Ten Million Gathered at Seoul International Garden Expo... Next Year’s Event to Be Held at Seoul Forest

"The Garden of Ten Million" Opens on May 1
Special Autumn Festival at Maeheon Citizens' Forest in October
Expanding to Surrounding Urban and Riverside Spaces

The Seoul International Garden Expo will be held next year in the areas around Seoul Forest and Maeheon Citizens' Forest. Both the duration and the size of the venue are expected to be the largest in the event’s history.

On November 3, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that the Seoul International Garden Expo, which is held annually in the city’s major parks, will take place next year under the theme "The Garden of Ten Million" for a record 180 days, from May 1 to October 27. The event will be centered around Seoul Forest, and for the month of October, a festival will also be held in Maeheon Citizens' Forest, which is renowned for its beautiful autumn foliage. Visitors will be able to enjoy unique seasonal landscapes across a record-setting venue size of approximately 660,000 square meters (about 200,000 pyeong) of parkland.

Seoul Forest, the venue for the 2026 Seoul International Garden Expo. Provided by Seoul City

A distinctive feature of next year’s event is the expansion of the festival to include not only the parks but also the surrounding urban areas such as Seongsu-dong, as well as riversides like the Han River and Yangjaecheon, thereby creating a true "urban garden festival." The main venue, Seoul Forest, will showcase a variety of themed gardens, including art gardens inspired by K-culture content and urban gardens created on unused plots throughout Seongsu-dong.

Seoul Forest will be organized under the theme "Seoul, Green Culture," and will feature six garden culture themes: Festa Garden, Family Garden, Eco Garden, Emotional Garden, Riverview Garden, and Trendy Garden.

Festa Garden will be located at the entrance and the central lawn of Seoul Forest, serving as the festival’s hub with major events, a garden industry exhibition, and invited artists’ gardens. Family Garden will be a cultural experience space for families, utilizing gardens to create interactive experiences. Eco Garden will transform the hillside gardens into spaces where visitors can enjoy ecological experiences and healing at the same time.

Emotional Garden will be developed near the detention pond, offering a tranquil garden for relaxation by the water. Riverview Garden will utilize spaces such as Hangang Citizens' Park and Jungnangcheon Nolbit Square to create riverside viewing gardens, allowing visitors to experience the beauty of the waterfront throughout the year. Trendy Garden will feature small gardens in various locations, such as outer parks and alleyways, bringing a refreshing touch of nature to the urban environment.

The event will also offer a wealth of experiences and attractions. Garden docent tours and gardening workshops will become regular programs. To enhance the atmosphere and emotion of the expo, "Guseokguseok Live," Seoul’s signature street performance, and "Seoul Stage," a series of diverse art performances by the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, will be held continuously in and around Seoul Forest during the event.

Maeheon Citizens' Forest, famous for its stunning autumn foliage, will host a special autumn festival for the Garden Expo from October 1 to 27 next year. Covering a total area of 180,000 square meters (54,000 pyeong), this event will be linked with the main Seoul Forest festivities to create synergy in spreading garden culture. The garden network will also be expanded to include nearby Seocho Arts and Culture Park, Yangjaecheon, and Yeouicheon.

The international competition for "Artists’ Gardens" is also being launched for those wishing to participate in next year’s event. Detailed information will be available on the official website starting November 4, and submissions will be accepted from December 1 to 3.

This year’s expo, held at Boramae Park for 165 days from May 22, attracted 10.44 million visitors, establishing itself as one of Seoul’s representative "ten-million-seller" events.

Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon stated, "With over 10 million visitors this year, we plan to develop next year’s International Garden Expo into a global festival enjoyed by people around the world by presenting a variety of gardens with compelling stories. Beyond visual enjoyment, we aim to complete an International Garden Expo that offers healing and restorative experiences, thereby enhancing the value of Seoul as a 'garden city.'"