A scene from last year's Hwabaek Jejeon ceremony. [Gyeongju Cultural Foundation]
A scene from last year's Hwabaek Jejeon ceremony. [Gyeongju Cultural Foundation]

Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, will host the 2026 Silla Cultural Festival — its 53rd edition — from Friday to Sunday at Bonghwangdae and the Woljeong Bridge area, the city announced Thursday.

This year's festival focuses on reinterpreting the values of Silla culture for a modern audience and offering domestic and international tourists fresh cultural experiences in the post-APEC era.

A range of hands-on activities and performances will also be available for families.

Major programs include the Hwabaek Jejeon ceremony, Silk Road Festa, Hwarang Hip-Hop Festa and Dalbich Nanjang.

A citizen festival committee — made up of citizen supporters, citizen producers and the Hwarang Wonhwa group — will take part directly in promotion, content planning and eco-friendly activities.

At the Woljeong Bridge, an original themed performance inspired by the birth legends of Park Hyeokgeose and Queen Alyeong will be staged.

Media facade projections, 3D flying displays, more than 500 fire drones and a fireworks show of about 2,000 shells will complement the performances to create a spectacular visual experience.

Silk Road Festa, the festival's signature street-arts event, will run Friday through Sunday at the Bonghwangdae area, featuring aerial theater, fire performances and acrobatic circus acts.

More than 80 percent of this year's performances will be new programs, and the festival grounds will expand to include the Seobongchong area, adding activity and rest spaces. A kids zone, a young artists zone, a "Goma Post Office Silla Branch" and a nighttime lighting show will also be on offer.

A night market called Dalbich Nanjang will open at the Bonghwangdae area, where local small-business owners will present signature dishes and Gyeongju specialty foods.

Organizers will introduce a QR ordering system and price-display requirements, and will use more than 70,000 reusable containers as part of an eco-friendly operation.

On Saturday, the Hwarang Hip-Hop Festa will be held on the lawn at Naenam Intersection.

Performers set to take the stage include Treeby, Flicky Bang, Okasi, Kid Milli, Beo, Dynamic Duo and Gyeongju-born rapper Woo Wonjae.

To manage large crowds, organizers will widen entry and exit points, secure emergency corridors and strengthen crowd-dispersal measures.

A "silent movie theater" will also run from 8 p.m. on Friday and Sunday, allowing audiences to watch films using their own smartphones and Bluetooth earphones. The King's Warden will screen on Friday, and "Manyage Uri" will screen on Sunday.

During the festival, Jungang-ro and Bonghwang-ro will be closed to traffic for pedestrian safety, with safety personnel, medical staff, emergency vehicles and a real-time crowd management system all in operation.

Further details are available on the Silla Cultural Festival website and official social media accounts, or by contacting the Gyeongju Cultural Foundation's festival project team.

"We have put together a modern festival where citizens and tourists can directly experience and enjoy Silla's history and culture, not merely observe it," a Gyeongju Cultural Foundation official said. "We hope everyone will enjoy the wide range of programs at the Silla Cultural Festival and create special memories."


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