

There are also major road closures around Yeouido. Yeouidong-ro between the southern end of Mapo Bridge and the 63 Building is closed to vehicles from 3 p.m. until midnight, and Wonhyo Bridge is also closed to vehicles for festival preparations and cleanup.

If you're visiting, I would definitely choose the subway over a taxi—and expect the trip home to take longer than usual.

Don't Rush Out the Moment the Fireworks End

There's another small tip that can make the experience much less stressful.

The fireworks are expected to finish at around 9:10 p.m., and that's when huge numbers of people start moving toward subway stations at the same time.

Seoul is actually encouraging visitors to wait about 10 minutes and stagger their departure rather than immediately joining the crowd.

If you're not in a hurry, walking along the Han River for a little while after the show might be much more pleasant.

And if you're traveling with someone, decide where you'll meet in advance in case you get separated. With this many people in one area, finding each other afterward can be surprisingly difficult.

If You're Traveling in Seoul Today…

The Seoul International Fireworks Festival isn't something every international visitor knows about.

So I can imagine someone visiting Seoul today, hearing enormous boom, boom, boom sounds in the evening and wondering:

"What's happening in Seoul?"

Don't worry.

It's probably the fireworks.

If you're nearby, look toward the Han River—you might unexpectedly get to see one of Seoul's biggest annual festivals during your trip.

And even if you don't want to enter the enormous crowd in Yeouido, finding a quieter place farther along the Han River and watching the fireworks from a distance can still be a beautiful way to spend an early autumn evening in Seoul.