How to see the 2026 Yeouido Fireworks Festival from the subway: What time and at which station can you see it?

2026 event date and time

The 2026 Seoul International Fireworks Festival will be held on Saturday, September 5th from 1 PM to 10 PM. Preliminary events begin at 1 p.m., and the full-scale fireworks show lasts for approximately 70 minutes from 8 p.m. to 9:10 p.m. This year, Yeonhwa teams from three countries, Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom, will participate.

Compared to last year's event, which was held on September 27, the schedule has been moved forward by about three weeks. It is known to have been adjusted to reflect the Chuseok holiday period and demand from overseas tourists visiting Korea, and the actual detailed program and whether or not it will be postponed in case of rain may be updated through official channels as the event gets closer.

Viewing area without a ticket

The general viewing areas of Yeouido and Ichon Hangang Park can be viewed without a separate admission ticket. However, because it is free, both parks are very crowded in the evening, so it is safer to go early in the afternoon to secure a spot.

Since there are cases where paid reserved seats or special viewing areas are operated separately, it is best to check the official Hanwha Seoul International Fireworks Festival website and notices from the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Hangang Business Headquarters for accurate seat information and reservation availability.

Is it true that you can see it outside the subway window?

In addition to Yeouido Hangang Park, reviews come out every year that fireworks were seen in the subway passing over the Hangang Railroad Bridge or Dangsan Railroad Bridge. In fact, several cases were confirmed through the media when Line 9 passed the Han River Railroad Bridge section, where the engineer slowed down the train so that passengers could see the flames for a moment.

This kind of considerate operation is not an officially confirmed service, but is closer to a practice that can vary depending on the on-site situation and train operating conditions. If you want a guaranteed viewing experience, it is safer to plan your trip towards the official viewing area of ​​Hangang Park rather than outside the subway window.

At what time and which section do I have to pass to be able to see it?

The main fireworks show runs from 8 PM to 9:10 PM, so if you are on a train passing over the Han River Railroad Bridge or Dangsan Railroad Bridge during this time, there is a chance that you can see the fireworks outside the window. Line 9 can be viewed between Noryangjin Station and Dangsan Station, and other lines that pass over the Han River Railroad Bridge, such as Line 1 and the Gyeongui-Jungang Line, can also have visibility depending on the direction.

However, there are many variables inside a train, such as seat location, direction of travel, and obstruction of vision from other passengers. If the purpose of viewing itself is to use the subway as a means to get to Yeouido, it is much more reliable to actually view it at the Hangang Park viewing area.

Summary of subway routes to Yeouido

The closest station to Yeouido Hangang Park is Yeouinaru Station on Line 5, and Yeouido Station, where Lines 5 and 9 meet, is also within walking distance. However, Yeouinaru Station often has non-stop passing and closed entrances during the evening hours on the day of the event, so it is safer to plan based on Yeouido Station or nearby stations rather than using this station as your destination.

For more detailed information on Yeouinaru Station's non-stop transit times, alternative stations, and exit closures, please refer to other articles in this series.

The detailed operation plan for 2026 may not yet be confirmed.

Most of the slow-moving trains, non-stop passing, and increased train operations introduced in this article are based on actual cases of events before 2025. Since the schedule for the 2026 event has been moved forward compared to previous years, the Seoul Transportation Corporation's detailed operation plan may also be announced separately near the event.

Therefore, the purpose of this article is to provide past patterns as reference material, and you must check the latest notices from the Seoul Transportation Corporation and the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Han River Business Headquarters before actually moving.

Good things to prepare when traveling by subway

The free viewing area can get very crowded, so it's best to arrive early in the afternoon to secure a spot. Immediately after the main fireworks show ends, non-stop transit and extreme congestion are expected at nearby stations such as Yeouinaru Station, so it is safer to not rush and wait for the crowds to subside to a certain extent.

Since your smartphone's battery and data connection may not be smooth, it is a good idea to decide on an alternative travel route and meeting place in advance.

• Check the time zone for the main fireworks show: 20:00~21:10
• Make travel plans based on alternative stations such as Yeouido Station instead of Yeouinaru Station
• If you want to secure a seat, arrive early in the afternoon.
• Return home in time to avoid extreme crowds right after the event ends.