What is the most extraordinary way to experience Seoul this autumn? It might be a stroll along streets painted golden with ginkgo leaves, or watching the sunset fade over the Han River. But this year, why not add a performance to the season? The stage begins on the Han River, passes through Daehangno, and extends to every corner of the city, where theaters blend seamlessly into the urban landscape. No longer confined to the stage, performances spill into streets, plazas, and everyday life, enriching Seoul's autumn with new depth and vitality. This autumn, Seoul transcends being a city where art is merely "seen" and becomes a vast theater where art is "experienced" with all the senses.

Running for 73 days from September 18 to November 29, 2026, the Seoul Autumn Festa is a performing arts platform that connects performances and festivals held across Seoul during the autumn season. Theater, dance, music, traditional arts, and street performances are joined by international forums, arts education, and citizen participation programs, weaving the entire city into one festival centered on the performing arts. Launched last year, the Seoul Autumn Festa began not as a government-led event but as a public-private collaborative festival developed together with the performing arts community. This year, co-chaired by traditional musician and actress Jeonghae Oh and Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture President Hyeongjong Song, the festival brings together planning, advisory, and publicity committees along with arts organizations to shape its direction. Their shared goal is to establish the Seoul Autumn Festa as the city's signature performing arts season.

The festival's opening scene unfolds on the Han River. On September 18, an opening performance at Ttukseom Hangang Park will interpret Seoul's history and memories through dance under the theme of the Han River and dance. Directed by Ruda Lee, the performance will feature the Black Toe Dance Company, the Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theatre, the Korea National University of Arts, the Melancholy Dance Company, and others, bringing the rhythm and energy of Seoul to life on a single stage. This will be followed throughout the autumn by Korea's leading dance festivals, including the Seoul International Ballet Festival, Seoul International Dance Festival, the National Dance Festival, and the Seoul Dance Festival, transforming the entire city into a stage alive with dance.

On September 19 and 20, the Seoul Street Arts Festival will turn the Han River and Seoul Forest area into a vast performance venue. Diverse works presented throughout streets, plazas, and parks will offer residents the unique experience of naturally encountering art as they go about their daily lives. Art Trekking, which made its debut along Cheonggyecheon last year to enthusiastic public response, returns on an even larger scale. This program invites participants to walk through the city while following a series of performances. This year, the route will connect Ttukseom Hangang Park and Seoul Forest, offering a new festival experience that combines Seoul's landscapes with the performing arts.

The heart of the Seoul Autumn Festa is Daehangno. This autumn, Daehangno will host more than 70 performances and programs, along with 15 evening cultural events. Audiences can enjoy performances in theaters during the day and on the streets at night, experiencing Daehangno?the heart of Korea's performing arts scene?from multiple perspectives. One highlight is "QUAD, Questions of Theatre: Evolving Texts," presented by Daehangno Theater QUAD. Leading Korean theater directors?including Ara Kim, Kwangbo Kim, Woo-ok Kim, Seong-yeol Lee, and Taesook Han?will reinterpret the questions contemporary theater asks. Conceived at a time when artificial intelligence and advanced technologies are rapidly transforming everyday life, the program invites audiences to reflect anew on the essence of theater as one of humanity's most profound art forms.

The performance experience does not end when the curtain falls. Programs such as "Seasonal Theater," which showcases upcoming works ahead of their official premieres, "AfterTheater," where creators and audiences continue the conversation after a performance, and the Open Space Festival at the Seoul Theater Creation Center extend the experience beyond the stage and into the life of the city.

The Seoul Autumn Festa is not a festival solely for devoted performing arts enthusiasts. A wide variety of programs and services have been designed so that anyone?regardless of age, interests, or preferred way of engaging with culture?can experience the performing arts in their own way.

Young adults can attend performances at reduced cost through the Seoul Youth Culture Pass, while students can discover acclaimed productions such as the musical The Long, Long Night through the school performing arts program "Performance Spring Day." By lowering the barriers to attendance, the festival makes it easier for first-time audiences to discover and enjoy the performing arts.

Also noteworthy is the Seoul Autumn Festa's own performing arts recommendation service. Rather than simply listing performances, it recommends productions based on individual tastes and interests, helping both dedicated theatergoers and first-time visitors easily find performances that suit them. Services for international visitors have also been expanded. The festival will present non-verbal performances in partnership with Seoul Stage, while performance guides will be available at airports and major tourist destinations, making it easier for overseas visitors to discover performances throughout the city. Digital content produced in collaboration with international influencers will further showcase the appeal of Seoul's performing arts to audiences around the world.

The festival also offers opportunities to go beyond simply watching performances by encouraging deeper engagement with the arts. At the Seoul Theater Center, Seoul Dance Center, and other venues, Masterpiece Talks will give audiences the opportunity to meet distinguished veteran artists and explore their lives and artistic worlds firsthand. Meanwhile, the Seoul Citizens Arts School will offer arts education programs linked to festival performances. Together with district-level performances and local festivals, these programs allow residents to experience the Seoul Autumn Festa close to where they live.

More broadly, the Seoul Autumn Festa serves as a platform connecting Seoul's performing arts with the world. A wide range of international exchange initiatives will take place throughout the festival, including the Seoul International Arts Forum, ST-NOVA?an international outreach program associated with the Seoul Future Theater Festival?collaborative projects with Fabbrica Europa, partnership programs with the Korean Cultural Center, Washington, D.C., and workshops led by invited international choreographers. In this most beautiful of seasons, Seoul stands ready to welcome both its citizens and the world through the performing arts. The curtain is about to rise on the 73-day journey of the 2026 Seoul Autumn Festa.