2026 Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale

The 2026 Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale will be held for 45 days from September 18 to November 1, 2026. The main venue in Icheon is the Korea Ceramic Foundation, 263 Gyeongchung-daero 2697beon-gil, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do. The regular advance-purchase price for an individual Icheon ticket is 3,500 won, while the regular price is 6,000 won; the regular advance-purchase price for an integrated ticket is 7,000 won. Advance tickets can be purchased through Naver Booking and Ticketlink, but whether on-site purchases will be available in 2026 and whether advance booking will be mandatory have not been confirmed. Unlike the 12th edition in 2024, which recorded approximately 278,000 visitors over 45 days, the 2026 event will connect Icheon, Gwangju, Yeoju, and various locations across Gyeonggi, with 28 teams and 65 participants from 14 countries featured in the main exhibition in Icheon.

Exploring Icheon, Gwangju, and Yeoju with 65 participants from 14 countries in 2026

The theme for 2026 is 《Earth Makes》. The main exhibition at the Gyeonggi Ceramic Museum in Icheon will feature 28 teams and 65 participants from 14 countries, exploring the relationship between clay and nature, technology, and art through exhibitions.

The 2026 special exhibition in Gwangju, 《Master Ceramic Artists of Our Time》, will display around 120 works, while 《Beautiful Korean Ceramics Competition》 will present 36 works. The Gwangju collection exhibition 《Our History Seen Through Ceramics》 will feature approximately 376 works. The Yeoju special exhibition 《Unfamiliar Tradition》 will consist of works by 5–6 artists, totaling approximately 60–100 pieces, and 《Beauty Is Eternal Joy》 will feature around 300 collection pieces.

The 2026 main exhibition is scheduled to be held at the Gyeonggi Ceramic Museum with 28 teams and 65 participants from 14 countries.

How to travel between the three cities

To reach the Icheon venue, take city buses 25-2, 25-3, 26-1, 20-31, 25-6, 25-11, 26-10, 29-4, or 211, and get off at Seolbongsan Entrance.

To reach the Gyeonggi Ceramic Museum in Gwangju, take buses 300, 1113-1, 500-1, or 114 toward Gwangju from Gonjiam Station, and get off at Gonjiam Ceramic Park. To reach the Gyeonggi Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art in Yeoju, take a bus from Yeoju Station or Yeoju Intercity Bus Terminal, get off at the Silleuksa Temple stop, and walk approximately 7 minutes.

Total travel times and the last bus or train times from Seoul and other major cities to each venue have not been provided in the 2026 information. The main Icheon venue can be visited from 10:00 to 18:00, with last admission at 17:00, so a day trip is possible if considering only time spent at the venue; however, you should check your return transportation separately before departing.

Exhibition and forum itinerary for September 19, 2026

The 1st Biennale Forum will be held in Icheon on September 19, 2026, and the 40th Seolbong Cultural Festival will take place at Icheon Ceraphia from the same day through September 20. If you want to combine exhibition visits with a local cultural program, this date offers a specific option.

Gyeonggi Craft Festa will be held in Yeoju from October 23 to November 1, 2026. The Cultural Heritage Administration’s 《Moonlight Kiln Valley》 in Gwangju will take place at Gonjiam Ceramic Park from September 24–26 and October 2–4, and the 2nd Biennale Forum will be held in Icheon on October 23.

The International Ceramic Workshop will operate for approximately 20 days between September 18 and November 1, 2026, while the Kids Biennale will be held on weekends and public holidays during the event period. Performances, performance art, and the International Ceramic Academic Conference are also included in the accompanying schedule, but their specific start times require separate confirmation.

The individual Icheon ticket costs 3,500 won with advance purchase and 6,000 won at the regular rate. Individual tickets for Gwangju and Yeoju cost 2,500 won with advance purchase and 4,000 won at the regular rate. Discounted advance-purchase prices are 2,000 won for Icheon and 1,500 won for Gwangju and Yeoju. Discount eligibility includes people aged 7–18, Culture Nuri Card holders, and Gyeonggi residents.

Four things to check first for a 2026 trip to Icheon

The published information does not confirm the parking lot locations and fees, whether temporary parking lots will operate, or the operating, cancellation, and refund policies for programs in rainy weather. Detailed start times for individual programs have also not yet been provided, so if you are planning to attend a forum or workshop, do not determine your arrival time based only on the date.

The Icheon route involves approximately 25 minutes of walking after getting off the bus, so travelers with strollers or wheelchairs should check detailed accessibility information for the facilities in advance. Whether discounts are available for people with disabilities has not been confirmed in the available 2026 information.

Whether English signs, brochures, or interpretation services will be provided in 2026 has not been announced, which may create additional preparation needs for travelers who require English information. Information about places accepting cards or mobile payments, venue restrooms and lockers, and food sales has also not been confirmed in the published materials. Before booking, check the official visitor information for detailed times and operating conditions, and confirm the last return transportation from the area you plan to visit among Icheon, Gwangju, and Yeoju before finalizing your itinerary.

Four frequently asked questions about the 2026 Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale

• Do I need to buy an integrated ticket even if I do not visit all three regions? — No. Separate tickets are available for Icheon, Gwangju, and Yeoju, with regular advance-purchase prices of 3,500 won and 2,500 won, respectively.
• What can I see besides exhibitions if I visit Icheon on September 19, 2026? — The 1st Biennale Forum and the 40th Seolbong Cultural Festival will both be held in Icheon on the same day.
• Does the Kids Biennale operate on weekdays as well? — It is scheduled to operate on weekends and public holidays during the 2026 event period.
• Does the International Ceramic Workshop run all 45 days? — It is scheduled to operate for approximately 20 days during the event period, so it will not run throughout all 45 days.