Royal Culture Festival

The “Royal Culture Festival” is Korea’s largest national heritage festival, held every spring and fall at Seoul’s five major palaces (Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung, and Gyeonghuigung) and the Jongmyo Shrine. Using the palaces as a stage, the festival showcases traditional Korean culture through a diverse array of programs, including performances, exhibitions, hands-on activities, and reenactments of royal rituals. Hosted by the Cultural Heritage Administration and organized by the Cultural Heritage Promotion Agency, the Palace Culture Festival marks its 12th anniversary this year under the theme “The Palace: Awakening the Arts.” It aims to expand the palaces beyond mere venues for viewing cultural heritage into cultural and artistic stages where visitors can experience the origins of K-Culture. The spring 2026 festival attracted a total of approximately 725,000 visitors, setting a record for the highest number of attendees in its history. Capitalizing on the seasonal charm of the palaces in the fall, this year’s festival will offer a distinct experience from the spring festival by expanding daytime exhibitions, tours, and hands-on programs that focus on the palace spaces and history, while offering nighttime performances and interactive programs set against the backdrop of the palace buildings and natural landscapes. At 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 6—the day before the festival opens—a special performance titled “KBS2’s Immortal Songs: 2026 Royal Cultural Festival Special” will take place at Heungnyemun Plaza in Gyeongbokgung Palace to celebrate the start of the fall festival. Under the theme “The Palace, Awakening Art,” the event will feature a stage that all generations can enjoy together, ranging from traditional Korean music to K-pop. Admission is free, and applications to attend as an audience member can be submitted via the official KBS [Immortal Songs] website.

1. KBS2 “Immortal Songs: 2026 Royal Culture Festival Special” Special Performance (Oct. 6) 2. Reservation Program for Korean Residents Only: Gyeongbokgung Palace Hanbok Banquet, Gung Pass (Merchandise), “Waking Up the Palace in the Morning,” Kyujanggak Chogye Munsin Workshop with Hyangachi, Junmyeongdang Children’s School, Dongguk Jangwonseo, Jongmyo Architecture Exploration Team, Palace Culture Festival Academic Seminar, Changgyeonggung Palace “Water-Colored Lotus” 3. Reservation Programs Exclusively for Foreign Visitors: Gyeongbokgung Palace Hanbok Banquet, “Waking Up the Palace in the Morning” 4. On-site Programs: Joseon Spatial Aesthetics: The Order of White, Time Travel at Changgyeonggung Palace, Royal Playroom, Royal Cultural Festival Street Parade, Royal Cultural Festival Stamp Tour, From Gwangmu to Yonghui