- A tea-ritual ceremony honoring 70,000 patriots who sacrificed their lives during the Imjin and Gyesa years, marking the start of the festival.

- Route: Music Fountain → Gongbukmun Gate → Jinju Bridge → Mangyeong-dong Historic Street

- The ceremonial first lighting of all festival lanterns.

- A spectacle narrating Jinju’s history and its ascent as an aerospace hub.

- A water-based fireworks display over the Namgang river.

- Follow a soldier’s day; welcome messages and meet festival mascots.

- National Intangible Cultural Heritage “Jinju Geommu,” expressing the grandeur and beauty of Korean traditional art in light.

- Clusters of traditional boats (including yellow-sail boats) evoke the river’s mood and contemplative time.

- Sponsor-symbol lanterns emphasizing cooperation for the festival’s sustainable growth.

- A juxtaposition of future science and modern history, visualizing the passage of time and technological progress.

- Messages for a sustainable future — sustainability themes including ESG, climate change, and endangered species.

- Lives of Joseon-era figures reimagined for today—an upbeat encounter of past and present.

- Peace and hope messages from global artists, sharing universal values.

- Community-made lanterns and works from lantern craft studios supported by the cultural city program.

- Honoring King Sejong’s achievements and the spirit of creating Hangul.

- Classic Korean lantern aesthetics in harmony with K-classical motifs.

- A futuristic space-themed production.

- Beauty & excellence of Hangeul (Theme Zone) - An exhibit that showcases the value of Hangeul through creative design. - “JOY Hangeul Day” lanterns using Hangeul typography.

- Power of Korea — Theme Zone - Highlights: theme tower lantern, Wishing Tree, giant pine, “WOW” photo spot - Main zone: this year’s sub-theme “Power of Korea” is shown as a tower lantern

- An exhibit that sparks children’s curiosity and nurtures dreams using story elements such as Minecraft, the Darth Vader legion, and Aesop’s Fables.

- Follow a soldier’s day; welcome messages and meet festival mascots.

- Lanterns portraying life passages and rites with Korean motifs like pomegranate and bamboo clusters.An exhibit where you can feel leisurely time unfolding along the serene old fortress.

-A youthful space where trendy music meets light.

-An exhibit with a cozy, friendly atmosphere that the whole family can enjoy, greeted by a herd of dinosaurs.

- “Making Precious Family Memories” with lucky-symbol photo spots. - An exhibition that creates a photo-friendly zone with luck-symbolizing lanterns, offering special moments.

- Creative lanterns crafted by students of all levels.

- Lanterns embodying each locality’s character and history.