About this festival
Hwaseong Fortress was built between 1794 and 1796 as a model city and military garrison, earning UNESCO World Heritage status in 1997. The festival brings the fortress to life through its most famous set piece: King Jeongjo's Royal Parade, a costumed procession of over 4,000 participants recreating the king's journey to honour his father. Night tours of the illuminated walls, archery demonstrations, and traditional games round out a programme spanning multiple days. The 62nd edition in 2025 ran September 27 to October 4; 2026 dates are expected to follow a similar pattern. Suwon Hwaseong holds Global Festival status, the top MCST tier.
Getting there
Take the Bundang Line or Gyeongbu Line subway from Seoul to Suwon Station (about 50 minutes from Seoul Station). Hwaseong Fortress Paldalmun Gate is a 15-minute walk or short bus ride from Suwon Station. The KTX also stops at Suwon.
Tips
The fortress has a well-maintained English audio guide and good English signage throughout. The Royal Parade is the highlight and typically takes place in the afternoon on one of the main festival days; check the official schedule at en.shfestival.com. Suwon is easily done as a day trip from Seoul, and the fortress is worth visiting outside of festival time too.
Dates by year
- confirmed
2026
October 4 – 11, 2026
Source: Korea Tourism Organization (TourAPI). Last verified 2026-05-09.