Gaya Theme Park Light Festival: Voyage Toward the Light

The 3rd Gimhae Light Festival, “Voyage Toward the Light,” will be held from August 14 to August 23, 2026, at 161 Gayathema-gil (Eobang-dong), Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, with admission priced at 2,000 won per person. As the August 13, 2026 final update does not mention whether advance reservations or ticket purchases are required or where to purchase them, visitors should confirm this before visiting by calling 055-340-7900~1. This year, the sea route taken by Queen Heo from Ayuta Kingdom in India to Gaya is interpreted through “departure, voyage, and encounter with Gaya,” but publicly available materials do not provide figures for comparison with the previous edition’s venue, fees, or scale.

The 3rd “Voyage Toward the Light” connects Queen Heo’s sea route through nine scenes

The 3rd festival in 2026 recreates with light the sea route taken by Queen Heo 2,000 years ago from Ayuta Kingdom in India to Gaya. The story unfolds in the order of departure, voyage, and encounter with Gaya, with visitors passing through light sculptures, illuminations, media art, and photo zones.

The official 2026 content list consists of nine scenes: Sea of Light, Light Rangoli, Waves in the Sky, Gaya’s Flash, Lanterns of Light, Constellation of Light, Rangoli Road, Light Hongsalmun Gate, and End of the Voyage. Rather than simply viewing lighting in one place, visitors follow named light sections in sequence and read the narrative of the voyage.

An evening route beginning at 5:20 p.m. at 161 Gayathema-gil

The event venue is located at 161 Gayathema-gil (Eobang-dong), Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do. Enter Gayathema-gil 161 in a map app; detailed public transportation routes and whether temporary shuttles will operate during the festival have not been confirmed.

The 2026 festival operates daily without a closing day from 5:20 p.m. to 10 p.m., with admission closing at 9 p.m. If the parking lot is full, vehicle access may be restricted. On-site traffic and parking information will be announced through the official social media channels and website of Gaya Theme Park.

Although operations end at 10 p.m., information about the nearest station or terminal, walking distance to the venue, and the last transportation services home has not been released. Therefore, public-transportation travelers should not assume that a same-day trip is feasible and should decide only after checking their return transportation.

Choosing between approximately 3,000 fireworks and 3,000-won coffee on August 15

The opening event on August 15, 2026, includes Ogomu, a K-pop drone performance, and a multimedia fireworks show featuring approximately 3,000 fireworks. In front of Suro Performance Hall, the “Melody Flowing Along the Light” night stage will be held as a free concert for citizens, while in front of Gaya Royal Palace, “Moonlight Traditional Korean Music Walk,” featuring daegeum, gayageum, and gosu performances, will take place.

On weekends and public holidays in 2026, a local food zone, an art market featuring creators from the Gimhae area, and outdoor jazz, fusion traditional Korean music, and acoustic performances will be added. At the Gakkum Art Market, visitors can browse local Gimhae specialties, while the food zone will feature bakeries and cafés from Gimhae, dishes made with Gimhae ingredients, and food trucks.

According to the publicly announced 2026 prices, Dutch coffee and hazelnut coffee each cost 3,000 won, while Earl Grey milk tea and matcha milk tea each cost 4,000 won. Garlic baguettes cost 3,000 won, Oreo chewy cookies cost 4,000 won, Dubai chewy cookies cost 5,000 won, and a Gimhae dwaetgogi baguette burger and drink set costs 12,000 won.

Grilled dwaetgogi and dwaetgogi pork gangjeong each cost 13,000 won, the Gimhae Specialty Party Pack costs 22,000 won, dwaetgogi kimchi-rolled noodles cost 11,000 won, and wild raspberry tteokbokki costs 12,000 won. These are reference prices listed in the 2026 information and may differ on-site; payment methods such as cards, cash, and mobile payment have not been confirmed.

Restrictions to check before returning home from Gaya Theme Park at 10 p.m.

The precise starting times of individual performances were not separately provided in the overall information. Therefore, anyone visiting specifically for Ogomu, the fireworks show, the night stage, or the Moonlight Traditional Korean Music Walk should check the times again in the official announcements on the day.

Operating, cancellation, and refund policies in case of rain in 2026 have not been confirmed, and accessibility for wheelchairs and strollers has also not been disclosed. Because the available information makes it difficult to assess cleanliness and detailed safety procedures, travelers who need to verify accessibility or facility information in advance may face gaps during the planning stage.

Whether English signs, English leaflets, or interpretation services are available has not been confirmed, so travelers who require English guidance should first decide whether they are comfortable focusing mainly on the visual sculptures. Those seeking a quiet visit should avoid the August 15 opening event and outdoor performances on weekends and public holidays. Travelers who cannot return home late should also consider the 10 p.m. closing time together with the unconfirmed last-service information.

Before departing, check the official social media channels and website for parking conditions, individual performance times, and rainy-weather operations. If no answer is available, call 055-340-7900~1 before traveling.

• What was included in the August 15 opening event? — It included Ogomu, a K-pop drone performance, and a multimedia fireworks show featuring approximately 3,000 fireworks.
• Which names should visitors look for along the light path? — The nine scenes are Sea of Light, Light Rangoli, Waves in the Sky, Gaya’s Flash, Lanterns of Light, Constellation of Light, Rangoli Road, Light Hongsalmun Gate, and End of the Voyage.
• Is the night stage free? — “Melody Flowing Along the Light” in front of Suro Performance Hall is introduced as a free concert for citizens, while admission to the event venue is 2,000 won per person.
• How much should visitors expect to pay to eat Gimhae food on-site? — Coffee is listed at 3,000 won, milk tea at 4,000 won, and a Gimhae dwaetgogi baguette burger and drink set at 12,000 won.