Busan Jagalchi Festival 2026 Guide | Dates, Seafood & How to Get There

When autumn arrives, the sea smell hits first at one place in Busan — Jagalchi Market. Every October, Korea’s largest fish market turns into a festival of its own: the Busan Jagalchi Festival.

The 33rd edition runs Thursday, October 15 to Sunday, October 18, 2026, around Jagalchi Market and Yurari Plaza. Here’s a local’s rundown of the program, the seafood you have to try, how to get there, and where to stay nearby.

Event basics

Event	33rd Busan Jagalchi Festival
When	October 15 (Thu) – 18 (Sun), 2026, four days
Where	Jagalchi Market and Yurari Plaza (under Yeongdo Bridge) area (52 Jagalchi-haean-ro, Jung-gu, Busan)
Cost	Free (seafood purchases extra)
Slogan	Oiso-Boiso-Saiso (“come, see, buy”)
Host	Jung-gu, Busan

📅 Dates and venue: Jung-gu District Office culture & tourism site (checked October 6, 2026). The full program and opening time aren’t announced yet — check the official Instagram @busan.jagalchi before you go.

What to do — the three zones

The festival is built around three areas:

• Oiso (experiences) — bare-hand fish catching, the eel relay, boat rides, and other family-friendly activities.
• Boiso (performances) — outdoor stage shows, from singers to local performance troupes.
• Saiso (market) — special seafood auctions, discounted in-season seafood and food stalls. This is the real point, and the highlight.

During the festival you can taste in-season seafood cheaper than usual, with the whole market alive with shows and crowds.

Past highlights (a guide until the 2026 program is out):

• Opening-night fireworks — in 2024 and 2025 the festival opened at 19:00 on day one, followed by fireworks over Namhang harbour.
• Yongsinje sea-god ritual — a traditional rite for safe voyages on the first afternoon (14:00 in 2025).
• Free seafood tasting — held at 11:30 on the Friday and Sunday in 2024.
• Food booths — set up in front of Jagalchi Market and Sindong-a Market in 2024.

Already announced for 2026: a national song contest on October 16 and a filial-piety song contest on October 18 at 17:30, both on the festival stage.

Must-eat seafood 🦀

The Jagalchi rule is “buy on the first floor, eat on the second.” Pick your live seafood at a ground-floor stall, then head up to a second-floor restaurant, pay a table fee, and it’s served as a full spread with side dishes.

• Modeumhoe (assorted sashimi) — mostly white fish; the easiest starting point for first-timers.
• Steamed snow crab / king crab — steaming keeps it freshest. Always confirm the per-kg price before you buy.
• Grilled shellfish — grilled right at the stall.
• Spicy fish stew (maeuntang) — simmered from the leftover fish bones, so nothing goes to waste.

💡 For detailed ordering tips, price haggling, and basics, see our Jagalchi Market seafood guide. For a wider look at Busan food, try What to eat in Busan.

Getting there & visiting tips

• The subway is easiest: Busan Metro Line 1, Jagalchi Station Exit 10, about a 5-minute walk. Nampo Station (Line 1) is a short walk from Yurari Plaza.
• Beat the crowds: opening night (fireworks in past years) is the busiest, so take the subway. Weekend lunch and dinner are the most packed times at the market.
• Bring cash and card: some stalls take cards, but cash is handy for small buys and haggling.
• Walk-together spots: BIFF Square (hotteok alley), Gukje Market, and Yongdusan Park (up by outdoor escalator) are all within walking distance. Yeongdo Bridge lifts every Saturday at 14:00 for about 15 minutes in 2026 (October 17 is a Saturday — check before you go). Buses to Gamcheon Culture Village leave from nearby.

Where to stay near Jagalchi & Nampo 🏨

To do the festival right, stay in Nampo within walking distance of the market — browse the stalls early and drop your bags back without a hassle.

Hotel Foret Premier Nampo A new boutique hotel steps from BIFF Square, about a 5-minute walk to Jagalchi Market and Gukje Market.

Toyoko Inn Busan Jungang Station A value chain hotel near Busan Station and the old downtown, with free breakfast — a solid budget base for a market trip.

💡 For a wider look at where to base yourself, see our Where to stay in Busan guide.

Before you go

Make a half-day of it

The festival takes about half a day, so pair it with the rest of Nampo for a full route:

• Morning — Jagalchi Festival + a seafood brunch 🦞
• After lunch — BIFF Square seed-hotteok → Gukje Market → Yongdusan Park (outdoor escalator)
• Afternoon — a photo stroll through Gamcheon Culture Village
• Evening — Nampo night market, or head to Gwangalli

First time in Busan? Slot this straight into our Busan 3-day classic course.

---

📌 One last step before you go: before booking flights, hotels, or tours, check the latest discount codes for a coupon you can use — one code often covers the cost of a seafood meal.

Bookmark this page — we’ll update it when the full 2026 Jagalchi Festival program is announced.