May 16, 2026 – May 17, 2026

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.

The Festival

Yeon-deung-hoe — the Lotus Lantern Festival — is Seoul’s most visually spectacular spring heritage event, celebrating Buddha’s Birthday with the famous Lotus Lantern Parade down Jongno (May 16–17, 2026). Listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2020, the festival brings tens of thousands of participants carrying hand-made lotus lanterns from Dongdaemun to Jogyesa Temple in a slow, luminous procession that fills the entire street. The two-week buildup sees Jongno and Insadong hung with thousands of hanging lanterns, transforming the neighborhood into one of the most beautiful night scenes in Korea.

What to Expect

Saturday evening (May 16) is the main parade — the full street procession from Dongdaemun to Jogyesa Temple. Sunday (May 17) hosts the Eoulim Madang traditional folk performance festival in the Jogyesa courtyard. Both days are free to attend. The parade is one of those rare city events where the spectacle entirely justifies the crowds — lantern light at scale has a warmth and softness that photos cannot fully capture.

Getting There & Tips

• Subway: Jonggak Station (Line 1) or Anguk Station (Line 3) — both are a short walk to the parade route
• Arrive early: Secure a viewing spot along Jongno 1-ga by 5PM — the procession typically begins at 7PM and street space fills fast
• Insadong area: Arrive even earlier to walk the lantern-lined streets before the parade — the whole district transforms for weeks beforehand
• Free event: No tickets needed for watching the parade; Jogyesa temple programs are also free and open to everyone