2026 Goryeong Daegaya Festival to Be Held Under the Theme "Daegaya Begins Anew: RE-BORN"

From March 27 to 29
Across the Daegaya History Theme Tourism Complex

Goryeong County in North Gyeongsang Province will hold the 2026 Goryeong Daegaya Festival for three days from March 27 to 29, 2026.

Held under the theme "Daegaya Begins Anew: RE-BORN," the festival will highlight the historical value and identity of Goryeong County, which has been newly spotlighted since its designation as an ancient capital, and will be organized as a stay-type, participatory festival that can be enjoyed both day and night.

2026 Goryeong Daegaya Festival poster / Provided by Goryeong County Office

The festival will take place across the Daegaya History Theme Tourism Complex, the Daegaya Museum, and the Daegaya Munhwanoori complex, and will feature a variety of programs linked to the Jisandong Ancient Tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This year, by combining the story of the third anniversary of the Jisandong Ancient Tombs' inscription on the World Heritage List with the narrative of Daegaya's designation as an ancient capital, the festival will offer visitors a new experience that blends history, culture, and hands-on activities.

Flagship programs will include the 100 Gayageum Concert, the Daegaya Starlight Show, a citizens' parade, the Daegaya History Talk Concert, the Citizens' Harmony Madang, and the Gaya Cultural Area Choir Festival. In particular, the 100 Gayageum Concert will present the gayageum, the symbol of Daegaya, in a concert format with commentary, providing a concentrated expression of the festival's identity.

The experiential programs have also been significantly enriched. New gourmet experience corners using local specialties will be introduced, such as the "Daegaya Grill Zone" and "Goryeong Berry Good Strawberry Feast." Visitors will be able to cook and taste skewer dishes made with Goryeong pork themselves, and create DIY strawberry dishes such as strawberry sandwiches and strawberry milk using Goryeong strawberries.

In addition, a Daegaya Relic Excavation Experience, a Daegaya Postcard Stamp Tour, and Strawberry Lantern Making, among other diverse hands-on programs, have been prepared. Furthermore, small-scale busking performances, David Lee's Daegaya Cooking Show, and nighttime trekking at the Jisandong Ancient Tombs will offer content that visitors can enjoy both during the day and at night.

Another key feature of this year's festival is the strengthening of nighttime tourism content and the enhanced connectivity with nearby tourist attractions. Shuttle bus routes will be expanded in connection with major nighttime attractions such as the Daegaya Arboretum and the musical fountain, allowing visitors to conveniently travel between the festival venues and surrounding tourist sites. Through this, the county plans to actively promote stay-type tourism under the theme of "Daegaya at Night."

An official from Goryeong County stated, "The 2026 Goryeong Daegaya Festival has been selected twice in a row as a Korea Culture and Tourism Festival, earning external recognition for the historical value of Daegaya," and added, "Through this festival, we aim to enhance the pride of Goryeong County, which has been designated as the fifth ancient capital of Korea, while simultaneously boosting the local economy and strengthening the brand value of our historical culture."