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Hi, I’m SeoulAslanJoseon Royal Tombs Festival 2026: Tickets for Foreigners
Checked Oct 6, 2026
The 2026 World Heritage Joseon Royal Tombs Festival opens on Fri Oct 16 at Yunggeolleung (융건릉) in Hwaseong and runs at 12 royal tomb sites until Sun Oct 25 (on Mon Oct 19 the only program is a guided special visit to the tomb mounds at Donggureung and Seooreung, 14:00–16:30). Foreign visitors book the shows on Creatrip, an English booking site that sells foreigner-only tickets: the opening ceremony and the Royal Stage concerts are free there, and the musical costs 15,000 won (about $11). Walking around Yunggeolleung costs 1,000 won, and it's free on Wed Oct 21.
I haven't been to Yunggeolleung yet. I really dislike crowds, so I started from the festival's date table: which days are quieter, and what each part costs. Everything here comes from the festival's Korean pages, the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center and Creatrip's listings.
Jump to: How foreigners book · Yunggeolleung schedule · Shows near Seoul · What Yunggeolleung is · Entry fee and hours · Quieter days · Getting there · FAQ
How do foreigners get tickets?
The festival sells its tickets in two places. Ticketlink (티켓링크) is the Korean site. Creatrip (크리에이트립) is the one for foreign visitors: it's in English, and its festival tickets are marked "for foreigners only".
On Creatrip's festival page right now:
| Program | Where | Price on Creatrip |
|---|---|---|
| Opening ceremony, Fri Oct 16 | Yunggeolleung, Hwaseong | Free |
| Musical Peach Blossoms | Yunggeolleung | About $11 (15,000 won) |
| Royal Stage concert | Seolleung and Jeongneung, Seoul | Free |
| Royal Stage concert | Yunggeolleung | Free |
| Royal Stage concert | Hongneung and Yureung, Namyangju | Free |
Each one is for a set date, and Creatrip allows free cancellation or changes up to 3 days before. Last year the opening ceremony and the main show sold out on the first day of booking, and most of the night programs filled up, so book before you go. For questions in Korean, the festival line is 1522-2295.
What's on at Yunggeolleung, day by day?
- Fri Oct 16, 19:30: opening ceremony
- Sat Oct 17 and Sun Oct 18, 19:30: musical Peach Blossoms (복사꽃, 생각하니 슬프다), about an hour, performed outdoors at the tombs
- Fri Oct 23, 19:30: Royal Stage with conductor Geum Nanse (금난새) and the Seongnam Philharmonic Orchestra
- Sat Oct 24 and Sun Oct 25, 19:30: musical again
On days without a show there are smaller programs: a detective game (조선명탐정, 10:00–17:00, join on site), free bead bookmark making, an exhibition on royal ancestral rites in the jaesil (재실), the building where the rites were prepared, and the King's Garden (왕의 정원). The King's Garden at night is for ticket holders only.
Are there shows closer to Seoul?
Yes. Three of the other sites are easier from central Seoul:
- Seolleung and Jeongneung (선릉과 정릉), in Gangnam: Royal Stage with jazz singer Youn Sun Nah (나윤선), Sat Oct 17, 19:30. Free on Creatrip.
- Hongneung and Yureung (홍릉과 유릉), Namyangju: Royal Stage, Sat Oct 24, 19:30 and Sun Oct 25, 14:00. Free on Creatrip.
- Donggureung (동구릉), Guri: a night walk with light, sound and video called Yabyeolhaeng (야별행), Oct 13–25 except Oct 19, at 19:00, 19:30 and 20:00. A Korean news report puts it at 10,000 won. It isn't on Creatrip's list.
What is Yunggeolleung?
Two royal tombs side by side in Hwaseong, south of Suwon. Yungneung (융릉) is the tomb of Crown Prince Sado (사도세자) and Lady Hyegyeong (혜경궁 홍씨). Geolleung (건릉) is the tomb of their son, King Jeongjo (정조), and Queen Hyoui (효의왕후).
Jeongjo moved his father's tomb here in 1789. He was first buried in 1800, and in 1821 his tomb was moved to where it is now, together with Queen Hyoui. That's why the festival opens here, and why the musical is set here. The Joseon royal tombs are a UNESCO World Heritage site.
How much is entry, and when is it open?
- Adults: 1,000 won. For foreigners that means ages 19–64.
- Free: foreigners 18 and under or 65 and over, and anyone wearing hanbok
- Wednesdays: free for everyone since May 27, 2026. During the festival that's Wed Oct 21.
- October hours: 09:00–18:00, last entry 17:00. Closed on Mondays.
Shortly after the festival, the royal tombs are free again from Oct 29 to Nov 15 along with Seoul's palaces. The dates and closing days are in Seoul palaces free entry, Oct 29 – Nov 15.
Which days are quieter?
The big shows at Yunggeolleung are all at 19:30 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday: Oct 16–18 and Oct 23–25. From Tue Oct 20 to Thu Oct 22 there are no evening shows, only the daytime programs, and Wednesday the 21st is free. If you want the show, book it. If you only want a walk under the trees, pick a weekday daytime.
How do you get to Yunggeolleung by public transport?
- Take subway Line 1 to Byeongjeom Station (병점역), two stops after Suwon.
- Go out Exit 2 and take bus 34, 34-1, 35-1, 46 or 50. About 15 minutes.
- Get off at Yungneung·Geolleung (융릉·건릉). The stop is announced in Korean, so watch the screen for 융릉·건릉.
From Suwon Station, bus 46 goes there too, in about 40 minutes. For a taxi, show the driver 융건릉 or the address 경기도 화성시 효행로481번길 21. The musical ends around 20:30, so look up your bus back before you go in.
FAQ
When is the Joseon Royal Tombs Festival 2026?
Opening Fri Oct 16 at Yunggeolleung, then Oct 17–25 at 12 royal tomb sites. On Mon Oct 19 there are no shows; the only program is a guided special visit to the tomb mounds (normally closed to the public) at Donggureung (동구릉) and Seooreung (서오릉), 14:00–16:30.
How can foreigners book tickets?
On Creatrip, which sells foreigner-only tickets in English. The opening ceremony and Royal Stage concerts are free there; the musical is about $11.
How much is entry to Yunggeolleung?
1,000 won for foreign adults aged 19–64. Free for 18 and under, 65 and over, people in hanbok, and on Wednesdays.
Is there a festival show in Seoul?
Yes. Youn Sun Nah plays the Royal Stage at Seolleung in Gangnam on Sat Oct 17 at 19:30, free for foreigners on Creatrip.
How do I get to Yunggeolleung?
Line 1 to Byeongjeom Station, Exit 2, then bus 34, 34-1, 35-1, 46 or 50 to 융릉·건릉, about 15 minutes.
Whether the weekend shows sell out again
About 70,000 people came last year, and the main shows sold out on day one. With three more tomb sites this year, I'll watch whether the weekend shows sell out again and add a note here.
More autumn festivals and events
Sources
- World Heritage Joseon Royal Tombs Festival, official site (English page) · Korean pages: programs, booking notice, map
- Creatrip: festival tickets for foreign visitors
- Royal Palaces and Tombs Center: fees and free admission (Korean) · Opening hours
- Seoul Shinmun, Sept 14, 2026 (Korean) · Seoul Economic Daily, Sept 14, 2026
- Financial News, Sept 14, 2026 (musical and night walk prices) · Herald and Edaily on the 2025 festival · Encyclopedia of Korean Culture, "Yungneung and Geolleung"
- Photos: Korea Tourism Organization photo gallery, Korea Open Government License Type 1
— SeoulAslan
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