2026 Haeundae Sand Festival (Haeundae)
May 15 to May 18 | Check the post for program times | Haeundae Beach and Gunam-ro area | Check the post for details.
This is one of the easiest weekend picks in the city. Big beach energy, sand sculptures, and a very solid excuse to spend time around Haeundae even if you did not plan to.

Global Yeongdo Coffee Festival 2026 (Yeongdo)
May 15 to May 17 | Fri to Sat 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Sun 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM | Amir Park and Blue Port 2021 | Check the post for details.
A good pick if your weekend plan gets stronger the second coffee is mentioned. Nice views, festival energy, and a good excuse to head over to Yeongdo for something a little different.

Heated Rivalry Screening at HQ (Gwangan)
May 16 to May 17 | 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM | HQ | 5,000 won per day.
This is a very specific weekend hang, and honestly that is part of the charm. Original audio with English subtitles, mini quizzes, small prizes, and a hockey-themed menu make this a good one for people who already know exactly why they are interested.

Comic World 333 Busan (Centum City)
May 16 to May 17 | 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM | BEXCO Exhibition Center 2, Hall 4 | 7,000 won presale, 10,000 won regular.
A good pick for anime, comics, fan art, and cosplay people. This feels like the kind of weekend event where you can browse, people-watch, and accidentally stay longer than you planned.

Busan International Performing Arts Festival 2026 (Multiple locations)
May 9 to May 17 | Check the post for program times | Busan Cinema Center, Busan Citizens Hall, Millac the Market, UN Peace Park, and other venues | Check the post for ticket details.
This is a strong one for people who want something more artsy and citywide. With performances spread across multiple venues and works from 13 countries, it is a good excuse to build a weekend plan around something a little more cultural.

Girls Night Out at Funny Beer, Dengue Fever, and OL’55 | (KSU)
Every Thursday | 9:00 PM to midnight | Funny Beer Gyeongseong, Dengue Fever, and OL’55 | One free drink for women at each venue.
This is a built-in Thursday plan for people who want to bounce around without overthinking it. Three stops, three free drinks for women, and a nice setup for karaoke, drinks, and letting the night figure itself out.

[MELT BUSAN] Guest DJ Messiahwaits (Haeundae)
May 15 | 10:00 PM to 4:00 AM | Melt Busan | 15,000 won.
A strong Friday late-night pick if you want something harder and faster than the usual club set. Berlin-based Korean DJ and producer Messiahwaits brings high-energy rave and techno sounds, so this one feels built for people who want to go out properly and stay out.

OVGD 8th Anniversary Series: Lazybone x Chilbaekgukdo at Ovantgarde (KSU area)
May 15 | Doors 7:00 PM, show 8:00 PM | Ovantgarde | 25,000 won advance, 30,000 won at the door.
A strong Friday pick if you want something loud, fast, and built for a proper live-music night. This one leans energetic and raw, with the kind of rock setup that feels better the less polished it gets.

Zero One Band at The Old Man Jazz Lounge (Seomyeon)
May 15 | Part 1 at 9:00 PM, Part 2 at 10:00 PM | The Old Man Jazz Lounge | 10,000 won cover.
A nice Friday jazz pick if you want something polished and musician-heavy. This one looks built around strong players from Busan’s jazz scene, so it should be a good fit if you want actual live music and not just background noise.

Busan Butter Run (Haeundae)
May 16 | 7:30 AM to 10:00 AM | Fraser Bakery, Haeundae | 25,000 won.
A fun Saturday morning social run if you want something active without making the whole day feel too serious. You get a 7K run along the Haeundae coast, a homemade butter activity, and fresh bakery bread at the end.

Craft & Chill (Suyeong)
May 16 | 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM | Deep Sleep Coffee | 5,000 won BYOC, or 10,000 won with a craft kit.
A very easy Saturday daytime plan if you want something calm, cute, and low pressure. Bring your own craft or use one of their kits, hang out with other creative people, and let coffee and dessert do the rest.

Culcom x Basement Party Night (Basement Pub)
May 16 | 6:00 PM | Basement Pub | Members only, with 10% off all food and drinks during the event.
This looks like a casual social night more than a major public event. Good if you are already in that community and want a simple excuse to eat, drink, talk, and meet people.

Champagne Cruise Party with GAHSS’NA (Busan)
May 16 | 6:00 PM departure, about 2.5 hours | PanStar Grace cruise | Check the post for ticket details.
If you want something a little more dressed up than the usual Saturday night out, this is a strong pick. Busan night views, a cruise party, DJ sets, live performance energy, and unlimited GAHSS’NA champagne make this feel more like a full experience than just another bar stop.

Kim Dong-gi Quartet at The Old Man Jazz Lounge (Seomyeon)
May 16 | Part 1 at 9:00 PM, Part 2 at 10:00 PM | The Old Man Jazz Lounge | 10,000 won cover.
A strong Saturday jazz option if you want something a little more refined before the night gets messy. Good players, two sets, and the kind of room that works well when you actually want to listen.

Free Kickboxing Class (Sajik)
May16 | 10 AM to 11:30 AM | Busan Sajik Station area | Free
An English-friendly, foreigner-welcoming kickboxing class with a fun, high-energy vibe. All levels are welcome, so whether it’s your first time or you want a solid sweat and sharper combos, just show up and jump in. Click the link and send a quick DM to join.

OVGD 8th Anniversary Series: Gikuhasi x Mosshill x ddbb at Ovantgarde (KSU area)
May 17 | Doors 5:00 PM, show 6:00 PM | Ovantgarde | 35,000 won advance, 40,000 won at the door.
A good Sunday option if you want something more immersive and niche before the weekend closes out. This one feels layered, moody, and more like a full live session than a casual drop-in.

Constant Weekend Hotspots

Haeundae

Bellagio Haeundae

Billie Jean Haeundae

Gorilla Brewing Beach Branch

Gwangalli

Fisherman

Seomyeon

Hit The Beach

Yaman Joint

JEJE

HELP! If you have an event you want included next week, email me with the details. [email protected]