October 07, 2026 – October 11, 2026

For five days, October 7–11, 2026, Seoul's four main palaces and Jongmyo Shrine are handed over to performances, night programmes and hands-on events. Organised by the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the Korea Heritage Service — the one week of the year when the palaces are used rather than only visited.

The palaces, in use

The Royal Culture Festival runs its autumn edition from October 7 to 11, 2026 across Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung and Jongmyo Shrine. It is organised by the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center under the Korea Heritage Service.

The rest of the year you walk through these buildings and read signs. During the festival they are used: court music and dance in the courtyards, re-enacted ceremonies, craft and food programmes, and night openings that put the halls under lantern light instead of daylight.

Going as a visitor

All five sites are within central Seoul and easy to reach by subway, so it is realistic to do two in a day. Popular programmes — especially the night ones and anything requiring a seat — open reservations in advance and fill quickly; check the official schedule as soon as it goes up rather than deciding on the day.

Programme details are published at kh.or.kr/fest.