What's on in Seoul
Seoul events in May 2027
102 events in May 2027: 42 exhibitions, 24 performances, 16 activities and classes, 9 markets, 5 festivals, 3 nightlife events, 2 illuminations and 1 concert, from headline festivals to neighbourhood fairs. 10 of them are annual events whose 2027 dates are still to be confirmed, listed with their usual window.
Warm, with highs around 24°C. Jongmyo Daeje, the royal ancestral rite, is held on the first Sunday of May, and the Lotus Lantern Festival falls on the weekend before Buddha's birthday. More on the season in Things to do in Seoul.
MapDon't miss in May 2027
Festival Jongmyo Daeje (royal ancestral rite) 2 May 2027, dates to be confirmed · Jongno and Insadong The Korea Heritage Service says the rite is held every year on the first Sunday of May. That would be May 2, 2027, but the date and booking haven't been announced. In 2026 (May 3) the procession left Gwanghwamun, the main rite was at 14:00 and advance seats opened Apr 17 on Ticketlink. Photo: xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0
Illumination Lotus Lantern Festival (Yeondeunghoe) 2027 8 May to 9 May 2027, dates to be confirmed · Jongno and Insadong The 2026 edition had the parade on Saturday May 16 (19:00 to 21:30) and Yeondeungnori on May 17, with a lantern exhibition May 8 to 25, a week before Buddha's birthday on May 24. Buddha's birthday in 2027 falls on May 15, but the festival dates haven't been announced. Photo: Gary Todd, CC0 1.0
Festival Seoul Drum Festival 2027 15 May to 16 May 2027, dates to be confirmed · Dongdaemun The 28th edition ran May 16 and 17, 2026 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, per the city. The 2027 dates haven't been announced. Photo: Stephen Kelly, CC BY 4.0
Concert Seoul Jazz Festival 2027 21 May to 23 May 2027, dates to be confirmed · Jamsil The organiser's site shows the 18th edition as 2026 (timetable notice) but its text gave no 2026 dates or 2027 announcement. Press reports put the 2026 edition at May 22 to 24 at Olympic Park. The 2027 dates haven't been announced. Photo: travel oriented, CC BY-SA 2.0
Calendar
Showing all 102 events in May 2027
152+52 more+18 on for weeks246Jongmyo Daeje (royal ancestral rite)+45 more+18 on for weeks321+21 more+16 on for weeks436+36 more+16 on for weeks549+49 more+16 on for weeks645+45 more+15 on for weeks745+45 more+16 on for weeks851Lotus Lantern Festival (Yeondeunghoe) 2027+50 more+16 on for weeks945Lotus Lantern Festival (Yeondeunghoe) 2027+44 more+16 on for weeks1021+21 more+14 on for weeks1135+35 more+14 on for weeks1248+48 more+14 on for weeks1345+45 more+14 on for weeks1445+45 more+14 on for weeks1551Seoul Drum Festival 2027+50 more+14 on for weeks1644Seoul Drum Festival 2027+43 more+14 on for weeks1721+21 more+12 on for weeks1836Korean National Ballet: La Fille mal gardée+35 more+12 on for weeks1949Korean National Ballet: La Fille mal gardée+48 more+12 on for weeks2046Korean National Ballet: La Fille mal gardée+45 more+12 on for weeks2147Seoul Jazz Festival 2027Korean National Ballet: La Fille mal gardée+45 more+12 on for weeks2252Korean National Ballet: La Fille mal gardéeSeoul Jazz Festival 2027+50 more+12 on for weeks2344Korean National Ballet: La Fille mal gardéeSeoul Jazz Festival 2027+42 more+12 on for weeks2421+21 more+12 on for weeks2534+34 more+12 on for weeks2650+50 more+12 on for weeks2744+44 more+12 on for weeks2844+44 more+12 on for weeks2950+50 more+12 on for weeks3042+42 more+12 on for weeks3121+21 more+6 on for weeks
Day by day
Each event on its first day still ahead. Tap a day in the calendar for everything on that day.
1 event
1 event
Lotus Lantern Festival (Yeondeunghoe) 2027Jongno and Insadong · Jongno area and Jogyesa Temple · 8 May to 9 May 2027FreeUsual dates
1 event
Seoul Drum Festival 2027Dongdaemun · Dongdaemun Design Plaza · 15 May to 16 May 2027Usual dates
1 event
Korean National Ballet: La Fille mal gardéeSeoul Arts Center, Opera Theater · 18 May to 23 May 2027
1 event
Seoul Jazz Festival 2027Jamsil · Olympic Park · 21 May to 23 May 2027Usual dates
Nothing matches these filters. Clear one and try again.
Also on dates the organisers post: Seoul Folk Flea Market (Daily except Tuesdays), Han River Light Performance (drone light show) (Spring and autumn series, a few dates each).
On for weeks
19 long runs, such as exhibitions and illuminations: on for more than a week, so shown once instead of every day.
A City's Boarding LogEunpyeong-gu · Seoul Metropolitan Archives, Exhibition Hall 1 (2nd floor) · 23 Oct 2025 to 31 Aug 2028Free
Interlude for the Body: Somokjang SemiBuk-Seoul Museum of Art, 1F Lounge 1 · 2 Apr 2026 to 30 May 2027Free
Somatic Ground - Small Studio SemiNowon-gu · Lounge 1, Seoul Museum of Art Buk-Seoul · 2 Apr 2026 to 30 May 2027Free
Andong Byeolgung, Layers of TimeBukchon and Samcheong-dong · Seoul Museum of Craft Art, Exhibition Building 3, 3F · 28 Apr 2026 to 29 Aug 2027Free
Kwon Byungjun: I Embrace YouNowon-gu · Buk-Seoul Museum of Art · 11 Jun 2026 to 16 May 2027
Again, ArirangJongno and Insadong · Seoul Urisori Museum, Annex Exhibition Hall · 18 Jun 2026 to 30 May 2027Free
RE:ARIRANG, Seoul Museum of Korean Folk Music special exhibitionJongno and Insadong · Seoul Museum of Korean Folk Music · 18 Jun 2026 to 30 May 2027Free
Balanced Affinity: Reflecting Each OtherSeoul Botanic Park, exhibition hall · 23 Jun 2026 to 16 May 2027
Gunrak: Six GardensSOMA Museum of Art, Hall 2 · 9 Oct 2026 to 30 May 2027
Strangers in ParisGyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun · MMCA Deoksugung, all galleries · 17 Dec 2026 to 9 May 2027
Pablo Picasso (by Paul Smith)Seoul Arts Center, Hangaram Design Museum Galleries 1 to 3 · 23 Feb to 27 Jun 2027
Banpo Moonlight Rainbow Fountain (2027 season)Apgujeong and Cheongdam · Banpo Hangang Park · 1 Apr to 31 Oct 2027FreeUsual dates
Seoul Spring Festa 2027Yeouido · Hangang parks and citywide · 10 Apr to 5 May 2027Usual dates
Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour (spring 2027 run)Jongno and Insadong · Changdeokgung Palace · 15 Apr to 30 May 2027Usual dates
A Thousand BluesSeoul Arts Center, CJ Towol Theater · 23 Apr to 2 May 2027
K-Royal Culture Festival (spring 2027)Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun · Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung, Gyeonghuigung and Jongmyo · 24 Apr to 2 May 2027Usual dates
Car-Free Jamsugyo Bridge Festival (spring 2027)Apgujeong and Cheongdam · Jamsugyo Bridge and Banpo Hangang Park · 25 Apr to 13 Jun 2027FreeUsual dates
Universal Ballet: Don QuixoteSeoul Arts Center, Opera Theater · 30 Apr to 9 May 2027
Lee Sang-won Special ExhibitionSeoul Arts Center, Hangaram Art Museum · 7 May to 19 Sept 2027
Planning a trip in May
The calendar above lists 102 events in May 2027, and it's updated every week. Where to stay in Seoul compares the main areas.
Narrow May down
Good to know
What is on in Seoul in May 2027?
There are 102 events listed for May 2027 (42 exhibitions, 24 performances, 16 activities and classes, 9 markets, 5 festivals, 3 nightlife events, 2 illuminations and 1 concert). The big dates are Jongmyo Daeje (royal ancestral rite) (2 May 2027, dates to be confirmed), Lotus Lantern Festival (Yeondeunghoe) 2027 (8 May to 9 May 2027, dates to be confirmed), Seoul Drum Festival 2027 (15 May to 16 May 2027, dates to be confirmed) and Seoul Jazz Festival 2027 (21 May to 23 May 2027, dates to be confirmed). 92 have confirmed dates and 10 are annual events whose exact 2027 dates are still to be announced, shown with the usual window. Every listing links to the interactive map.
What festivals are on in Seoul in May 2027?
The 5 festivals listed for May 2027 are Seoul Spring Festa 2027 (10 Apr to 5 May 2027, dates to be confirmed), K-Royal Culture Festival (spring 2027) (24 Apr to 2 May 2027, dates to be confirmed), Car-Free Jamsugyo Bridge Festival (spring 2027) (25 Apr to 13 Jun 2027, dates to be confirmed), Jongmyo Daeje (royal ancestral rite) (2 May 2027, dates to be confirmed) and Seoul Drum Festival 2027 (15 May to 16 May 2027, dates to be confirmed). Smaller local festivals are under Around the neighbourhoods, further down the page.
Are there free events in Seoul in May 2027?
Yes. 39 of the 102 events listed for May 2027 are free to attend, including Banpo Moonlight Rainbow Fountain (2027 season) (1 Apr to 31 Oct 2027, dates to be confirmed), Car-Free Jamsugyo Bridge Festival (spring 2027) (25 Apr to 13 Jun 2027, dates to be confirmed) and Lotus Lantern Festival (Yeondeunghoe) 2027 (8 May to 9 May 2027, dates to be confirmed).
Is May a good time to visit Seoul?
Warm, with highs around 24°C. Jongmyo Daeje, the royal ancestral rite, is held on the first Sunday of May, and the Lotus Lantern Festival falls on the weekend before Buddha's birthday.
How current is this list?
Dated events are checked against the organiser's own page, and finished events drop off the page on their own. Annual events further out carry their usual dates until the official ones are published.
Running an event? Add your event and it's checked within a day.