Tradition & cultureHwaseong, Gyeonggi-do

World Heritage Joseon Royal Tombs Festival 2025 in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

세계유산 조선왕릉축전 2025

Oct2025
18 –26
Sat–Sun Varies by programme
Past edition

18 October 2025 to 26 October 2025 · Varies by programme; closed Monday 20 October

This edition has ended. It is kept as a record of what the 2025 festival offered. The current information is on the World Heritage Joseon Royal Tombs Festival page (Expected Oct 2027).

Venue this year. Nine tombs: Seolleung and Jeongneung, Taereung and Gangneung, Uireung, Donggureung, Hongneung and Yureung, Seooreung, Yungneung and Geolleung, Jangneung (Gimpo), and Yeongneung and Nyeongneung. Uireung, Hongneung and Yureung, Yungneung and Geolleung, and Yeongneung and Nyeongneung ran programmes at weekends only.

Dates18–26 Oct 2025
HoursVaries by programme; closed Monday 20 October
VenueYungneung and Geolleung (Yunggeolleung) royal tombs, plus 11 other royal tomb sites경기도 화성시 병점구 효행로481번길 21 (안녕동)
AdmissionMost programmes: Free · Yabyeolhaeng night tour: ₩10,000
Previous edition2024: 11–20 Oct 2024
Next edition2026: 17–25 Oct 2026

Program

  • Fri 17 Octopening ceremony at Seolleung and Jeongneung, Gangnam, Seoul
  • 18–19 Octhistorical music drama 'Seongjong, Planting Light' (성종, 빛을 심다) in front of the shrine at Seolleung (free; sold out on the day booking opened)
  • 18–26 Oct'Yabyeolhaeng' night tours at Donggureung and Seooreung (booking required, ₩10,000)
  • 18–19 and 25–26 Oct'Joseon Neunghaeng' re-enactment of royal tomb processions and tomb-keeper storytelling at Donggureung and Seooreung
  • Royal tomb concerts and talk concerts, an AR memorial-rite exhibition, the 'Joseon Detective' mission, craft activities, forest rest programmes and a mobile stamp tour across 40 royal tombs

Prices

ItemPriceNote
Most programmesFreeFree with tomb entry, most without booking
Yabyeolhaeng night tour₩10,000Advance booking; most sessions sold out

Notes on the 2025 edition

6th edition, theme 'Joseon Royal Tombs: seeing 500 years of glory'. About 70,000 visitors; 4,981 people joined the mobile stamp tour.

About the festival

The World Heritage Joseon Royal Tombs Festival (세계유산 조선왕릉축전) is an annual autumn programme of performances, guided tours, exhibitions and hands-on activities at the UNESCO-listed Joseon royal tombs in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do and Yeongwol. The 7th edition runs 17–25 October 2026 at 12 royal tomb sites, after an opening ceremony on Friday 16 October at Yungneung and Geolleung in Hwaseong. You pay each tomb's normal entry fee (₩1,000 for adults aged 25–64 at Yungneung and Geolleung, free for 24 and under and 65+), and some shows and activities cost extra; royal tombs close on Mondays.

Transport, booking, crowd and accessibility details are on the main World Heritage Joseon Royal Tombs Festival page, which covers every edition.

Source

Facts checked
18 October 2026, against the sources listed below.

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