Hwaseong Fortress hosts festival until 11 October

Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon hosts the Suwon Hwaseong Festival until 11 October 2026, with royal history, performances and citizen projects.

Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon is hosting the Suwon Hwaseong Festival from 4 October to 11 October 2026, bringing performances, a royal parade and participatory projects to the historic enclosure. The programme follows the route and story of King Jeongjo's eight-day procession to Hwaseong in 1795.

Suwon Hwaseong Festival runs across the fortress until 11 October

The eighth-day festival is organised by Suwon City, the Suwon Cultural Foundation and the Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival Organising Committee. The official programme places events at Haenggung Square, Hwaseong Haenggung, Yeonmudae, Suwon Traditional Culture Centre, Banghwasuryujeong and other locations around the fortress. The official festival programme gives the period as 4 October to 11 October 2026.

The King Jeongjo Royal Parade took place on 4 October 2026, while Suwon Fantasy Yajo is scheduled from 7 October to 10 October 2026 at the Yeonmudae special stage. The programme also includes Seonyumong, a water performance at Banghwasuryujeong, and Citizens' Great Architecture Hwahong at Haenggung Square from 9 October to 11 October 2026. VisitKorea lists the festival dates and programme for the same venue in Suwon.

Hwaseong Fortress turns its royal history into festival settings

The fortress was constructed from 1794 to 1796 during the reign of King Jeongjo. Its walls run for about 5.7 kilometres around the centre of Suwon, enclosing a planned city with military facilities, gates, floodgates and the temporary palace of Hwaseong Haenggung.

The festival's emphasis on processions and royal ceremonies is closely tied to this setting. King Jeongjo's visit to Hwaseong with his mother, Lady Hyegyeong, was recorded in the Wonhaeng Eulmyo Jeongni Uigwe, while the fortress itself was later restored using detailed historical records. Heritage authorities describe the fortress as a 5.7-kilometre enclosure completed under King Jeongjo and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. The festival therefore uses the same gates, palace spaces and waterside landscape that preserve the story being performed.

Visiting Hwaseong Fortress: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The Suwon Hwaseong Festival runs from 4 October to 11 October 2026 at Hwaseong Fortress and associated venues in Suwon.
• The programme includes the Yajo performance from 7 October to 10 October 2026, while Hwahong runs at Haenggung Square from 9 October to 11 October 2026.
• The main festival address is Hwaseong Haenggung Square, 825 Jeongjo-ro, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
• The fortress wall crosses both hills and flat ground, and the route extends for about 5.7 kilometres, so visits involve varied terrain and substantial walking.
• Korean is the official language and the national currency is the South Korean 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 Hwaseong Fortress

When does the Suwon Hwaseong Festival take place at Hwaseong Fortress?

The festival runs from 4 October to 11 October 2026 across Hwaseong Fortress and associated venues in Suwon.

What is Hwaseong Fortress?

It is a fortress and planned city built from 1794 to 1796 during King Jeongjo's reign. Its walls extend for about 5.7 kilometres, and it joined the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997.

Where is Hwaseong Fortress and how do you get there?

The fortress is in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. The festival's main venue is Hwaseong Haenggung Square at 825 Jeongjo-ro in Paldal-gu.