Busan Fireworks Festival marks its 21st anniversary, set to open on the 7th

[Financial News] Busan Metropolitan City said on the 2nd that it will hold the “2026 Busan Fireworks Festival” from 7 p.m. on the 7th around Gwangalli Beach, Igidae and Dongbaekseom Island.
Now marking its 21st edition, the Busan Fireworks Festival is a signature local tourism festival set against the backdrop of Gwangan Bridge and the sea off Busan. This year, it will present a multidimensional fireworks display across three locations—Gwangalli, Igidae and Dongbaekseom Island—and distinctive content unique to Busan.

The event will proceed in this order: Part 1, the “Overseas Guest Fireworks Show” by China’s SUNNY; Part 2, Hanwha Corporation’s “Busan Multi Fireworks Show”; and the “Curtain Call Fireworks,” expressing gratitude to citizens and on-site staff. The Busan Multi Fireworks Show is themed “Busan’s Dream” and consists of three acts: Act 1, Anticipation; Act 2, Boldness; and Act 3, Jubilation.
A variety of pre-event activities that citizens and tourists can enjoy together will take place before the main event. During the day, programs will include an air show by the Republic of Korea Air Force’s Black Eagles aerobatic team, a beach book picnic, chalk art, a scratch-book activity and busking by indie bands from the Busan area.
Starting at 6 p.m., the “Fireworks Prologue” will introduce stories and song requests submitted in advance by citizens. Three preview fireworks displays and the broadcast of citizens’ messages on Gwangan Bridge will help build the festival atmosphere. Starting 10 minutes before the main festival, a touch-button ceremony will be held with specially invited guests, including a captain who led the Arctic route’s pilot voyage, an Asian Games sailing gold medalist and the first foreign visitor to purchase a ticket.
This year, there will be around 17,000 paid seats, around 3,000 more than last year. All 3,000 additional seats will be allocated to tourism packages for foreign visitors. The festival will also offer 1,300 invitation seats for people with limited access to cultural events and contributors to the local community. In collaboration with the Navy Operations Command, it has also arranged a special opportunity for families with multiple children to board an LS-II-class naval vessel and watch the festival from the sea.
In particular, the city will maintain a joint safety-management system with relevant agencies, deploying around 7,000 safety personnel and designating a total of 42 priority management zones in preparation for large crowds. CCTV will be used in these zones to monitor crowding in real time. The number of LED vehicles providing crowding information will increase to 12 from 11 last year; eight emergency medical booths and 32 ambulances will also be deployed.
The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency also said it would step up enforcement against ticket scalping and the charging of fees for spots, practices that deprive citizens of a fair opportunity to watch the festival and spoil its atmosphere. The agency plans to deploy plainclothes officers at the venue to catch even discreetly conducted illegal transactions, and to respond actively to violations of public order, such as drunken disturbances around the festival grounds.
[email protected] Byun Ok-hwan Reporter