Seoul at Christmas and New Year's Eve 2026: Lights, Bosingak and Countdowns

Seoul’s winter season is organised by the city government, which runs the lights, the skating rink and the midnight bell at Bosingak. Only a few 2026 entries were published when this page was checked on 29 October 2026, and none with a confirmed programme. What follows is the 2025 to 2026 season, labelled as such, because it shows where each event happens and what to look for.

The season at a glance (2025 to 2026 edition)

Bosingak bell ringing

The midnight bell at Bosingak Pavilion in Jongno is the city’s official New Year’s Eve ceremony. In the 2025 edition the ceremony ran from 23:50 to 00:20, with the countdown starting at 23:59:50 and the bell struck 33 times. Eleven citizens were chosen as ringers through public nominations, and a committee of ten journalists accredited to the city picked them. The 2026 ringers and programme aren’t announced.

The city’s guide for the 2025 ceremony closed the roads around the pavilion from 18:00 on 31 December to 07:00 on 1 January. Expect the same kind of closures, and check the guide for 2026 when it appears.

Seoul also extends public transport on the night. In the 2025 edition the last subway trains and the last buses ran until 02:00 the next day, with 104 extra subway trips at intervals of 10 to 30 minutes.

Gwanghwamun: Seoul Winter Festa and Seoul Light

The Seoul Winter Festa opened on 12 December 2025 with a ceremony from 19:00 to 20:00 at Gwanghwamun Square, billed as seven festivals of lights. Within it:

• Seoul Light Gwanghwamun. Four light works under the title “Gwanghwa, Breathe with Light”, with the Gwanghwamun media facade, 12 December to 4 January.
• Christmas market and Santa Village. A market with a Rudolph merry-go-round, run by small business owners, 12 to 31 December 2025.
• New Year countdown. The city’s page lists a countdown with a media facade show at Gwanghwamun on 31 December. No time is printed.

The city’s 2026 annual-events page lists the Seoul Winter Festival as 14 December 2026 to 31 January 2027, but the same page’s image caption says 12 December. Treat both dates as unconfirmed until the city announces the programme. The Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun area is the base for all of it.

Seoul Lantern Festival

Last season’s was the 17th Seoul Lantern Festival: 12 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, 18:00 to 23:00, free, along Cheonggyecheon, according to Visit Seoul. Older city text gave 4 January as the end date, so the closing day differed between pages. The 2026 edition isn’t announced. It’s a winter festival, not an autumn one.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza

Dongdaemun Design Plaza joined the winter programme too. In 2025 Seoul Light DDP and a Christmas Town ran from 18 to 31 December, and the city listed a New Year countdown with fireworks and an after-party on 31 December. No times are printed. See Dongdaemun.

Seoul Plaza ice rink

The Winter Ring at Seoul Plaza ran 19 December 2025 to 8 February 2026. It was open 10:00 to 21:30 Sunday to Friday and 10:00 to 23:00 on Saturdays and holidays. A one-hour session cost KRW 1,000 including skates and helmet, with half price for people 65 and over and some other groups. The city’s 2026 page says the price starts at KRW 1,000 on 2026 pricing. The 2026 to 2027 dates aren’t out.

Department store lights

Three department stores ran Christmas displays in the 2025 season, according to Korea Tourism Organization listings.

• Shinsegae Main Store. A media art show on the Square, 7 November 2025 to 31 January 2026, 17:00 to midnight. See the Shinsegae main store.
• Lotte Department Store, Myeong-dong. A Christmas facade, 31 October to 31 December 2025, 17:30 to 23:00. Myeong-dong is the area.
• The Hyundai Seoul. An indoor Christmas Atelier, 1 November to 31 December 2025, 10:30 to 20:00 on weekdays and 10:30 to 20:30 at weekends and holidays, with an advance online reservation required.

Lotte Town Christmas Market

At the Lotte World Tower World Park, the 2025 market ran 20 November 2025 to 4 January 2026 from 11:30 to 22:00. Entry was free before 16:00 and KRW 5,000 after 16:00. This is from the Korea Tourism Organization, not from Lotte. See Jamsil.

How to plan it

• Pick the second half of December. None of the 2026 dates are announced, and that was when last season’s lights, rink and markets overlapped.
• New Year’s Eve. The roads around Bosingak were closed for hours last year. Plan to leave by subway, which ran to 02:00.
• Dress for it. Gwanghwamun, Cheonggyecheon and Seoul Plaza are all outdoors. Seoul travel tips has more on getting around.

For everything else on during your trip, see Seoul festivals, free things to do in Seoul, Seoul street markets, events in December and the map. If you’re choosing a base, where to stay in Seoul compares the areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is the Bosingak bell ringing?

In the 2025 edition the ceremony ran 23:50 to 00:20 on 31 December, with the countdown from 23:59:50. The 2026 programme isn’t announced.

Is the Bosingak ceremony free?

The city’s guide doesn’t state a price. In 2025 the roads around the pavilion in Jongno were closed from 18:00 on 31 December to 07:00 on 1 January.

When is the Seoul Lantern Festival?

The 2025 to 2026 edition ran 12 December to 18 January, 18:00 to 23:00, free. The 2026 to 2027 dates aren’t announced.

When does the Seoul Plaza ice rink open?

Last season it opened on 19 December and closed on 8 February. A one-hour session cost KRW 1,000, skates included.

Does the subway run late on New Year’s Eve in Seoul?

In the 2025 edition the last subway trains and buses ran until 02:00 on 1 January. Check the city’s announcement for 2026.