A Guide to 2026 Yeon Deung Hoe (Lotus Lantern Festival)

Seoul Yeon Deung Hoe, or the Seoul Lotus Lantern Festival, is Korea’s largest lotus lantern celebration, attracting around 300,000 visitors each year. In 2026, the festivities begin on Friday, May 8, when traditional lanterns and large ceremonial lanterns light up Jogyesa Temple, Bongeunsa Temple, and Cheonggyecheon Stream. On Sunday, May 17, the street in front of Jogyesa Temple will come alive with hands-on activities, including paper flower making and traditional pattern painting, along with festive performances of pungmulnori and Korean traditional music.

The highlight of Seoul Yeon Deung Hoe is the Lotus Lantern Parade, held on Saturday, May 16. It stretches for about 3 kilometers, starting at Heunginjimun Gate, passing through Jongno, and ending at Jogyesa Temple. More than 100,000 lanterns light up the procession, joined by samulnori percussion groups, dance troupes, and chwita marching bands that bring the streets to life. After the parade, the festivities continue with Daedong Hanmadang, a lively finale where everyone can join in.

Set in Jongno 5-ga, Gwangjang Market is one of Seoul’s most iconic traditional markets and a great spot to enjoy affordable K-food favorites such as yukhoe (beef tartare), bindaetteok (mung bean pancake), and tteokbokki. For a different side of the city, head to Ikseon-dong Hanok Street, where cafés and restaurants in renovated hanok buildings offer a charming blend of old and new Seoul.

Busan Yeon Deung Hoe (Busan Lotus Lantern Festival) brings a range of cultural experiences to the heart of the city. From Friday, May 1, Songsanghyeon Square will be illuminated with traditional and character lanterns, along with a wish lantern program where visitors can write down their hopes for the year. The festival also features traditional Korean Buddhist rituals and customs, including the Neutitteok Sharing Ceremony, where rice cakes are offered to the Buddha and then shared with others in the hope of forming good connections. A memorial rite will also be held to honor those who dedicated their lives to the country.

The highlight of Busan Yeon Deung Hoe is the Lotus Lantern Parade, held on Saturday, May 16, at Dasom Square in Busan Citizens Park. The evening opens with Eoullim Hanmadang, a lively mix of performances across different genres, before the parade begins around sunset. Procession groups carrying lotus lanterns then make their way along a 2.2-kilometer route from Busan Citizens Park to Songsanghyeon Square, accompanied by large ceremonial lanterns shaped like the Buddha, a phoenix, and an elephant.

Jeonpo Café Street is one of Seomyeon’s trendiest spots, lined with stylish cafés and creative shops. It was featured in The New York Times “52 Places to Go in 2017.” Samgwangsa Temple is also worth a visit during the season, especially after sunset, when thousands of lanterns light up the temple grounds. Its lantern display is so memorable that CNN named it one of “50 beautiful places to visit in Korea.”

The Yeon Deung Hoe held in Jeonju takes place under the name “Live Your Dreams with Lantern Festival.” It begins earlier than other lantern festivals, with around 4,000 lotus lanterns and 1,800 octagonal lanterns decorating the streets from Sunday, April 25. On Saturday, May 16, Jeolla Gamyeong hosts a variety of events open to everyone. Highlights include the annual Youth Music Festival, a favorite among visitors, as well as traditional hands-on programs at the Traditional Culture Plaza, from making hanji (traditional Korean paper) lotus lanterns and paper flowers to making sorghum and red bean rice cakes.

The main highlight of Live Your Dreams with Lantern Festival is the Lotus Lantern Parade, held on Saturday, May 16. Starting at Jeolla Gamyeong, the parade winds past Pungnammun Gate, Gyeonggijeon Shrine, and Omokdae Pavilion before returning back to Jeolla Gamyeong. The sight of Jeonju Hanok Village lit with lanterns is something you can only experience here. Visitors can also join the parade by carrying LED lotus lanterns handed out on site.

Jeonju Hanok Village, where the festival takes place, is full of things to see and do. Visitors can dress up in hanbok for photos at Gyeonggijeon Shrine and Jeondong Catholic Cathedral, or try traditional hands-on activities such as hanji crafts and handmade seal carving. For cinephiles, Jeonju Movie Street—the hub of the annual Jeonju International Film Festival—is also worth a stop.

The Yeon Deung Hoe held in Gyeongju is called the Hyeongsangang Lotus Lantern Festival and it carries on one of the earliest forms of Yeon Deung Hoe, a tradition that began some 1,200 years ago. From Thursday, May 14, Geumjangdae Peak and the Hyeongsangang River area will glow with around 10,000 lotus lanterns, large ceremonial lanterns, and LED photo spots. The festival opens with a lantern-lighting performance and fireworks show, followed by programs such as lotus lantern making and lotus lantern plogging, where visitors can experience the Buddhist spirit of compassion in action.

The festival’s most memorable moment, the Lotus Lantern Parade, is held on the evening of Thursday, May 14. Once the Lantern Forest near Geumjangdae Peak, decorated with some 5,000 lotus lanterns, lights up, local residents set out from Geumjangdae carrying lanterns they have made themselves. The procession then winds through downtown Gyeongju to Bonghwangdae Tomb. The long trail of lanterns reflected on the calm waters of the Hyeongsangang River makes for a striking scene.

To carry the glow of the lantern festival into the evening, visit Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond. With palace site, a tranquil pond, and soft lighting, it offers one of Korea’s most beautiful night views. Hwangnidan Street, known for its atmospheric cafés and boutique shops, and the grand Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex are also well worth visiting.

To take a deeper dive into Korean Buddhist culture, join a Templestay program. You can experience daily life at a Buddhist temple, share in the rhythm of monastic life, and enjoy healthy temple cuisine, while finding a sense of peace through the teachings of the Buddha. In May, international visitors can also enjoy “Double Happiness Templestay”, a special discount program for foreign participants.