The 2026 Seoul Barbecue Festival is a two-day Korean BBQ festival on Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25 at Nanji Campground in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Entry is free. If you want to grill at the Self BBQ Zone, you pay a table fee of 10,000–20,000 KRW (~$7.50–$15 USD) and buy your meat and vegetables separately on site. Programs start at 12:00, and the festival shuttle from Exit 2 of Digital Media City Station gets you there in about 15 minutes.
What Is the 2026 Seoul Barbecue Festival?
The Seoul Barbecue Festival is a food festival built around K-BBQ, where you get to try Korea’s grilling culture for yourself. On the official website it’s listed as 2026 서울바비큐페스티벌, and its English slogan is “GRILL YOUR SEOUL.” The Seoul Metropolitan Government hosts it.
The festival uses a “campnic” format, a mix of camping and picnicking. BBQ ingredients and cooking gear are set up for you, so families, friends and couples can come without bringing anything. Last year’s edition went by the name Seoul Barbecue Festa (서울바비큐페스타) and was held at Noeul Park (노을공원). About 28,000 people came over its two days.
2026 Seoul Barbecue Festival Schedule and Opening Hours
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | Saturday, October 24 – Sunday, October 25, 2026 |
| Venue | Nanji Campground, 28 Hangangnanji-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 마포구 한강난지로 28, 상암동) |
| Admission | Free |
| Inquiries | 070-8789-5600, 070-8789-5700 |
| Official website | https://seoulbbqfesta.com/bbs7/ |
Each program keeps its own hours. Here they are, based on the Seoul city announcement:
| Program | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Self BBQ Zone | 3 sessions daily: 12:00–14:30 / 15:00–17:30 / 18:00–20:30 | Online advance booking |
| BBQ Village | 12:00–19:30 | 7 brands, including celebrity chefs and popular meat restaurants |
| BBQ Stage | 12:00–20:00 | Gugak (traditional Korean music) and EDM shows, busking, brass band |
| Seoro Market (서로장터) | 12:00–20:00 | Farm specialties from 10 regions |
| Healing Zone (힐링존) | 12:00–20:30 | Coffee and dessert brands, camping chairs and beanbags |
| Seoul Kids Café (서울형 키즈카페) | 12:00–17:00 | Free, walk-in |
The last festival shuttle leaves at 21:00.
Seoul Barbecue Festival Highlights
Self BBQ Zone
At the Self BBQ Zone you grill the meat yourself. There are three sessions a day, each about 2 hours 30 minutes long. Charcoal, grills, cooking tools, sauces, ssamjang (Korean dipping paste), cola and water are all provided, so you don’t need to bring any equipment. Hanwoo (Korean beef), handon (Korean pork) and leafy ssam vegetables for wraps are sold on site at special prices.
How it works:
- Book online.
- Arrive at the venue in time for your session.
- Buy your meat and vegetables on site.
- Pick up your tableware.
- Go to your assigned table.
BBQ Village
Seven brands set up at BBQ Village, including celebrity chefs and meat restaurants known for long lines. It’s open all day from 12:00 to 19:30. You pay at an on-site kiosk and then collect your food.
BBQ Masters
At BBQ Masters, star chefs grill and cook on stage. There are two shows a day, each about 1 hour 30 minutes long. Show times are listed in the full schedule image on the official website.
BBQ Stage and Side Programs
The BBQ Stage has gugak and EDM performances, busking, a brass band, group games and a cooking competition. Other things to do:
- Seoro Market (서로장터): Farm specialties from 10 regions.
- Healing Zone (힐링존): A rest area with coffee and dessert brands, plus camping chairs and beanbags. You pay at an on-site kiosk.
- Seoul Kids Café (서울형 키즈카페): Free from 12:00 to 17:00. Just walk in, no reservation needed.
Seoul Barbecue Festival Admission and Self BBQ Zone Booking
Entry is free. You only pay a table fee if you use the Self BBQ Zone, and meat and vegetables cost extra.
| Item | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Admission | Free | — |
| Charcoal BBQ Zone table | 20,000 KRW (~$15 USD) | Grill, reusable dishes, cooking tools, sauces, water |
| Grill-Plate BBQ Zone table (gas burner) | 10,000 KRW (~$7.50 USD) | Grill, reusable dishes, cooking tools, sauces, water |
| Meat and vegetables | Buy on site | Hanwoo, handon and ssam vegetables at special prices |
| Seoul Kids Café | Free | — |
Self BBQ Zone bookings were taken through Naver Booking. The first round opened on Wednesday, September 16 at 6 PM and the second on October 6 at 6 PM. The Seoul city announcement lists both rounds as fully booked, but some seats are still available through on-site registration.
- Booking page: https://booking.naver.com/booking/12/bizes/1726918
Payment and Discounts
| Item | How to pay |
|---|---|
| BBQ Village and Healing Zone | Pay at an on-site kiosk, then pick up your food |
| Festival shuttle bus | Buy on site, card only (no cash) |
From October 19 to 25, Mangwon Market (망원시장) is running a receipt promotion. Show a receipt for 30,000 KRW (~$23 USD) or more from Mangwon Market and you’ll get an extra 5% off meat at the festival, plus a free dessert from a sponsor.
How to Get to Nanji Campground for the Seoul Barbecue Festival
The venue is expected to be crowded, so organizers recommend public transportation and the festival shuttle.
Routes by Starting Point
| From | Transport | Route | Travel time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Seoul | Subway + festival shuttle | Digital Media City Station (Line 6, Gyeongui–Jungang Line, Airport Railroad), Exit 2 → festival shuttle | Shuttle approx. 15 min | Shuttle 1,200 KRW (~$0.90 USD) |
| Central Seoul | Subway + bus + walk | Dangsan Station (Lines 2 and 9), Exit 8 → Bus 9707 → get off at Nanji Hangang Park (난지한강공원) → walk | Walk approx. 12 min | — |
| Central Seoul | Subway + bus + festival shuttle | Hapjeong Station (Line 2), Exit 1 → Bus Mapo 16 → Mangwon Hangang Park (망원한강공원) → festival shuttle | Shuttle approx. 15 min | Shuttle 1,200 KRW (~$0.90 USD) |
| Incheon International Airport | Airport Railroad + festival shuttle | Get off at Digital Media City Station → Exit 2 → festival shuttle | Shuttle approx. 15 min | Shuttle 1,200 KRW (~$0.90 USD) |
| Central Seoul | Subway + taxi | World Cup Stadium Station (Line 6), Exit 1 → taxi → get dropped at “Nanji Campground Parking Lot” | Taxi approx. 10 min | — |
On buses 172, 271, 670, 7011, 7016 or 7019, get off at World Cup Park Complex 3 (월드컵공원 3단지) or Nanjicheon Park (난지천공원) and switch to the festival shuttle. If you take a taxi, ask the driver to drop you at “난지캠핑장 주차장” (Nanji Campground Parking Lot).
Festival Shuttle Bus
Shuttles run from 11:25 to 21:00 on October 24 (Sat) and 25 (Sun). A one-way ride costs 1,200 KRW (~$0.90 USD), and preschool children ride free. Buy your ticket on site. Only cards are accepted.
| Route | Stops | Travel time | Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Route 1 (DMC Station) | Loop: Digital Media City Station Exit 2 → Nanjicheon Park Parking Lot Entrance 2 → Nanji Campground → Peace Park (평화의공원) Parking Lot | DMC Station → Nanji Campground approx. 15 min; return approx. 25 min | First bus 11:30 (DMC Station), last bus 21:00 (Nanji Campground) |
| Route 2 (Mangwon) | Loop: Mangwon Hangang Park Parking Lot 1 ↔ Nanji Campground | Mangwon → Nanji Campground approx. 20 min; return approx. 10 min | Last bus 21:00 (Nanji Campground) |
Between 21:00 and 21:30, three extra shuttles run every 10 minutes. More vehicles are also added in the 30 minutes before and after programs start and end.
Parking
These paid parking lots are near the venue:
| Parking lot | Location | 1 hour | 1 day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mangwon Hangang Park | Mangwon Hangang Park | 1,600 KRW (~$1.20 USD) | 10,000 KRW (~$7.50 USD) |
| Amano Hanssem Sangam Office (아마노 한샘 상암 사옥) | Near Digital Media City Station | 2,000 KRW (~$1.50 USD) | 8,000 KRW (~$6 USD) |
| Amano Sangam DMC S-City (아마노 상암 DMC S-City) | Near DMC S-City | 2,500 KRW (~$1.90 USD) | 6,000 KRW (~$4.50 USD) |
| Kakao T Digital Cube (카카오T 디지털큐브) | Near Digital Media City Station | 2,500 KRW (~$1.90 USD) | 12,900 KRW (~$9.70 USD) |
| iPARKING Homeplus World Cup (아이파킹 홈플러스 월드컵점) | Near World Cup Stadium Station | 6,500 KRW (~$4.90 USD) | 15,000 KRW (~$11 USD) |
Seoul Barbecue Festival Tips
- Bring a card for the shuttle. Shuttle tickets can’t be bought with cash.
- Missed the Self BBQ Zone booking? Try registering on site. Online booking is closed, but some seats are given out at the venue.
- Leave your gear at home. Charcoal, grills, cooking tools, sauces, ssamjang and water are provided, and you can buy meat and vegetables on site.
- Visiting with kids? Go to the Kids Café before 5 PM. The Seoul Kids Café is free from 12:00 to 17:00.
- Consider stopping at Mangwon Market first. From October 19 to 25, a receipt for 30,000 KRW (~$23 USD) or more gets you an extra 5% off meat at the festival plus a dessert.
- The last shuttle back leaves at 21:00. Extra buses run from 21:00 to 21:30, but it’s still safer to leave with time to spare.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is admission to the Seoul Barbecue Festival free?
Yes, entry is free. You only pay a table fee if you use the Self BBQ Zone: 20,000 KRW (~$15 USD) for the Charcoal BBQ Zone or 10,000 KRW (~$7.50 USD) for the Grill-Plate BBQ Zone. Meat and vegetables are bought separately on site.
I didn’t book the Self BBQ Zone. Can I still use it on site?
Some seats are available through on-site registration. The Seoul city announcement lists both Naver Booking rounds (September 16 and October 6) as fully booked.
How do I get from central Seoul to Nanji Campground?
The easiest way is the festival shuttle from Exit 2 of Digital Media City Station. The ride takes about 15 minutes and costs 1,200 KRW (~$0.90 USD). You can also take Bus 9707 from Exit 8 of Dangsan Station, get off at Nanji Hangang Park and walk about 12 minutes.
Can I get there directly from Incheon International Airport?
Yes. Take the Airport Railroad to Digital Media City Station and switch to the festival shuttle. From Exit 2 of Digital Media City Station, the shuttle takes about 15 minutes.
Can I pay the shuttle fare in cash?
No, the shuttle accepts cards only. A one-way ride is 1,200 KRW (~$0.90 USD), and preschool children ride free.
Is there parking near the venue?
There are paid parking lots near the venue, but heavy crowds are expected, so public transportation and the shuttle are recommended. Parking at Mangwon Hangang Park costs 1,600 KRW (~$1.20 USD) per hour or 10,000 KRW (~$7.50 USD) per day.
Do I need to book BBQ Village or BBQ Masters?
No booking is mentioned for either. BBQ Village is open all day from 12:00 to 19:30, and you pay at an on-site kiosk before picking up your food. BBQ Masters runs twice a day on stage, and show times are in the full schedule on the official website.
How late does the festival run?
Most programs end between 20:00 and 20:30. The last Self BBQ Zone session ends at 20:30, and the last festival shuttle leaves at 21:00.
Contact
- Festival office: 070-8789-5600 / 070-8789-5700
- Email: seoulbbqfestival@gmail.com
- Inquiry hours: 10:00–17:00 (lunch break 12:00–13:00, closed on public holidays)
- Official website: https://seoulbbqfesta.com/bbs7/
