| Dates | 8–25 May 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Parade 19:00–21:30 on 16 May; Daedong Hanmadang 21:30–23:00; street festival daytime on 17 May; Yeondeungnori from 19:00 on 17 May; exhibitions lit nightly |
| Weather | May average 24/14 °C (74/56 °F), 104 mm of rainMonthly averages, not a forecast: Korea Meteorological Administration climate normals, 1991–2020, Seoul station. |
| Venue | Jogyesa Temple and Jongno (parade from Heunginjimun to Jogyesa)서울특별시 종로구 우정국로 55 |
| Admission | Watching the parade, exhibitions and street festival: Free · Templestay, one day (1–31 May 2026, 35 temples): ₩15,000 |
| Previous edition | 2025: 16 Apr – 6 May 2025 |
| Next edition | 2027: Buddha's Birthday is Thursday 13 May 2027 (KASI calendar; lunar 4/8). The parade has fallen on a Saturday four to nine days before Buddha's Birthday (11 May 2024, 26 April 2025, 16 May 2026), so expect the parade on Saturday 8 May 2027, the street festival on Sunday 9 May, and lantern exhibitions from late April to mid-May. The 2026 schedule was announced on 20 March. |
Program
- 22 Aprcelebratory lantern-lighting ceremony in Gwanghwamun Square
- 8–25 Maytraditional lantern exhibitions at Jogyesa, Cheonggyecheon and Bongeunsa (lit from 8 May)
- 16 May (Sat) 14:00Eoulim Madang Buddhist rally and Gwanbul rite at Dongguk University main field
- 16 May 19:00–21:30lantern parade from Heunginjimun along Jongno to Jogyesa; about 50,000 marchers (organizer figure reported by Newsis; Seoul city expected 20,000+ in about 60 groups), 100,000 lanterns, four robot monks (who finished at Tapgol Park)
- 16 May 21:30–23:00Daedong Hanmadang at the Jonggak intersection stage, closing act Norazo, 'flower rain' finale
- 17 May (Sun)Traditional Culture Madang on Ujeongguk-ro in front of Jogyesa, about 70 groups and 129 booths
- 17 May 19:00Yeondeungnori closing performance and DJ set around Insa-dong and Gongpyeong intersection
- 24 May (Sun) 10:00Buddha's Birthday ceremony at Jogyesa and temples nationwide
Prices
| Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Watching the parade, exhibitions and street festival | Free | Free (KTO 2026 guide) |
| Hands-on activities at the street festival | — | Some booths charge a separate fee (KTO); amounts not published |
| Templestay, one day (1–31 May 2026, 35 temples) | ₩15,000 | Book at templestay.com; amount from the KTO 2026 guide, not rechecked |
| Templestay, two days one night | ₩30,000 | Book at templestay.com; amount from the KTO 2026 guide, not rechecked |
Notes on the 2026 edition
Slogan '마음은 평안으로, 세상은 화합으로'; over 500,000 attended the weekend (Newsis). Buddha's Birthday 24 May 2026. Marchers took part through temples and registered groups; Seoul city expected about 60 groups.
About the festival
Yeon Deung Hoe is Seoul's Buddhist lantern festival for Buddha's Birthday (8th day of the 4th lunar month). Its centrepiece is a free Saturday-evening parade of about 100,000 lanterns from Heunginjimun along Jongno to Jogyesa Temple, with lantern exhibitions at Jogyesa, Cheonggyecheon and Bongeunsa. In 2026 the parade was on 16 May; in 2027 expect Saturday 8 May, before Buddha's Birthday on 13 May. UNESCO-listed since 2020.
Transport, booking, crowd and accessibility details are on the main Yeon Deung Hoe (Lotus Lantern Festival) page, which covers every edition.
Source
Facts checked
21 October 2026, against the sources listed below.