SEOUL Lotus lantern festival 2026
Last weekend, I passed through Gwanghwamun on the way to the Yi Sun-sin festival and noticed something interesting.
Colorful lanterns were already hanging across the streets ahead of Buddha’s Birthday celebrations, and the scale was much bigger than I expected.
At first I thought it was just simple holiday decoration, but after looking it up, I realized Seoul’s famous Lotus Lantern Festival, called Yeondeunghoe, was happening this weekend.
What is Yeondeunghoe?
Yeondeunghoe is a traditional Korean lantern festival held before Buddha’s Birthday.
People light lotus lanterns to symbolize wisdom, compassion, and hope.
The word “Buddha” comes from the Sanskrit word “Buddha,” meaning “the awakened one.”
What surprised me was how old this tradition actually is.
Yeondeunghoe has been celebrated in Korea for centuries and was officially added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2020.
It is no longer seen as only a religious event.
Now it feels more like one of Seoul’s biggest cultural festivals.
I Thought It Was Just a Night Parade
Honestly, I originally assumed Yeondeunghoe was simply a nighttime lantern parade.
I imagined people gathering after dark to look at beautiful lanterns glowing in the streets, and that was about it.
But after researching more, I realized the event is much larger than I expected.
The festival runs from daytime into late evening, and it is not limited to just one temple area.
Events take place across several parts of central Seoul, including:
- Jogyesa
- Jongmyo Shrine
- Dongguk University
- Jongno
- Cheonggyecheon
The main lantern parade on Saturday starts near Heunginjimun and continues through Jongno toward Jogyesa Temple, turning much of downtown Seoul into a huge festival space.
2026 Seoul Lotus Lantern Festival Schedule
📍 Location
Dongguk University, Jongmyo, Jongno, Jogyesa Temple area
📅 Dates
May 16–17, 2026
Saturday, May 16
- Eoullim Madang : 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
- Lantern Parade : 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
- Daedong Madang : 9:30 PM – 11:00 PM
The lantern parade is the festival’s main highlight.
Thousands of lanterns fill the streets of Seoul at night, creating one of the city’s most famous spring scenes.
Sunday, May 17
- Traditional Culture Market : 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Lantern Play & Closing Celebration : 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Sunday seems a little more relaxed, with daytime cultural programs and traditional experiences.
Visitors Can Make Their Own Lanterns
One detail that caught my attention was that visitors can actually participate in the festival instead of only watching.
Both Korean citizens and foreign visitors can join lantern-making programs and even participate in the parade.
📍 Lantern-making location
Jongmyo area
📍 Parade route
Jongmyo → Jogyesa
The online reservation was already full, but there will still be limited on-site registration available.
Walking through downtown Seoul carrying a handmade lantern honestly sounds like a very unique experience, especially for tourists visiting Korea.
Would It Be Difficult With Kids?
At first, I thought this festival would be difficult for families with young children because the main parade starts in the evening.
The Jongno area also gets extremely crowded, so staying out late with kids did not sound very realistic for our family.
But after looking into it more, I realized there are plenty of daytime activities too.
Since the festival stretches across several areas of Seoul, it seems possible to enjoy the atmosphere without staying for the entire nighttime parade.
Even just visiting the lantern displays around Jogyesa Temple or walking near Cheonggyecheon would probably still feel special.
Even without attending in person, seeing Seoul covered in colorful lanterns already feels impressive through photos alone.
Since Yeondeunghoe is also well known among international visitors interested in Korean culture, it seems like a great event to experience if you happen to be near central Seoul this weekend.
