Tradition & cultureGyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Silla Culture Festival 2026 in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

신라문화제 2026

Oct2026
9 –11
Fri–Sun 15:00–24:00 (KTO listing)
Past edition

9 October 2026 to 11 October 2026 · 15:00–24:00 (KTO listing); Hwabaek Jejeon 19:00 to about 19:40 on 9–10 October; one news report gives 13:00 starts for the street arts (to 22:00) and the night market (to midnight)

This edition has ended. It is kept as a record of what the 2026 festival offered. The current information is on the Silla Culture Festival page (Expected Oct 2027).

Venue this year. Bonghwangdae tomb park (plaza and lawns), Jungang-ro, the Geumgwanchong excavation hall area and Seobongchong; the Woljeonggyo floating stage; the Naenam intersection for the hip-hop concert; busking at Cheomseongdae and Hwangnidan-gil. Seven restrooms around Bonghwangdae, including women-only and accessible ones.

Dates9–11 Oct 2026
Hours15:00–24:00 (KTO listing); Hwabaek Jejeon 19:00 to about 19:40 on 9–10 October; one news report gives 13:00 starts for the street arts (to 22:00) and the night market (to midnight)
VenueBonghwangdae tomb park and Woljeonggyo Bridge, central Gyeongju경상북도 경주시 노동동 261
AdmissionAdmission: Free
Previous edition2025: 10–12 Oct 2025
Next edition2027: Friday to Sunday in early to mid-October 2027 if the pattern holds (13–15 Oct 2023, 11–13 Oct 2024, 10–12 Oct 2025, 9–11 Oct 2026, all Friday to Sunday); this would be the 54th edition. The 2026 schedule was published on 6 May 2026, so expect 2027 dates around May 2027. Nothing announced as of 19 October 2026.

Program

  • 3–4 Oct (pre-festival)Silla Art Festival 'Art Signal in Gyeongju' (아트 시그널 in 경주) at Bonghwangdae, by the Gyeongju branch of the Federation of Artistic & Cultural Organizations of Korea: opening nongak parade 'Thousand-Year Echo' (천년의 울림), Cheoyongmu dance, a trot musical, artists' lanterns lit at night, and a finale of ganggangsullae and a drone show
  • 9–10 Oct, 19:00Hwabaek Jejeon (화백제전) on the Woljeonggyo floating stage — 'Silla, One Light' (신라, 하나의 빛), about 40 minutes on the founding myth of Park Hyeokgeose and Alyeong, with about 100 performers including the Gyeongju City Silla Gochwidae, projection mapping, aerial performance, more than 500 drones and about 2,000 fireworks shells; standing viewing on three sides
  • 9–11 OctSilk Road Festa (실크로드페스타) street arts on the Bonghwangdae tomb plaza and lawns — 26 professional troupes in 61 performances (aerial acts, fire shows, circus including Dongchun Circus, comedy and theatre), plus 58 local teams (251 performers) busking at Woljeonggyo, Cheomseongdae and Hwangnidan-gil
  • Eveningslighting show on the Bonghwangdae tombs (고분 라이팅쇼); silent cinema watched with your own phone and Bluetooth earphones (from 20:00 on Friday and Sunday); 'Forest of Light' (빛의 숲), a participatory exhibition of young local artists' work
  • 9–11 Oct, until midnightDalbit Nanjang (달빛난장) night market at Bonghwangdae, Jungang-ro and the Geumgwanchong excavation hall area — 36 stalls from six local business districts, seating for about 1,300, more than 50,000 reusable containers
  • 10 Oct, 17:00–21:00Hwarang Hip-Hop Festa (화랑힙합페스타) at the Naenam intersection with Dynamic Duo, BE'O, Woo Won-jae and Kid Milli
  • Kids zone on Jungang-ro, festa lounge, healing rest area and an ESG running station near Seobongchong

Prices

ItemPriceNote
AdmissionFreeFree per KTO; food, drink and goods at the night market are paid

Notes on the 2026 edition

53rd edition. 321 citizen crew members (150 supporters, 91 citizen producers, 80 youth). Roads closed: Jungang-ro from 12:00 on 8 Oct to 12:00 on 12 Oct; Bonghwang-ro (Cheonggiwa to Naenam intersections) from 09:00 on 9 Oct to 22:00 on 11 Oct; Woljeonggyo car park to the museum intersection 18:30–20:30 on 9–10 Oct. The city reported that the festival ended without safety incidents and plans to analyse KT big data on visitors; no visitor total was published by 19 October.

About the festival

The Silla Culture Festival (신라문화제) is Gyeongju's city-wide autumn festival of the Silla kingdom, first held in 1962 and one of Korea's oldest local festivals. The 53rd edition ran 9–11 October 2026 around the Bonghwangdae tomb park and Woljeonggyo Bridge, 15:00–24:00 with free admission; its centrepiece is the Hwabaek Jejeon night show on a floating stage at Woljeonggyo, with drones and fireworks. The 2027 edition is expected on a Friday to Sunday in early or mid-October; take the KTX to Gyeongju Station (about 2 h 15 m from Seoul), then a taxi of about 20 minutes.

Transport, booking, crowd and accessibility details are on the main Silla Culture Festival page, which covers every edition.

Source

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

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