Autumn University Festival

2026 Autumn University Festival Schedule — When and Which Universities Host Them

Autumn university festivals are concentrated in mid-September. Years repeat where six or seven universities overlap on just three days of the third week of September.

The confirmed schedule for 2026 has not yet been announced. However, university festivals are tied to the academic calendar, so each university holds them on almost the same week and day every year. Below is the estimated schedule by university, mapping that pattern onto this year's calendar.

2026 Estimated Schedule by University

Eight universities overlap on the four days from September 15th to 18th. If you're planning to visit multiple places, it means you'll be forced to choose within this period. Festivals usually last 2-3 days between Tuesday and Friday, with celebrity performances concentrated on one of those days or the last day.

The dates above are calculated by directly converting the weeks and days that each university has previously held their festivals. While the week generally remains the same, it may shift by a day or two, so final confirmation should be made through the student council's official announcement.

A Different Variable This Year — Public Holidays

In September-October 2026, there are three periods with three or more days off, and universities avoid these weeks when scheduling festivals.

Chuseok completely covering the fourth week of September is the biggest variable this year. As a result, there's a high possibility that schedules will be further concentrated in the third week of September and late September~early October. For universities holding festivals in October, the period of October 6th (Tue)~8th (Thu) is the remaining option.

Regional festivals and music festivals for the same period are available by date in the Autumn Festival Calendar.

When Will the Confirmed Schedule Be Released?

Announcements are generally made sequentially 2-4 weeks before the festival. The "Expected Announcement" column in the table above is based on this. Universities holding festivals in the second week of September are likely to announce in late August, and those in the third week in early September.

There is an order to checking information. The student council's official account is the quickest, and for universities where the festival planning committee operates a separate account, that one provides more detailed information. University announcements include information on entry methods and safety guidelines.

One more thing. There has been an increase in cases where lineup announcements and application for entry start on the same day. By the time you check the announcement, applications may already be open, and popular universities close applications within the same day. Simply following the accounts of universities you're interested in now puts you ahead in the competition.

Many Universities Don't Host in Autumn

This is the most common reason for a wasted trip. For many major universities in Seoul, May is the main festival month, and they either don't hold one in autumn or reduce its scale.

For Korea University and Yonsei University, the spring Ipsilenti and Akaraka festivals are virtually everything. Conversely, Sungkyunkwan University, Konkuk University, Kyung Hee University, and Hanyang University hold festivals in both spring and autumn. You need to first check if your target university hosts a festival in the autumn.

Can Outsiders Enter?

Even if you know the schedule, you often hit a roadblock here. It's not an event you can just walk into like before.

It has become standard for universities to operate open-air theaters or large sports fields, where celebrity performances are held, by dividing them into student zones and outsider zones, and they limit the number of entrants in advance to prevent crowd accidents. Many universities also charge admission fees for outsiders or require advance reservations via a designated app.

An increasing number of universities are not selling tickets on-site at all. If you miss the advance reservation, you won't be able to see that stage on that day.

As entry restrictions emerged, circumventions followed, such as borrowing student IDs or memorizing verification quizzes, and universities responded with cross-verification of student IDs and resident registration cards. Cases have also been reported where universities announced that legal responsibility could ensue for fraudulent use.

If You Want to Film Fancams

Filming is a separate hurdle from entry. Some universities require prior consultation for filming idol performances, and the method involves receiving a filming permit application, along with a copy of ID, and a pledge. In 2024, controversy arose when it became known that a university festival required a copy of ID for fancam filming.

Behind this are "bazooka cameras" (large telephoto lenses). As large lenses lined up in every spot with a direct view of the stage, issues of obstructed views, safety, and portrait rights all surfaced at once, and the result is the current permit system.

There are three things to check in advance: Whether cameras are allowed, if there are lens size restrictions, and if filmed content can be uploaded online. The last point is where university and agency policies often differ, so it's best to find explicit guidelines.

Filming conditions for outdoor stages were covered in the Autumn Stage Season, and stage videos are collected under Fancam.

What About These Questions?

Can I trust the estimated dates and book accommodation or transportation? The week is generally accurate, but it may shift by a day or two. It's safer to book with cancellable conditions and confirm after the official announcement.

My university isn't on the list? The table mainly lists universities that have held autumn festivals in previous years. Universities not listed often only host in spring or have flexible autumn schedules, so you should check their student council accounts directly.

When will the lineup be announced? It's released either with the schedule or a few days later. The expected announcement time is the same as the last column of the table above.

How much is the admission fee for outsiders? It varies by university; some are free but require advance reservations. Whether there's a fee and whether a reservation is needed must be checked separately.

How many days do the festivals last? They usually last 2-3 days, and celebrity performances are concentrated on a specific day. If your purpose is to see a performance, you need to check the dates carefully.

The Name Daedongje

University festivals began to be called Daedongje around 1980, and Korea University hosting a festival under this name in 1984 is widely known as the starting point.

True to its name, meaning 'to become one big whole,' the Daedongje of that time was different from today's. It was closer to an event created by all members of the university community, and the proportion of external invited performances was not large. It becoming virtually an outdoor concert with entry control and filming permits, as it is now, is a relatively recent change.

News on competition and performance schedules continues in Competition & Performance News.