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Gwanghwamun Christmas Market 2026: Real Dates (Dec 11–Jan 10)
Quick answer
- In Seoul between Dec 11 and Jan 10? You can do the Christmas market, the Gwanghwamun light show and the Cheonggyecheon lanterns in one evening. Arriving after Jan 10, the market is gone, so plan around the lanterns, DDP and the ice rink.
- Any "Dec 4 start, 59 days" you see online comes from an earlier city plan. The official site now says Dec 11 to Jan 31, 52 days.
- Market entry is free. The Seoul Plaza ice rink costs ₩1,000 including skates, helmet and knee pads.
The short answer: Dec 11, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027
The 2026 Gwanghwamun (광화문) Market, Seoul's big Christmas market, runs Friday, Dec 11, 2026 to Sunday, Jan 10, 2027. It is one of seven programs in the city's Seoul Winter Festival (서울윈터페스티벌), and these dates come from the festival's official site.
If your trip falls between Dec 11 and Jan 10, you can see the market, the light show on Gwanghwamun Gate and the lanterns along Cheonggyecheon (청계천) stream in a single evening. Come after Jan 10 and the market has already packed up.
The festival as a whole runs Dec 11 to Jan 31, 52 days, but each venue keeps its own dates.
| Program | Dates | Where | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gwanghwamun Market | Dec 11–Jan 10 | South side of Gwanghwamun Square and Sejongno (세종로) Park | Sun–Thu 5:30–10 PM, Fri–Sat 5:30–10:30 PM |
| Seoul Light Gwanghwamun | Dec 11–Jan 10 | Gwanghwamun Gate and north side of the square | 6–11 PM |
| Seoul Lantern Festival | Dec 11–Jan 31 | Along Cheonggyecheon | 6–11 PM |
| Seoul Plaza Ice Rink | Dec 18–Feb 9 | Seoul Plaza | Sun–Thu 10 AM–9:30 PM, Fri–Sat 10 AM–12:30 AM |
| Seoul Light DDP | Dec 11–Jan 31 | Around DDP | 6–10 PM (planned) |
| SEOULCon | Dec 29–Jan 1 | Around DDP | Varies by program |
| New Year's Eve bell ringing | Dec 31–Jan 1 | Around Bosingak (보신각) | Not announced yet |
What international visitors should know
The festival site has an English version (winta.co.kr/en) with the full date list in English. Click into any program, though, and the detail text is still in Korean, so hours and prices are easier to read from the tables here.
Entry to the market is free; you pay at each booth for gifts and food. The ice rink takes online reservations but also sells tickets on site, so you can just show up on the day.
Gwanghwamun, Cheonggyecheon and Seoul Plaza are all within walking distance of each other. DDP is the one venue you'll want the subway for.
What's at Gwanghwamun Market
This year's theme is a Santa village "where time stopped at Christmas." A giant tree and a market village anchor the space, with booths from small local makers selling handicrafts, seasonal decorations and food, plus global collaboration booths and immersive photo and activity zones.
Last year's market ran Dec 12–31, 2025, with 45 booths and 135 small-business teams. This year it stays open until Jan 10, so New Year trips still catch it.
The 2025 winter festival drew 10.98 million visitors in total. Expect crowds on weekend evenings and around Christmas.
Gwanghwamun light show and Cheonggyecheon lanterns
Seoul Light Gwanghwamun projects media art onto the gate itself and fills the north side of the square with light sculptures. It runs 6–11 PM until Jan 10, same as the market, and hosts a New Year countdown.
The Seoul Lantern Festival (서울빛초롱축제) lines Cheonggyecheon with traditional hanji paper lanterns and media art. This year's theme is "Seoul's Romance: A Symphony of Light." It runs nightly Dec 11 to Jan 31, 6–11 PM, from Cheonggye Plaza to Samilgyo (삼일교) Bridge.
Seoul Plaza ice rink: ₩1,000 with rentals
The rink opens Dec 18 and runs to Feb 9. Admission is ₩1,000, and that covers skates, a helmet and knee pads.
Hours are 10 AM–9:30 PM Sunday to Thursday and 10 AM–12:30 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. On Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve it stays open until 1 AM.
Skate in the afternoon, then walk up to Gwanghwamun once it's dark. Seoul Plaza to Gwanghwamun Square takes about 15–20 minutes on foot.
DDP: the main light show starts Dec 17
At DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza) in Dongdaemun (동대문), Christmas decorations go up on Dec 11. The main media facade, a collaboration with Kakao Friends, plays Dec 17–31. From Jan 1 to 31 it switches to a "365 Light Show" and regular performances. Planned hours are 6–10 PM.
On Dec 31, DDP holds a countdown with the media facade, live performances and fireworks. SEOULCon, an influencer expo, takes over the same venue Dec 29 to Jan 1.
What you can see, by travel dates
- Before Dec 11: The festival hasn't started. For department store Christmas displays, see our guides to The Hyundai Seoul and Lotte Department Store.
- Dec 11–17: Market, Gwanghwamun light show and lanterns are all on. DDP has decorations only, no main facade yet.
- Dec 18–31: The ice rink and DDP's main facade join in. This is when the most programs overlap.
- Jan 1–10: Last stretch for the market and the Gwanghwamun light show. DDP switches to the 365 Light Show.
- Jan 11–31: Market and Gwanghwamun light show are over. Lanterns, DDP and the ice rink remain.
- Feb 1–9: Only the ice rink is open.
Getting there
| Venue | Nearest station |
|---|---|
| Gwanghwamun Square | Gwanghwamun (Line 5) |
| Cheonggyecheon (Jonggak side) | Jonggak (종각) (Line 1) |
| Seoul Plaza | City Hall (시청) (Lines 1, 2) |
| DDP | Dongdaemun History & Culture Park (Lines 2, 4, 5) |
| Bosingak | Jonggak (Line 1) |
Line 5 runs straight from Gwanghwamun to Dongdaemun History & Culture Park with no transfer, so you can spend early evening at Gwanghwamun and still catch DDP's facade.
To pack the most into one night, go on a Friday or Saturday between Dec 18 and Jan 10: skate at Seoul Plaza, walk to the Gwanghwamun market, then follow the lanterns along Cheonggyecheon. After Jan 10, build your evening around Cheonggyecheon and DDP instead.
FAQ
- When is the Gwanghwamun Christmas Market 2026?
- Dec 11, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027. The Dec 4 date you may see online is from an earlier plan.
- What are the market's opening hours?
- 5:30–10 PM Sunday to Thursday, and 5:30–10:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
- Is Gwanghwamun Market free?
- Entry is free. You pay at each booth for anything you buy.
- How long does the Seoul Lantern Festival 2026 run?
- Nightly until Jan 31, 2027, 6–11 PM, along Cheonggyecheon from Cheonggye Plaza to Samilgyo Bridge.
- Do I need to book the Seoul Plaza ice rink?
- No. Online booking is available, but tickets are also sold on site. It costs ₩1,000 with rentals included.
Sources
We read these Korean sources on the dates shown and compared them before writing.
- 2026 Seoul Winter Festival official site (venue guide) (Nov 3, 2026)
- 2026 Seoul Winter Festival detailed programs (Korean: dates, venues, hours, fees) (Nov 3, 2026)
- 2026 Seoul Winter Festival Detailed Festivals (English page) (Nov 3, 2026)
- FUN SEOUL: Seoul Winter Festival (Seoul Metropolitan Government) (Nov 3, 2026)
- 2026 Seoul Winter Festa dates confirmed (Naver blog sosolifeinfo, 2026-11-02) (Nov 3, 2026)
- Gwanghwamun Christmas market 2026 and last year's hours (Naver blog specialh1, 2026-11-02) (Nov 3, 2026)
- 2026 Seoul Winter Festa guide and subway access (Naver blog hkr2803, 2026-10-27) (Nov 3, 2026)
- 2026 winter festival schedule roundup (Naver blog mongmong_zip, 2026-10-29) (Nov 3, 2026)
