Royal Culture Festival

About the Festival

The 'Royal Culture Festival' is Korea's largest national heritage festival, held every spring and autumn at Seoul's five grand palaces (Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung, Gyeonghuigung) and Jongmyo Shrine. Using the palaces as its stage, it presents diverse programs of traditional Korean culture, including performances, exhibitions, hands-on experiences, and ritual reenactments. Hosted by the National Heritage Administration and organized by the Korea National Heritage Foundation, the Royal Culture Festival celebrates its 12th anniversary this year with the theme 'Palace, Awakening Art.' It plans to expand the palaces beyond mere national heritage viewing spaces into cultural and artistic stages where the origins of K-culture can be experienced. The Spring 2026 Royal Culture Festival will begin with an opening ceremony on April 24, and run for nine days from April 25 to May 3. The 2026 Royal Culture Festival Opening Ceremony, marking the start of the festival, will be held on Friday, April 24, at 7:30 PM, at Heungnyemun Gate Square in Gyeongbokgung Palace, under the theme 'Palace, Awakening Art - Hyper Palace (Artistic Expansion of the Palace).'