2026 Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale opens on 17th...45-day event held in Icheon, Gwangju and Yeoju

Gyeonggi Province and the Korea Ceramic Foundation will hold the opening ceremony of the '2026 Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale (GCB, Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale 2026)' at 7 p.m. on the 17th at the outdoor plaza of the Gyeonggi Ceramics Museum in Icheon, and will host the biennale for 45 days from the 18th through November 1st in Icheon, Gwangju, Yeoju and throughout Gyeonggi Province.

The Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale, in its 13th edition this year, is the nation's only 'biennale (biennial international art exhibition)' in the ceramic art field. This year's event will be held under the theme 'Earth Makes.'

The opening ceremony will be attended by approximately 1,000 people, including Governor Choo Mi-ae of Gyeonggi Province, participating artists from Korea and abroad, the Speaker of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly, National Assembly members, the Mayor of Icheon, officials from related organizations, and residents.

The opening ceremony motto is 'Bloom today the pulse of the earth and the time of clay.' The opening event will capture the vitality embraced by the earth, the process through which clay is made into ceramics, and the stories of those who continue this as art.

Following the opening performance by singer Ali, more than 100 artists participating in this biennale and students from Korea's Pottery High School will participate in an entrance procession. The participating artists will take the stage with their work and artist introduction videos to meet with the audience.

Following this will be award ceremonies for the international competition and domestic competition. David Lauer from Germany was selected as the winner of the international competition, and Woo Eun-ju was selected as the winner of the domestic competition, with Governor Choo Mi-ae of Gyeonggi Province presenting the awards.

A building exterior video (media facade) expressing this year's biennale theme 'Earth Makes' will also be unveiled. The video consists of four segments: 'Earth awakens,' 'Earth takes shape,' 'Earth shines,' and 'Earth makes,' visually demonstrating the process by which life is born from clay and is crafted into ceramics through the hands of artisans.

The main event will run for 45 days from the 18th through November 1st in Icheon, Gwangju, Yeoju and throughout Gyeonggi Province. Various exhibitions including thematic exhibitions, international competitions, special exhibitions, and collections exhibitions, as well as academic events such as international ceramic academic conferences and workshops, will be held.

A children's biennale, a traveling biennale, ceramic markets, and educational and experiential programs that allow visitors to directly participate will also be operated.

Admission tickets can be purchased through Naver Reservations, Ticketlink, and on-site. A general combined ticket costs 11,000 won, and 7,000 won when purchased in advance. Individual general tickets cost 6,000 won at the Icheon Gyeonggi Ceramics Museum, and 4,000 won each at the Gwangju Gyeonggi Ceramics Museum and Yeoju Gyeonggi Living Ceramics Museum, and 3,500 won and 2,500 won respectively when purchased in advance. For details on discounted and free admission categories and specific programs, please check the Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale or Korea Ceramic Foundation websites.