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Seoul International Buddhism Expo 2026 at COEX: Saturday review, queues, and crowds
The 2026 Seoul International Buddhism Expo at COEX is a genuinely worthwhile, surprisingly hip event — varied booths, high-quality goods at fair prices, and standout temple food — but the weekend crowds are exhausting. If you go, brace for the queues and you will have a great time.
Where and when it is
The expo takes place at COEX in Gangnam, Seoul, in Hall B1. The 2026 edition ran Thursday April 2 to Sunday April 5. We went on Saturday, and after seeing photos of the weekday crowds on Instagram we were already nervous — for good reason.
The queue and getting in
From the entrance, the lines wound in long, looping coils, and it was genuinely hard to even find where the queue began. We searched for the end with no luck and finally asked staff near the entrance, who pointed us to the back. People kept slipping into the middle of the line, and at first we stood in the wrong spot until the people behind us kindly explained we were standing in the center of the queue, not the tail. Honestly, there were nowhere near enough staff to manage a crowd this size. While waiting we even spotted drones overhead — possibly for crowd-safety monitoring.
Tickets
Admission was 10,000 won at the door. There is a QR-code banner in the queue: if you did not pre-book, you can scan it and buy your ticket while you wait, then receive a QR code to collect your entry wristband. Booking in advance gets you a 50% discount — we did not know, so we missed out. At entry you scan the QR, show it to a staff member handing out wristbands, and receive a wristband plus one coin for a gacha machine. (Heads up: the gacha goods can sell out — when we left a little after noon they were gone, with restock only after 1pm, so we just returned our coin.)
What to eat and buy
Once inside, the booths are everywhere — eye-catching, packed, and hard to get close to. The standout for me was the doenjang (fermented soybean paste): someone pushed a tasting spoon in front of my face and I tried it on autopilot — and it was wonderful, not salty, gently savory and nutty. It was made by a monk, and a small jar (a little over 1kg) was 15,000 won. My mum loved it too; it is great with onion or cucumber and made a lovely soybean stew.
There was also a vegan latte at 4,000 won with generous free samples — many people bought it to sip while browsing. Tea booths were everywhere, with seated tastings and full tea ceremonies; the flower teas were beautiful and aromatic. Naturally, ceramics followed the tea: lovely cups and even hand-finished bangjja brassware by a master craftsman. There was a serious section on temple cuisine (no meat and no pungent vegetables, yet hearty and healthy-looking), plus high-end woodcraft, vegan dog treats, quality meditation cushions (my companion bought one for 60,000 won — a fair on-site price, not yet sold online), and a hip black tee with a heavy-metal guitar-playing cat.
The vibe
This is where the expo surprised me. The booths are open, playful, and genuinely hip — young visitors were clearly having fun, and it shows how open Buddhism can be as a culture. Overall, prices were fair with almost no markup and the quality was high, which explains why the expo gets more popular every year.
Verdict
The 2026 Seoul International Buddhism Expo is a packed, rewarding event with plenty to see and buy. The one real letdown is the crowds, which made browsing genuinely tiring — if it returns next year, more staff to guide and direct visitors would make a big difference. Still, its popularity is easy to understand: substantial, varied, and fun. Just go in ready for the lines.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Seoul International Buddhism Expo held?
It is held at COEX in Gangnam, Seoul (Hall B1). The 2026 edition ran from Thursday April 2 to Sunday April 5.
How much is admission to the Buddhism Expo?
On-site tickets were 10,000 won. Booking in advance got you a 50% discount, so buy ahead if you can — there is a QR-code banner in the queue if you forgot.
Is the Buddhism Expo crowded on the weekend?
Very. On Saturday the entry line wound in long, confusing loops from the entrance, and the booths were so packed it was hard to get close. Go early or on a weekday if you can.
Is the Buddhism Expo worth visiting?
Yes. The booths are varied, prices are fair with almost no markup, and the product quality is high — from monk-made doenjang and vegan lattes to flower tea, ceramics, and meditation cushions. The crowds are the only real downside.