Every Sunday from 6 September to 25 October 2026, Jamsugyo Bridge and the adjacent Banpo Hangang Park close to vehicle traffic from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. for Seoul’s annual car-free riverfront festival. Entry is free throughout.
The event is in its fifth year. Cumulative attendance since 2022 now exceeds 6.47 million visitors.
What’s On in 2026
Seoul Metropolitan Government has themed the 2026 edition around light and the night sky. The programme includes:
- Galaxy-themed media art: large-scale projections onto the bridge structure and riverbank create an immersive light walk after dark
- 100+ food truck stalls: a mix of Korean street food — tteokbokki, hotteok, grilled seafood skewers — alongside international options from the festival’s cultural programme
- Stage performances: groups from six countries are featured across the seven-week run, with traditional and contemporary performances scheduled through the afternoon and evening
- Han River sunset viewing: designated areas with reserved free seating for the evening programme, which runs from approximately 7:30 p.m. as the light fades
The full event area covers around 900 metres of riverfront, including the bridge decks themselves and the Banpo Hangang Park terraces below.
Why 2026 Is the Last Year to See It This Way
Seoul has confirmed that Jamsugyo Bridge will transition to a permanent pedestrian and cycling bridge in the second half of 2027. When that happens, the car-free festival format — which gains much of its energy from the contrast between a reclaimed traffic artery and the surrounding road network — becomes the permanent default rather than a Sunday pop-up.
If you want to experience the event in its current form, 2026 is the final autumn season for it.
Getting There
The most practical transport options:
- Subway: Express Bus Terminal station (Lines 3, 7, and 9) is about 10 minutes on foot from the Banpo Hangang Park entrance
- Subway (Ichon side): Seobinggo station on Line 4 gives access from the other bank
- Bicycle: Hangang Park bicycle racks are well-positioned at both ends; the Han River cycle path is one of the city’s great ways to arrive
- Ferry: the Hangang ferry stop at Banpo is operational on event days
Driving and parking are not recommended — the road closure extends to adjacent streets on Sunday afternoons and the area fills quickly.
Our Seoul city guide has full neighbourhood and transport detail, and the best time to visit South Korea covers the broader autumn appeal — including Bukhansan foliage and the Gyeongbokgung Palace seasonal events that overlap with the festival’s final weeks.