Crown Prince Sado Musical, Royal Tomb Night Tour... '2026 World Heritage Joseon Royal Tombs Festival' Expanded to 12 Locations

[Financial News] Musicals, night tours, and ancestral rite experiences will be held at the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty. The family history of three generations—King Yeongjo, Crown Prince Sado, and King Jeongjo—will be staged, and the royal tomb chambers, which are normally not open to the public, will also be opened to visitors.
According to the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the Korea Heritage Service and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation on the 14th, the '2026 World Heritage Joseon Royal Tombs Festival' will be held from October 17 to 25. Prior to this, an opening ceremony will be held on October 16 at Yungneung and Geolleung in Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province. This marks the seventh edition of the festival, and the number of venues has increased from nine last year to 12.
The musical 'Peach Blossoms, Thinking of Them Makes Me Sad @Yungneung and Geolleung' will be performed at Yungneung and Geolleung on October 17–18 and 24–25 at 7:30 p.m. The work, which was previously performed at a palace, is being presented anew against the backdrop of Yungneung, where Crown Prince Sado and Hyegyeonggung Hong are buried.
Choi Jae-rim plays Crown Prince Sado, Song Yong Tae plays King Yeongjo of Joseon, and the role of King Jeongjo of Joseon is played by the actor Koo Jun-mo. English subtitles are also provided for foreign visitors.
The outdoor concert 'Royal Stage' will be held at four locations, including Seolleung and Jeongneung. Youn Sun Nah will perform at Seolleung and Jeongneung on October 17, Gum Nanse and the Seongnam Symphony Orchestra at Yungneung and Geolleung on the 23rd, and Yang Bang-ean at Hongneung and Yureung on the 24th.
At the 'Royal Tomb Humanities Academy,' novelist Kim Yeon-su will meet visitors at Seolleung and Jeongneung on October 18, and Go player Lee Sedol will meet visitors at Yungneung and Geolleung on the 25th. The creative pansori 'Bogojigo Bogojigo,' which tells the story of Danjong of Joseon and Queen Jeongsun, will be performed at Sareung on the 17th and 18th, and at Yeongwol Jangneung on the 24th and 25th.
The Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009, consist of 40 tombs across 18 sites. UNESCO recognizes the value of the Royal Tombs not only for their architecture and landscapes but also for the ritual traditions that continue to this day. This festival, which features explanations of the tomb chambers and hands-on ancestral rite experiences, is designed to connect the spaces and rituals of the royal tombs.
'East Nine Royal Tombs Night Tour—The Royal Tomb Lord's Dream' operates from October 13 to 25, excluding the 19th, which is a day off. It is a program that allows visitors to tour the royal tombs at night through light, sound, video, and performances.
On October 19, East Nine Royal Tombs and Goyang West Five Royal Tombs will hold a special opening program where visitors can explore the tomb chambers with a guide. The mission-based field trip 'Joseon Detective: Royal Tomb Historian's Record,' which involves completing historical records, can be enjoyed at six locations.
Taereung, Gangneung, and Goyang West Five Royal Tombs offer experiences such as preparing ancestral ritual food and trying on ceremonial robes. At the Gimpo Jangneung Royal Tomb, visitors can dig for lotus roots on October 24–25.
The National Intangible Heritage Training Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, will hold the exhibition 'Sounds of Nature, Resonance of Rituals' from the 30th of this month to October 25. It brings to life sounds derived from the nature of royal tombs and ancestral rites through stereophonic sound and media art. The center is closed on Mondays.
Advance ticket sales for domestic visitors begin on Ticketlink on the 15th at 2:00 p.m., in order, for the opening ceremony, the musical at 3:00 p.m., and Royal Stage at 4:00 p.m. Reservations for the East Nine Royal Tombs Night Tour open on the 16th at 3:00 p.m.
The participation fee is 15,000 won for the musical and 10,000 won for the night tour. The opening ceremony and the special opening of the tomb chambers are free. Foreign visitors can make reservations through Creatrip, and detailed schedules and participation information can be found on the festival website.
[email protected] Jang In-seo Reporter