2026 Seoul Light Hangang Bitseom Festival

The 2026 Seoul Light Hangang Bitseom Festival will be held from October 2 to 11 at Nodeul Island (445 Yangnyeong-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul), and admission is free. The festival itself uses on-site participation rather than advance reservations. It runs daily from 18:30 to 22:30, and the biggest change is that the venue has moved from Ttukseom Hangang Park for the 3rd edition in 2025 to Nodeul Island for the 4th edition in 2026.

The 4th Bitseom Festival moves from Ttukseom to Nodeul Island

It was held on Seorae Island in 2023, Yeouido in 2024, and Ttukseom Hangang Park in 2025. The 4th edition in 2026 is moving to the southern end of Hangang Bridge on Nodeul Island. Hosted and organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, this year's festival will use the entire island as an exhibition route in conjunction with Nodeul Global Arts Island.

In 2026, Nodeul Island will feature 3 main laser artworks, 14 laser and media artworks, and 3 university-collaboration light sculptures. The art director for the laser art exhibition is Kim Kira. Three multimedia performances will be held at the Live House, creating a viewing experience different from the 3rd edition in 2025, which centered on the Light Run and photo zones.

How the 18:00 shuttle connects Sinyongsan Station and Nodeul Island

A shuttle operates from Exit 4 of Sinyongsan Station to Nodeul Island, Exit 2 of Nodeul Station, and Exit 3 of Noryangjin Station from 18:00 to 22:00. Four buses cover the 7 km route at 15-minute intervals, so you can plan your trip to the venue by combining the subway with the shuttle.

Information about the special cruise service was not confirmed in the materials reviewed for this guide.

Information about parking on the west side of Nodeul Island was not confirmed in the materials reviewed for this guide. The festival ends at 22:30, but the shuttle and cruise service end at 22:00, and the last subway train times were not included in this guide. Therefore, it is safest to consider a same-day trip unfeasible until you confirm the last train.

An itinerary for viewing the 14 artworks and the 19:30 performances

From 18:30 to 22:30, three main works, including “Layered Immersion,” “Ripples,” and “Open Sky,” can be viewed continuously in the outdoor spaces of Nodeul Island. “Layered Immersion” is an immersive audiovisual installation by Aca Chang of Taiwan; “Ripples” uses lasers, light, sound, and haze; and “Open Sky” is a work by Italy's Quiet Ensemble.

VAKKI's audiovisual performance takes place from 19:30 to 20:30 on October 2, 5, 7, and 10. CIFIKA performs at the same time on October 3 and 4, while MUTO Ground's “Nodeul MUTO” takes place at the same time on October 8 and 9. On October 11, Donghaeng Light and the closing performance are scheduled from 19:30 to 20:30, so matching your visit to the performance dates makes the viewing route clearer.

A roughly 300 m Bitseom promenade will be created along Hangang Bridge toward Nodeul Island, and four indoor works will be installed in Nodeul Gallery. “Odyssey—On the Orbit of Time” consists of a 6-minute loop and 7-channel sound, making it a good indoor viewing option between the outdoor works.

On October 9, Bitseom Lecture runs from 18:30 to 19:00, followed by the Lighting Fashion Show from 19:00 to 19:20. Bitseom Lecture will also be held from 18:30 to 19:00 on October 10. Three participating works from Konkuk University, the University of Seoul, and Sungshin Women's University are included in this year's program.

Detailed English guidance or interpretation for the light- and video-focused works was not confirmed in the publicly available information. The locations of restrooms, food and beverage areas, and lockers, as well as on-site payment methods, have not been published. If you need essential facilities, it is best to contact 120 before departing.

How the 2026 restrictions on Nodeul Island's west-side parking affect your plans

Parking control information was not confirmed in the materials reviewed for this guide.

Policies for operation, cancellation, and refunds in rainy weather, as well as wheelchair and stroller access routes, have not yet been confirmed. Information about the viewing atmosphere and language support was not confirmed in the materials reviewed for this guide.

Before October 2, contact 120 or 02-2133-1935 to confirm rainy-weather operations, accessibility, and conditions for attending individual performances. Save the shuttle boarding location and the last train home in your map app.

• Why go to Nodeul Island instead of Ttukseom in 2026? — Following Seorae Island in 2023, Yeouido in 2024, and Ttukseom Hangang Park in 2025, the 4th edition will be held on Nodeul Island in conjunction with Nodeul Global Arts Island.
• What can I see if I miss the 19:30 performance? — You can view the 3 main laser artworks, the approximately 300 m Bitseom promenade, and 4 indoor works at Nodeul Gallery. “Odyssey—On the Orbit of Time” is shown on a 6-minute loop.
• Can I park at Nodeul Island's west-side parking lot? — Information about parking restrictions and alternative parking lots was not confirmed in the materials reviewed for this guide.
• Can I take the shuttle after the festival ends at 22:30? — The festival runs until 22:30, but the shuttle and special cruise service operate only until 22:00, so you must separately check the last subway train and alternative transportation before heading home.