The 2026 Seoul International Buddhism Expo (BEXPO2026), and accompanying International Seon Meditation Conference, will be held in April, the Jogye Order has announced. The expo will offer a unique window into South Korea’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage with an underlying theme that aims to explore the foundational Buddhist concept of emptiness, as expressed in the Heart Sutra. This year marks the 14th edition of the annual Buddhist event.

Organized by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, Korea’s largest Buddhist order, with support from South Korea’s Buddhist Newspaper, the expo will be held from 2–5 April at the COEX convention and exhibition center and neighboring Bongeunsa Temple in Seoul’s bustling Gangnam District.

“We expect this year’s Seoul International Buddhism Expo to go beyond being a ‘hot’ expo to become a ‘so hot’ one,” the head of the Jogye Order’s cultural affairs department, Venerable Seongwon, said at a press briefing held on 25 March at the Korean Buddhist History and Culture Memorial Hall in downtown Seoul. “Public interest in Buddhist culture has expanded significantly over the past few years.” (Seoul Economic Daily)

Since its launch in 2013, the expo has become a cornerstone event in the nation’s cultural calendar, serving as an opportunity to explore the impact of Buddhism on Korean art, philosophy, and daily life, and to engage with contemporary manifestations of the Buddhist teachings.

“Last year, 200,000 visitors attended, with 77.6 per cent being [millennials and Gen Z], and 52.1 per cent of attendees identifying as having no religious affiliation,” the organizing committee stated at Wednesday’s press conference. (The Chosun Daily)

As of 25 April, 52,000 people had pre-registered for the event, compared with 45,000 pre-registrations in 2025. The Jogye Order said they anticipated 250,000 total attendees.

Through 435 booths, the expo will focus on offering exposure to Buddhist practice and culture through experiential programs, including opportunities to engage in face-to-face dialogues with Buddhist monks. The expo’s inclusive environment welcomes people from all walks of life to learn, participate, and soak in the profundity of Korean Buddhist traditions. 

“Inspired by the fact that the Korean pronunciation of “gong” (emptiness), a core Buddhist concept, and “gong” (ball) are the same, all attendees will receive a ball. Inside the balls, there are notes similar to ‘fortune cookies,’ including tickets for meetings with monks,” The Chosun Daily newspaper reported. (The Chosun Daily)

Lucky attendees may also receive balls signed by the Jogye Order’s head monk Ven. Jinwoo, other monks, celebrities, and celebrity snowboarders Kim Sang-kyum and Yu Seung-eun.

Other highlights include exhibitions of products related to daily meditation and practice culture, traditional and modern Buddhism-inspired crafts, intricate sculptures and paintings and other Buddhist artworks, a meditation zone for in hands-on experience; as well as Dharma Talks, performances of traditional music and dance, and temple food and monastic cuisine demonstrations.

“This expo was prepared with the goal of going beyond a humble exhibition to become an open playground where Buddhism engages with the world,” emphasized Ven. Wonheo, president of expo co-organizer Buddhist Newspaper. “We will reinterpret Buddhism through modern language and content while maintaining the depth of tradition, creating points of contact with the younger generation.” (Seoul Economic Daily)

The historic Bongeunsa Temple will host a “Heart Sutra Gong [emptiness] Party” featuring the philosophy expressed in the Heart Sutra reinterpreted through modern music genres such as hip-hop and EDM.

“We will make every effort to help the public experience and participate in Buddhist philosophy more easily,” said Ven. Seongwon said. “We will spare no attention and support to ensure that traditional culture gains industrial competitiveness and expands into a global expo.” (Seoul Economic Daily)

Running in parallel with the expo, Bongeunsa will host the Seoul Meditation Summit from 3–5 April. This year’s theme is “Seon Meditation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”

Forty-one unique programs have been organized with the temple grounds, including authentic Seon (Zen) meditation sessions with Jogye monks, a “Walking Meditation with Companion Dogs” program, and a presentation on “AI Era, Why Seon Meditation?” by the Meditation Science Research Institute of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).

“Last year, the Buddhist Expo, the nation’s only comprehensive traditional cultural industry expo, greatly appealed to the sensibilities of the MZ generation with its Buddhist cultural content, sparking trends among them,” observed Ven. Jinwoo, the president of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, speaking at the Jogye Order’s annual New Year Press Conference in January. 

“This year, we plan to expand all Buddhist expos, including those held regionally in Daegu and Busan. We plan to elevate them into global Buddhist events that showcase the excellence of Buddhist culture, creating a platform for exchanges and generational integration across the world’s Buddhist cultural spheres, extending beyond Asia.” (Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism)

According to survey data from 2024, the majority of South Korea’s population—51 per cent—holds no religious affiliation. Christians make up the largest religious segment of the population at 31 per cent, while Buddhists account for 17 per cent. Buddhism is reported to be the fastest-growing religion in South Korea in recent years, amid growth in interest among young people.

See more

2026 Seoul International Buddhism Expo
Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism
2026 Seoul International Buddhist Expo Admission Tickets (KKday)
Buddhism Expo Blends Play, Meditation for MZ Generation (The Chosun Daily)
Buddhist Expo Aims to Be ‘Open Playground’ for Engaging the World (Seoul Economic Daily)

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