Seoul garden festival draws record 14 million visitors in 6-month run
Seoul’s biggest garden festival has drawn 14 million visitors over six months, setting a record for attendance and giving a boost to nearby businesses as the city seeks to make green spaces a larger part of urban life. The 2026 Seoul International Garden Show concluded Tuesday after running for 180 days, the longest edition yet, with attendance up 34.1 percent from 10.44 million visitors last…
Seoul's longest-running garden festival in history attracted a staggering 14 million visitors over six months, breaking attendance records and stimulating nearby businesses, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The 2026 Seoul International Garden Show concluded on Tuesday after a 180-day run, up 34.1 percent from the 10.44 million visitors in 2022.
The festival, themed "Seoul, Green Culture," expanded from its original location at Seoul Forest to include Seongsu-dong, Konkuk University area, and the Han River waterfront, with an autumn garden festival held at Maeheon Citizens' Forest. Organizers set up 225 gardens and offered 170 programs, including guided tours, exhibitions, hands-on activities, and academic events, drawing around 210,000 participants.
A city survey revealed that 91 percent of 2,358 respondents were satisfied with the event, and 82.8 percent expressed intention to attend next year, with 71 percent indicating the appeal of the garden spaces.
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