The 2026 Yeosu World Archipelago Expo will open on the 5th and embark on a 61-day run.
The Yeosu World Archipelago Expo organizing committee said on the 3rd it will hold the opening ceremony at 10 a.m. on the 5th in front of the theme island at the main venue in the Dolsan Jinmo District.
This year's festival theme is "Islands, connecting the sea and the future." According to the organizing committee, about 5,000 people, including domestic and overseas visitors, are expected to attend the opening ceremony. Divided into four parts — "the flow of islands" (pre-ceremony), "the opening of islands" (official ceremony), "the narrative of islands" (thematic performance and ceremony), and "the expansion of islands" (celebratory performance) — the program will bring to the stage the journey of islands reaching out to the world.
In the thematic performance directed by musical maestro Park Myeong-seong, the original musical "Sinjikki: The Last Mermaid," inspired by the Yeosu mermaid legend "Sinjikki," will be presented.
After the opening ceremony, a lighting drone performance symbolizing Yeosu's 365 islands will fill the night sky. A series of celebratory performances by various singers, including Park Ji-hyun, KiiiKiii, and Jeon Yu-jin, will follow.
The scenery of the main venue that changes by time of day, from day to night, is another appeal of enjoying the archipelago expo. From the media facade on the theme island, the expo's landmark, to the island theme zone that offers the exotic mood of island nations around the world, to the open stage set against the backdrop of Yeosu's sea and islands, each space offers its own distinct charm.
The main venue's landmark, the "theme island," draws attention with a media facade using its massive outer wall. The visuals covering the exterior can be enjoyed clearly even in bright daylight. After sunset, the light and colors come alive, creating an atmosphere distinct from the daytime.
The "island theme zone," created to capture the characteristics and ambiance of various island nations, is also worth a close look. With exotic scenery such as Moai statues, visitors can feel as if they have traveled to an island abroad.
The "open stage" faces the sea. From the seats, the wide-open Yeosu sea and its many islands spread out behind the stage, and visitors can even see real fishing boats passing between them.
Ahead of the official opening, the organizing committee conducted a citizen-invited advance rehearsal to finalize checks of the venue and improved the viewing environment with a focus on on-site findings related to safety and convenience facilities. It will also operate 11 free shuttle bus routes during the event period and support mobility by linking them with 22 temporary parking lots secured across Yeosu, totaling 9,951 spaces.
The organizing committee said, "We hope you will experience the diverse charms of islands found throughout the expo grounds — not only the island stories in the exhibition halls, but also the media facade on the theme island, the island theme zone imbued with the ambiance of island nations, and the Yeosu sea and islands unfolding before your eyes."