Yangsan Blossoms with Culture and Arts... Abundant Events for the 2026 Year of Visiting Yangsan and 30th Anniversary of City Status

Grand Performances Celebrating 30 Years as a City
Year-Round Events Including Tongdosa Media Art

Yangsan City in South Gyeongsang Province will fill the "2026 Year of Visiting Yangsan" with culture and the arts.

To mark the 30th anniversary of its elevation to city status and the "Year of Visiting Yangsan" in 2026, Yangsan City will host high-quality cultural and artistic events throughout the year that can be enjoyed by both citizens and visitors.

The city emphasized that it aims to enhance the brand value of "Yangsan as a cultural tourism city" through a variety of festivals and national heritage programs staged at major landmarks and tourist attractions in Yangsan.

The city has prepared a lineup of distinctive seasonal events, including: ▲ a celebratory concert by the Yangsan City Choir (March), ▲ the Yangsan National Art Competition (March-July), ▲ the Gayajin Yongshinje Ritual (April), ▲ a classical music concert and national song festival (September), ▲ Tongdosa Media Art (September-October), and ▲ the Yangsan Arts Festival and Jazz Festa (November).

March, which marks the beginning of spring, will feature the "Yangsan City Choir 30th Anniversary Commemorative Concert," offering a grand stage with orchestral collaboration to celebrate the milestone. The "Yangsan National Art Competition," running through July, is expected to attract art enthusiasts from across the country to Yangsan.

In April, the Gayajin area will host the "Gayajin Yongshinje Ritual," a provincial intangible cultural heritage event, along with a festival celebrating intangible heritage, showcasing the beauty and excitement of traditional culture.

September will see a large-scale classical music concert commemorating the 30th anniversary of city status. By inviting top performers from Korea and abroad, the city plans to provide citizens with high-level cultural experiences and create a venue for unity in hopes of a successful Year of Visiting Yangsan. At the riverside of Yangsancheon, the "Yangsan Riverside National Song Festival," a gateway for up-and-coming singers, will be held, creating a vibrant scene of youth and passion. Notably, the Yangsan Riverside Song Festival will be broadcast live on YouTube to maximize nationwide promotional impact.

Additionally, the area around Tongdosa, a UNESCO World Heritage site, will host the "National Heritage Media Art" project. With a budget of 1.4 billion KRW (approximately 1.4 billion won) in national funding, this event will illuminate the ancient temple at night with light and sound, and is expected to significantly contribute to attracting overnight tourists.

Furthermore, November will feature the "Jazz Festa," a jazz-focused performance, and the "Yangsan Arts Festival," with seven art organizations participating at locations such as Hwangsan Park, adding even more vibrancy to the festivities.

A Yangsan City official stated, "Since 2026 marks the meaningful 30th anniversary of Yangsan City, we have prepared more abundant and sophisticated cultural and artistic events than ever before," adding, "We will do our utmost to ensure that every visitor to Yangsan can fully enjoy the arts and be captivated by the city's charm."