Baekje Cultural Festival (백제문화제 )
October 3, 2026 - October 11, 2026Overview
[Buyeo Baekje Cultural Festival]The Baekje Cultural Festival, which began with the first Baekje Grand Festival held in Buyeo-gun in 1955, celebrates its 72nd edition this year as one of Korea’s leading historical and cultural festivals. The festival has promoted the magnificent culture and long history of Baekje, carried forward and developed the spirit and cultural heritage of its ancestors in a contemporary way, and enhanced the region’s identity and pride. The 72nd Baekje Cultural Festival will be held throughout downtown Buyeo for nine days, from Saturday, October 3 to Sunday, October 11, 2026, under the theme “Beautiful Baekje, Radiant Sabi.” Centered around Jeongnimsa Temple Site, Seoktap-ro, and the Gwanbuk-ri Archaeological Site, the festival will present approximately 40 programs across seven categories, including ancestral rites and Buddhist ceremonies, historical and cultural processions, performances, exhibitions, hands-on activities, and nighttime scenery. In particular, this year’s festival will be held throughout downtown Buyeo, creating an open festival where Baekje’s historical culture, local businesses, and residents’ daily lives come together, and offering visitors a special cultural experience in which the past and present coexist. [Gongju Baekje Cultural Festival]The Baekje Cultural Festival is one of Korea’s leading historical and cultural festivals, carrying forward and developing the magnificent history and cultural heritage of Ungjin Baekje in a contemporary way while enhancing the region’s identity and pride. The 72nd Baekje Cultural Festival will be held for nine days, from Saturday, October 3 to Sunday, October 11, 2026, at Geumgangsingwan Park, Mir Island, Gongsanseong Fortress, and the old downtown area under the theme “Bronze Mirrors: Reflecting the Light of Baekje 1,500 Years Ago.” Using bronze mirrors excavated from the Tomb of King Muryeong as its central motif, the festival will illuminate Baekje’s radiance and historical value through a wide variety of programs. It will offer distinctive attractions through the signature immersive convergence performance “Ungjin Fantasia” and the new nighttime outdoor performance “接 (Jeop)·Gyeong: The Night the Queen Crossed,” staged against the backdrop of the World Heritage Site Gongsanseong Fortress. Nighttime and extended-stay content showcasing the unique character of Ungjin Baekje will also unfold, including the citizen-participation “Ungjin Fortress Parade,” the nighttime “Ungjin Baekje Lantern Celebration,” the “Ungjin Baekje Starlight Garden,” and “Gongsanseong Media Art.” In addition, visitors can enjoy hands-on events for all generations, including Baekje Village Goma-chon, the Bronze Mirror Mission Tour, and “Baekje, Let’s Have Fun.” A variety of programs linked to the local economy and businesses will also be available, such as “Following Baekje’s Flavors and Style,” “Welcome to Singwandong,” and the 22nd National Excellent Traditional Market Expo, offering visitors a special cultural experience where the past and present come together.
Venue
Throughout Buyeo city (Jeongnimsaji Temple Site, Seoktap-ro, and the Gwanbuk-ri Historic Site), and Gongju (Gongju Geumgangsingwan Park, Mir Island, Gongsanseong Fortress, and the former royal capital area)
Program
[Buyeo Baekje Cultural Festival] 1. Signature Programs - Opening and Closing Ceremonies: Official opening and closing ceremonies, celebratory performances - Proclamation Ceremony for the Relocation of the Capital to Sabi: Proclamation of the rationale for relocating the capital to Sabi, a large-scale capital-relocation procession, the Jeongdo Goyuje rite, and celebratory performances - Themed Performance: Beautiful Baekje, Shining Sabi, the 72nd Baekje Cultural Festival themed performance - Themed Exhibition Hall (Baekje People’s Promise): A journey to Baekje through the gateway of time 2. Main Programs - Baekje History and Culture Parade - Baekje Culture Night Parade: A nighttime parade performance through the city center - Sabi Children’s Kingdom: A children’s playground and hands-on programs themed around Baekje history - Baekje Night, Crafted with Light: Media art set against the backdrop of Jeongnimsaji Temple Site 3. Rituals - Gocheonje Rite - 11 Rituals and Buddhist Ceremonies: The lighting of the Baekje spirit flame (Gocheonje Rite) and 10 other rituals and Buddhist ceremonies 4. Performance Programs - Cultural and artistic performances - Eight programs, including the Sabi Baekje Talk Concert 5. Hands-on Programs - Welcome to Baekje - Sabi Roblox - Around Sabi and six other programs 6. Scenic Programs - Sabi at Night - The King’s Garden - Baekje Night, Crafted with Light, and others 7. Linked Programs - Sabi Little Welcome Team - Linking Buyeo’s tourism resources with the festival venues, and more [Gongju Baekje Cultural Festival] 1. Signature Programs - Opening and Closing Ceremonies: Opening ceremony celebratory performances (Huh Gak, YOYOMI, RESCENE) / Closing ceremony celebratory performances (Kim Eui-young, Nerd Connection, Haha & Skull, fireworks show) - Woongjin Fantasia: An immersive, convergence performance created around the theme of bronze mirrors - Woongjin Fortress Parade: A parade that brings citizens and visitors together through a contemporary reinterpretation of the history and culture of Woongjin Baekje - Gongsanseong Fortress Live Performance: [接 (Jeop) · Gyeong_The Night the Queen Crossed] / A live performance combining music, song, and dance against the backdrop of Gongsanseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site 2. Rituals and Buddhist Ceremonies - Lighting of the Baekje Spirit Flame: Marking the beginning of the Baekje Cultural Festival and praying for the peace and well-being of citizens - Memorial Rite for the Five Kings of Woongjin Baekje: A memorial rite honoring the five kings of the Baekje period - Yeongsan Daejae: A memorial rite for the five kings of Baekje throughout history and a rite for guiding the spirits of those who died defending the nation to the afterlife 3. Exhibition and Performance Programs - Woongjin Baekje Lantern Festival: Nighttime scenic content featuring the harmony of Baekje lanterns and yellow-sailed boats - Woongjin Baekje Starlight Garden: A storytelling-based space using bronze mirrors, enhanced with media direction - Traditional Folk Performances: Events including Chilseokje in Hadae-ri, Gyeryong-myeon, and the Jiptteodajigi ceremony in Uidang - Main Stage Programs: Performances by the Chungnam Philharmonic Orchestra, song festivals, traditional Korean music performances, and more - Gomtap Stage: Performances by local artists and clubs 4. Educational, Hands-on, and Academic Programs - Baekje Village, Goma Village: A program featuring hands-on activities, performances, and ongoing events themed around the Baekje period - Bronze Mirror Mission Tour: [Find the Future in the Bronze Mirror] / An interactive stamp tour using mobile devices - Let’s Play Baekje!: A variety of events incorporating traditional games from the Baekje period that people of all ages can easily enjoy - Baekje Cultural Festival Academic Conference: Discussions on ways to use the bronze mirrors from the Tomb of King Muryeong and the selection of representative themed artifacts for each year of the Baekje Cultural Festival 5. Linked and Concurrent Programs - Gongsanseong Fortress Media Art: Based on Gongsanseong Fortress - Night Tourism Destination Programs: Korea’s BAMBAM Festa, Candlelight Gongju on Night - Welcome to Singwandong: Youth-centered cultural hub programs - National Excellent Traditional Market Expo: Sales and hands-on experiences featuring specialty products and food from approximately 130 excellent markets nationwide, along with singers’ performances - National Photography Contest: A photography contest featuring major scenes and the cultural value of the Baekje Cultural Festival 6. Food Sales Programs - Woongjingol Food Street: A variety of food options and rest areas (13 restaurants and 10 food trucks) - Promotion and Sales of Gongju Specialty Products: Agricultural and specialty product sales and promotion booths, the Albat Hanwoo Festival, chestnut-processed foods, chestnut sales and promotion booths, and more
Organizer
Buyeo County (041-837-2517) Baekje Cultural Foundation
Admission fee
Free admission
Duration
Buyeo 10:00–22:00, Gongju 11:00–22:00