Gyeongbokgung Palace hosts royal culture festival until 11 October
Published on 10/11/2026 at 05:17 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKey points in brief
- Gyeongbokgung Palace (Gyeongbokgung) is hosting the 2026 Fall K-Royal Culture Festival from 7 to 11 October 2026.
- The palace programme includes the Hanbok Royal Banquet on 9 and 10 October 2026, with royal processions, costume talks and craft demonstrations.
- Gyeongbokgung Palace was built in 1395 as the first and largest royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty in Seoul.
Gyeongbokgung Palace (Gyeongbokgung) in Seoul is hosting the 2026 Fall K-Royal Culture Festival from 7 to 11 October 2026, with the Hanbok Royal Banquet scheduled for 9 and 10 October. The programme places performances, exhibitions and historical experiences across the royal palaces of South Korea.
Gyeongbokgung Palace hosts the autumn royal culture festival
The five-day festival is organised by the Korea Heritage Service's Royal Palaces and Tombs Center and the Korea Heritage Agency. It takes place at the four major royal palaces and Jongmyo Shrine, with Gyeongbokgung Palace among the principal venues.
The palace's main programme is the Hanbok Royal Banquet, held in the nighttime viewing area on 9 and 10 October from 7pm to 9pm. The schedule combines a re-enacted royal procession featuring the king and queen, a fashion talk about court dress, and demonstrations connected with traditional hanbok-making. The festival's official programme announcement also lists the KBS2 Immortal Songs special performance at Heungnyemun Square on 6 October, before the main festival began.
The event is accessible to international visitors through dedicated places and sessions. The organiser states that 800 places across the two Hanbok Royal Banquet evenings are reserved for international visitors, while a separate festival programme at Changdeokgung Palace includes an English-language session.
Gyeongbokgung Palace links festival programme to royal history
Built in 1395, the palace was the first and largest of the royal palaces constructed during the Joseon Dynasty. It stood at the centre of Seoul, then known as Hanyang, and served as the dynasty's main palace.
The festival's procession and court-dress programme use the palace grounds as a setting for themes connected with royal ceremony and clothing. That link is especially direct on 9 and 10 October, when the Hanbok Royal Banquet combines a re-enacted procession with demonstrations of the making of traditional clothing. The Seoul tourism guide identifies the site as the largest of the Five Grand Palaces.
Several buildings on the grounds were rebuilt or restored after destruction during the Japanese occupation. The National Palace Museum of Korea and the National Folk Museum of Korea are also located within the palace grounds, giving the festival setting a wider connection to Korean royal history and material culture.
Visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The K-Royal Culture Festival runs at Gyeongbokgung Palace from 7 to 11 October 2026. The Hanbok Royal Banquet takes place in the nighttime viewing area on 9 and 10 October 2026.
- The festival programme is held in the palace grounds, while the Hanbok Royal Banquet uses the nighttime viewing area and requires advance reservation according to the organiser's event information.
- The palace is at 161 Sajik-ro in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Gyeongbokgung Station on Subway Line 3 and Gwanghwamun Station on Line 5 are the named nearby stations in the city tourism guide.
- The site includes extensive palace grounds and restored historic buildings. Visitors will encounter courtyards, pavilions and outdoor walking routes rather than a single enclosed attraction.
- South Korea's official language is Korean and its currency is the won.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Gyeongbokgung Palace
When does the K-Royal Culture Festival take place at Gyeongbokgung Palace?
The festival runs from 7 to 11 October 2026. The Hanbok Royal Banquet is scheduled for 9 and 10 October 2026.
What is the Hanbok Royal Banquet at Gyeongbokgung Palace?
It is a two-evening festival programme combining a re-enacted royal procession, a court-dress fashion talk and demonstrations connected with hanbok-making.
Where is Gyeongbokgung Palace and how do you get there?
The palace is at 161 Sajik-ro in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Gyeongbokgung Station on Subway Line 3 and Gwanghwamun Station on Line 5 serve the area.
