Summer in Seoul is hot and humid. During the day, it is tempting to stay anywhere with air conditioning. But once the sun begins to set, the Hangang River feels like a completely different place. You can sit on the grass and listen to music in the evening breeze, take in Seoul’s skyline from the water, or watch films and Korean dramas late into the night. This summer, there are even more ways to experience the river. Organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the 2026 Hangang River Festival—Summer will take place from August 1 to 16 on the river and across nine Hangang parks. This year’s theme presents the Hangang as Seoul’s closest and most reliable summer escape. The festival includes 18 programs in total. The lineup ranges from a race across the river in handmade boats to an overnight walking challenge, a paddleboard marathon, a water drone show, a silent DJ party and outdoor yoga. Trying all 18 would be difficult, so I narrowed the list down to nine. These are the ...
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