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World-class classical music in Seoul this August — the SAC International Music Festival brings Kevin Chen, Samuel Mariño and more to Seoul Arts Center (Aug 18–23)

Reported 2026-07-26 / Posted 2026-07-26 · Compiled from Seoul Arts Center (SAC) official listings and Korean media reports · By

If a warm Seoul evening and world-class classical music sound like your idea of a perfect night out, clear a date in August. From August 18 to 23, 2026, the Seoul Arts Center (SAC) in Seocho-gu — Korea's flagship performing-arts complex — hosts the SAC International Music Festival under the slogan "Pack Your Summer with Classics." Over six evenings, the festival brings a genuinely top-tier international lineup to one of the country's best-sounding halls: pianist Kevin Chen, silver medalist at the 2025 Chopin Competition; the star countertenor Samuel Mariño; and celebrated cellist Anastasia Kobekina, among others. If you love orchestral and chamber music, this is the summer highlight of Seoul's concert calendar — and a rare chance to hear artists of this caliber without leaving the city.

The essentials

  • What: SAC International Music Festival 2026 — a six-day international classical festival, slogan "Pack Your Summer with Classics."
  • When: August 18 (Tue) – August 23 (Sun), 2026
  • Where: Seoul Arts Center (예술의전당), across its Concert Hall, IBK Chamber Hall and Recital Hall — Nambusunhwan-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul
  • Highlights: Opening night on Aug 18; closing night on Aug 23 with Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5
  • Headline artists: Kevin Chen (piano), Samuel Mariño (countertenor), Anastasia Kobekina (cello), and more
  • Tickets & exact times: Confirm on the official SAC schedule
  • Inquiries (travel, in English): Korea Tourism Hotline 1330 (free, multilingual)

The headline artists

The draw here is the caliber of the performers. Leading the bill is Kevin Chen, the Canadian pianist who took second prize at the 2025 International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw — one of the most prestigious contests in music — and who is set to perform Ravel's Piano Concerto. Also on the roster is Samuel Mariño, a countertenor with an unusually high, luminous voice who has become one of classical music's most talked-about young stars, and Anastasia Kobekina, a cellist praised on the international circuit for her expressive, deeply musical playing. Together they anchor a program that spans solo recitals, chamber music and full orchestral works — the kind of range that makes a festival, rather than a single concert, worth planning a trip around.

Opening and closing nights

The festival opens on August 18 and runs through the week to a closing concert on August 23 built around Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 — one of the towering, emotionally charged symphonies of the 20th century, and a fittingly big finish for a week of classics. Between those bookends, performances are spread across SAC's three main halls, each suited to a different scale of music: the grand Concert Hall for orchestral programs, the intimate IBK Chamber Hall and the smaller Recital Hall for chamber and solo evenings. Because the exact dates, times and programs for each artist are still best confirmed at the source, check the official SAC schedule before you lock in a night.

When, where, and how to get there

  • Dates: August 18–23, 2026 (six days). Concerts are evening programs — ideal after a day of summer sightseeing.
  • Venue: Seoul Arts Center (예술의전당), Nambusunhwan-ro, Seocho-gu — a large arts campus that also houses opera, art galleries and a calligraphy museum.
  • By subway: Take Line 3 to Nambu Bus Terminal Station (남부터미널역), Exit 5, then it's a short walk (a free shuttle also runs from the exit toward the center). Follow signs for 예술의전당 (Seoul Arts Center).
  • Pay with a transit card: Tap in and out with T-money or the Climate Card; a taxi from Gangnam or the Han River area is quick too.
  • Confirm before you go: Double-check the start time and hall for your specific concert on the official SAC site.

Tickets and tips

Programs, seat prices and start times vary by concert and hall, and the popular names — Kevin Chen and the closing Shostakovich night in particular — are the ones likely to sell out first, so it's worth booking early rather than walking up. Tickets are handled through the Seoul Arts Center's official channels; treat any prices or times you see elsewhere as unconfirmed until you've checked there. A few practical notes: classical concerts in Korea generally start on time and latecomers are seated only during a break, so arrive early; dress is smart-casual, nothing formal required; and most halls don't admit young children to evening orchestral programs, so check the age guidance if you're traveling with kids. For any travel question in English, Chinese, Japanese and more, call the free 24/7 Korea Tourism Hotline 1330.

Honest take

Seoul isn't always the first city travelers associate with classical music, but a festival like this is exactly why it should be: a compact, six-night program of internationally recognized artists, in a hall built for the sound, right as the city hums with summer energy. Go for Kevin Chen and the Ravel, stay for the Shostakovich finale, and you've got a memorable evening that's a world away from the usual tourist trail. Just remember the details — exact times, programs and prices — are worth confirming on the official site before you commit, since the festival is still finalizing specifics. Book the marquee nights early, and pair a concert with a walk around the arts complex beforehand.

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