31 December 2026 · Seoul
New Year’s Eve 2026 in Seoul
Seoul sees the year out to the sound of a bronze bell. At midnight the great bell of Bosingak, on Jongno, is struck 33 times, while light shows play across Gwanghwamun and Dongdaemun Design Plaza and the concert halls south of the river count down with an orchestra. Here is everything for Thursday 31 December 2026 that we could confirm on the city’s and the venues’ own pages on 12 November 2026.
Updated October 2026
Midnight at Bosingak: 33 strokes of the bell
Bosingak, the bell pavilion on Jongno, was built as Jonggak in 1396 and renamed in 1895. Every New Year’s Eve, as the clock strikes twelve, its bell is rung 33 times, an echo of the 33 strokes that once announced the opening of the four great gates of the city wall at around 4am.
For 2026 the ceremony is part of the Seoul Winter Festival, on the night of Thursday 31 December into Friday 1 January in the Bosingak area, with opening performances, the 33 tolls and programmes in which the public takes part. The city has not yet published the times or the poster.
Our advice: the streets around Bosingak are packed from late evening. Take the subway to Jonggak Station (Line 1), exit 4, arrive early and dress for a long wait in the cold.
Seoul Winter Festival 2026: programmes Seoul Metropolitan Government: Bosingak bell-ringing ceremony
Light and fireworks: Gwanghwamun and Dongdaemun Design Plaza
Seoul Light Gwanghwamun turns the palace gate and the northern end of Gwanghwamun Square into a canvas for media art from 11 December to 10 January, 6pm–11pm nightly, and its programme includes a New Year’s countdown. At the southern end of the square, the Gwanghwamun Market’s Santa Village of craft and food stalls runs over the same dates, until 10pm (10.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays).
Across town, Seoul Light DDP dresses Dongdaemun Design Plaza in a Kakao Friends media facade from 17 December, and on 31 December it holds a New Year countdown with the facade, artist performances and a fireworks show. Along Cheonggyecheon, the Seoul Lantern Festival lights the stream with lanterns and media art, 6pm–11pm, from 11 December to 31 January.
Our advice: the three sites are a short subway ride apart, but on the night itself choose one and stay; the crowds make crossing the centre slow.
Seoul Winter Festival 2026: Seoul Light, Gwanghwamun Market, Lantern Festival
An orchestra for midnight: the Seoul Arts Center
The Seoul Arts Center’s own 2026 New Year’s Eve Concert begins at 10pm on 31 December in the Concert Hall, running about two hours, so the music carries you into 2027. The Korean National Symphony Orchestra plays under Lee Byung-wook, with the flautist Jasmine Choi and dancers of the Universal Ballet.
The programme runs from a Wagner overture, Saint-Saëns’s Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso and a Carmen fantasy, both arranged by Choi, to Khachaturian’s Spartacus adagio, Tchaikovsky’s Snow pas de deux and, to close, the 1812 Overture. Seats are ₩120,000 (R), ₩100,000 (S), ₩70,000 (A) and ₩50,000 (B and choir seats); children must be of primary-school age or older.
Earlier the same evening, at 7.30pm, the Plus Chamber Group gives its year-end concert in the centre’s IBK Chamber Hall.
Our advice: the centre released extra choir seats on 6 November in answer to demand, so book now through its own site.
Seoul Arts Center: 2026 New Year’s Eve Concert Seoul Arts Center: Plus Chamber Group year-end concert (Korean)
Dinner and a toast: Four Seasons Hotel Seoul
Four Seasons Hotel Seoul plans its festive season around year-end parties and New Year’s Eve: a six-course Festive Degustation at Yu Yuan, an omakase at Akira Back, and a festive cocktail list at Charles H., from the Regal French 75 with Ruinart Blanc de Blancs to the returning Toasted Marshmallow Eggnog. The hotel had not yet printed its New Year’s Eve times or prices.
Our advice: book a table for early in the evening, and walk on to the Gwanghwamun countdown or Bosingak for midnight.
Four Seasons Hotel Seoul: festive season 2026
New Year’s Day: skating, SEOULCon and the lights
The Seoul Plaza ice rink, in front of City Hall, opens on 18 December and stays open until 1am on New Year’s Eve, with events on the night; ₩1,000 covers skates, helmet and knee pads. SEOULCon, the city’s expo of K-pop, dance, beauty and creators, runs at Dongdaemun Design Plaza from 29 December to 1 January, and from New Year’s Day DDP switches to its 365 Light Show.
Our advice: before the night itself, the Universal Ballet dances The Nutcracker at the Sejong Center from 17 to 30 December, marking 40 years since its Korean premiere. Our Christmas in Seoul page has the season in full.
Seoul Winter Festival 2026: Seoul Plaza rink and SEOULCon Sejong Center for the Performing Arts Christmas in Seoul
Before you go
Most of Seoul’s New Year’s Eve is outdoors and open to all; only the concerts and the rink are ticketed. The city publishes road closures around Jongno and late-night subway and bus services for the night shortly before 31 December. When we checked, the 2026 Bosingak timings, the Lotte World Tower countdown and the luxury hotels’ gala dinners had not yet been announced.
Our advice: dress for a long, cold night outdoors, carry a transport card topped up in advance, and agree a meeting point before the crowds gather.
Questions and answers
What time is the Bosingak bell rung on New Year’s Eve 2026?
At midnight, as 31 December 2026 turns to 1 January 2027, the bell is rung 33 times. The ceremony is part of the 2026 Seoul Winter Festival; the city has not yet published the start time of the surrounding programme.
Are there fireworks in Seoul on New Year’s Eve 2026?
Yes: Seoul Light DDP’s New Year countdown at Dongdaemun Design Plaza on 31 December includes a fireworks show, with a media facade and artist performances. The Lotte World Tower countdown had not been announced for 2026 when we checked.
Is there a New Year’s Eve concert in Seoul?
The Seoul Arts Center’s 2026 New Year’s Eve Concert starts at 10pm on 31 December in the Concert Hall, about two hours long, with the Korean National Symphony Orchestra, the flautist Jasmine Choi and Universal Ballet dancers. Seats cost ₩50,000–₩120,000.
Every event from the organiser’s own page: the 2026 Seoul Winter Festival (winta.co.kr), the Seoul Metropolitan Government (world.seoul.go.kr, seoul.go.kr), the Seoul Arts Center (sac.or.kr), the Sejong Center (sejongpac.or.kr) and Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, checked 12 November 2026. Prices are as each venue prints them. Check before you go.