Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale 2026: Seoul day trip

The Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale 2026 is in its last weeks. It runs until Sunday, November 1, across three museums in Icheon, Gwangju and Yeoju in Gyeonggi Province. Every venue is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:00. An All Pass for all three is 11,000 KRW, or 7,000 KRW if you book ahead.

You do not need to see all three. One venue makes a good day out of Seoul.

What it is

The biennale is organized by Gyeonggi Province and the Korea Ceramic Foundation. This year’s theme is Earth Makes, curated by artistic director Daehyung Lee. The idea is that clay is not just a material shaped by hands but a partner that responds through heat, gravity and chemistry.

Each city has a different show, so pick by what you want to see.

Icheon: contemporary ceramics

The main exhibition, Earth Makes, is at the Gyeonggi Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art. It brings together 67 artists in 28 teams from 14 countries, in three chapters: Made from Earth, Made by Earth and Made in Earth. A section called Focus Australia connects Australian land, First Nations communities and ceramic traditions.

Icheon also hosts the 13th International Competition. This year 1,050 artists from 77 countries entered 1,397 works, and 58 made the final show. The grand prize went to Punch Card House by German artist David Lauer.

If you only have one day and like contemporary art, this is the one.

Gwangju: the masters

The Gyeonggi Ceramic Museum at Gonjiam Ceramic Park shows Ceramic Masters of Our Time, with work by 64 masters, including Korea’s national master craftsmen. The 7th Beautiful Korean Ceramics competition shows 37 selected works, and a collection exhibition traces Korean ceramics from the Goryeo dynasty to the modern era.

Families should note the Kids Biennale around the museum’s ClayPlay education room, where children can get their hands in clay. From Seoul, buses run straight to the Gonjiam Ceramic Park stop.

Yeoju: tradition, seen differently

The Gyeonggi Museum of Ceramic Design hosts Unfamiliar Tradition. Instead of the celadon and white porcelain most people picture, it looks at earthenware, black-glazed ware, onggi and iron-painted buncheong, with 94 works by six artists. A second show draws on more than 300 pieces from the museum’s collection to show how bowls changed in shape and use over time.

Tickets

Ticket	General	Booked ahead
All Pass (3 venues)	11,000 KRW	7,000 KRW
Icheon only	6,000 KRW	3,500 KRW
Gwangju or Yeoju only	4,000 KRW	2,500 KRW

General prices are for ages 19 to 64. Ages 7 to 18 and some other groups pay a discounted rate, and children 6 and under and visitors 65 and over get in free. The official site lists Naver Reservation and Ticket Link for booking.

Getting there from Seoul

Gwangju (Gyeonggi Ceramic Museum, Gonjiam Ceramic Park): bus 500-1 from Jamsil Station, 1113-1 from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal, or 500-2 from Nambu Bus Terminal, and get off at Gonjiam Ceramic Park. By subway, take the Gyeonggang Line to Gonjiam Station and change to bus 300, 1113-1, 500-1 or 114.

Icheon (Gyeonggi Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art): take the Gyeonggang Line to Icheon Station, then a local bus (29-40, 28-5, 20-3, 25-1, 28-8 or 20-1) to Seolbongsan Entrance. From there it is about a 25 minute walk.

Yeoju (Gyeonggi Museum of Ceramic Design): take the Gyeonggang Line to Yeoju Station, exit 1, then a local bus such as 981 or 175 to Silleuksa Temple. The museum is about 7 minutes on foot.

The official visitor page has map links for Google Maps, Naver Map and KakaoMap for each venue.

Before you go

For data, an eSIM is the easy answer. Superalink is a Korean eSIM company; set it up before you travel and it works the moment you land. Superalink has a 20% discount for Every Ticket readers.

Five apps run a Korea trip: NAVER Map, Konest, Kakao T, WOWPASS and Papago. Every Ticket, the app I am building, is the sixth. Five to run the trip, one to keep it. When you reach the museum a pin drops on its own and the day’s route is recorded. Photograph your ticket once and it goes onto the day’s card. Recording runs in the background without draining your battery, and the card is built on your phone, not on a server.

Dates, hours and ticket prices can change. Check the official Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale site before you go.

FAQ

When is the Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale 2026?

September 18 to November 1, 2026, open every day from 10:00 to 18:00. Last entry is at 17:00.

Where is it held?

At three museums in Gyeonggi Province. The Gyeonggi Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art in Icheon has the main exhibition, the Gyeonggi Ceramic Museum in Gwangju (Gonjiam Ceramic Park) has the ceramic masters show, and the Gyeonggi Museum of Ceramic Design in Yeoju has the Unfamiliar Tradition show.

How much are tickets?

The All Pass for all three venues is 11,000 KRW for ages 19 to 64, or 7,000 KRW booked ahead. A single venue ticket is 6,000 KRW in Icheon and 4,000 KRW in Gwangju or Yeoju. Children 6 and under and visitors 65 and over get in free.

Where do I book?

The official site lists Naver Reservation and Ticket Link.

Can I get there from Seoul without a car?

Yes. For Gwangju, bus 500-1 from Jamsil Station, 1113-1 from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal and 500-2 from Nambu Bus Terminal stop at Gonjiam Ceramic Park. Icheon and Yeoju are on the Gyeonggang Line, then a local bus.