The 2026 Gaya Culture Festival is Gimhae's representative traditional culture and arts festival, marking its 64th anniversary since the launch of the Garak Culture Festival in 1962. This year's slogan is "Where Two Thousand Years Reside, The Gaya of Light Awakens." It is a festival that aims to promote the historical value of the Daeseong-dong Tombs, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2023, to the world, and to revive the brilliant culture of Gaya civilization that shines again beyond two millennia. It is held to honor the founding spirit of King Suro, who established the Garak Kingdom, to inherit and develop the excellent Gaya culture, and to promote harmony and unity among citizens.
This festival, which commemorates the cultural heritage of the Gaya civilization that flourished for over 500 years based on iron culture and maritime trade after King Suro founded the Garak Kingdom in 42 AD, was newly reorganized in 2007 by integrating the Garak Culture Festival, which began in 1962 to coincide with King Suro's Spring Ancestral Rite (15th day of the 3rd lunar month), and the Gaya World Culture Festival, held for two years starting in 2005.
It is held throughout Gimhae City (including Daeseong-dong Tombs, Sureungwon Park, Bonghwang-dong Historical Site, Gaya Street, etc.). The address is 126 Gayaui-gil, Daeseong-dong, Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do.
Admission to the festival is free, and some experience programs are operated for a fee.
Diverse programs are prepared, including Official Events (Goyu-je/Honbulchaehwa, King Suro's Royal Procession Parade, Sungseongjeon Chunhyangdaeje, Drone Lighting Show "Sky Light Play", International Sister City Invitation Performance), Traditional Events (Intangible Cultural Heritage Invitation Performance, Jangyu Hwasang Memorial Ceremony, Gimhae Seokjeon Nori, Gimhae Folk Nongak), Performance Events (Gaya Fantasia, Hidden Masters Competition, Crossover Gala "The Start of the Festival", Humanities Concert・Gaya History Golden Bell, Gimhae Fringe Festival, 6th National Arts Competition "Superstar G", Song of the Empire "Gaya Chorus Festival", Gaya Kids Orchestra "Feast of Dreams", National Manjangdae Singing Contest, Gaya Music Station), Exhibition Events (Light Theme Street, Gaya Spring Flower Garden, Festival 60-Year History & UNESCO Memorial Hall, Wish Lanterns and Shell Mound Sound Path), Experience Events (Kids Park, Gaya Culture Experience Village, Treasure Hunt, Welcome Boostainer, Maker Experience Zone), Linked Events (17th Food Expo, Donghaeng Festival, Gimhae City Tour, Safety Contest (1365), Living Artists Festival, 2026 Gyeongnam One-Pick Artist (Preliminary Round), Gaya Tea Culture Festival), and Side Events (13th Gaya Martial Arts Competition, National Student Music Competition, National Student Art Competition, Children's Storytelling Competition, National Oratory "My Argument" Competition, National Literary Contest (Baegiljang)).
The 2026 Gaya Culture Festival is Gimhae's representative traditional culture and arts festival, marking its 64th anniversary since the launch of the Garak Culture Festival in 1962. This year's slogan is "Where Two Thousand Years Reside, The Gaya of Light Awakens." It is a festival that aims to promote the historical value of the Daeseong-dong Tombs, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2023, to the world, and to revive the brilliant culture of Gaya civilization that shines again beyond two millennia. It is held to honor the founding spirit of King Suro, who established the Garak Kingdom, to inherit and develop the excellent Gaya culture, and to promote harmony and unity among citizens. This festival, which commemorates the cultural heritage of the Gaya civilization that flourished for over 500 years based on iron culture and maritime trade after King Suro founded the Garak Kingdom in 42 AD, was newly reorganized in 2007 by integrating the Garak Culture Festival, which began in 1962 to coincide with King Suro's Spring Ancestral Rite (15th day of the 3rd lunar month), and the Gaya World Culture Festival, held for two years starting in 2005. Various programs, including traditional performances, historical experiences, and cultural exhibitions, unfold in places where the spirit of Gaya still lives, such as Sureungwon Park, Daeseong-dong Tombs, Bonghwang-dong Historical Site, and Gaya Street.
1. Official Events: Goyu-je (Ancestral Rite)/Honbulchaehwa (Sacred Fire Lighting), King Suro's Royal Procession Parade, Sungseongjeon Chunhyangdaeje (Spring Ancestral Rite), Drone Lighting Show "Sky Light Play", International Sister City Invitation Performance 2. Traditional Events: Intangible Cultural Heritage Invitation Performance, Jangyu Hwasang Memorial Ceremony, Gimhae Seokjeon Nori (Stone Battle Play), Gimhae Folk Nongak (Traditional Korean Music and Dance) 3. Performance Events: Gaya Fantasia, Hidden Masters Competition, Crossover Gala "The Start of the Festival", Humanities Concert・Gaya History Golden Bell, Gimhae Fringe Festival, 6th National Arts Competition "Superstar G", Song of the Empire "Gaya Chorus Festival", Gaya Kids Orchestra "Feast of Dreams", National Manjangdae Singing Contest, Gaya Music Station 4. Exhibition Events: Light Theme Street, Gaya Spring Flower Garden, Festival 60-Year History & UNESCO Memorial Hall, Wish Lanterns and Shell Mound Sound Path 5. Experience Events: Kids Park, Gaya Culture Experience Village, Treasure Hunt, Welcome Boostainer, Maker Experience Zone 6. Linked Events: 17th Food Expo, Donghaeng Festival, Gimhae City Tour, Safety Contest (1365), Living Artists Festival, 2026 Gyeongnam One-Pick Artist (Preliminary Round), Gaya Tea Culture Festival 7. Side Events: 13th Gaya Martial Arts Competition, National Student Music Competition, National Student Art Competition, Children's Storytelling Competition, National Oratory "My Argument" Competition, National Literary Contest (Baegiljang)
1. Official Events: Goyu-je (Ancestral Rite)/Honbulchaehwa (Sacred Fire Lighting), King Suro's Royal Procession Parade, Sungseongjeon Chunhyangdaeje (Spring Ancestral Rite), Drone Lighting Show "Sky Light Play", International Sister City Invitation Performance 2. Traditional Events: Intangible Cultural Heritage Invitation Performance, Jangyu Hwasang Memorial Ceremony, Gimhae Seokjeon Nori (Stone Battle Play), Gimhae Folk Nongak (Traditional Korean Music and Dance) 3. Performance Events: Gaya Fantasia, Hidden Masters Competition, Crossover Gala "The Start of the Festival", Humanities Concert・Gaya History Golden Bell, Gimhae Fringe Festival, 6th National Arts Competition "Superstar G", Song of the Empire "Gaya Chorus Festival", Gaya Kids Orchestra "Feast of Dreams", National Manjangdae Singing Contest, Gaya Music Station 4. Exhibition Events: Light Theme Street, Gaya Spring Flower Garden, Festival 60-Year History & UNESCO Memorial Hall, Wish Lanterns and Shell Mound Sound Path 5. Experience Events: Kids Park, Gaya Culture Experience Village, Treasure Hunt, Welcome Boostainer, Maker Experience Zone 6. Linked Events: 17th Food Expo, Donghaeng Festival, Gimhae City Tour, Safety Contest (1365), Living Artists Festival, 2026 Gyeongnam One-Pick Artist (Preliminary Round), Gaya Tea Culture Festival 7. Side Events: 13th Gaya Martial Arts Competition, National Student Music Competition, National Student Art Competition, Children's Storytelling Competition, National Oratory "My Argument" Competition, National Literary Contest (Baegiljang)
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