20260516 – 20260517

Seoul's most visually spectacular annual event, celebrating Buddha's Birthday with a lantern parade down Jongno — a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2020. The parade runs from Dongdaemun to Jogyesa Temple on Saturday evening; tens of thousands of hand-held lotus lanterns carried by participants light up the street. Sunday brings the Eoulim Madang traditional performance at Jogyesa courtyard, followed by a lantern installation you can walk through. The entire temple district is hung with coloured lanterns for two weeks beforehand. Free to watch; lantern-making workshops available (small fee). Best position: secure a spot along Jongno 1-ga by 5pm.