June 15, 2026 – June 22, 2026

Korea's most historically significant traditional festival, designated UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2005. Held along the Namdaecheon stream in Gangneung during the lunar Dano holiday, the festival features the Gwanno Mask Dance drama, ritual shamanic ceremonies, traditional wrestling (ssireum), and Korea's largest open-air traditional market. Over 1,000 years of unbroken tradition.

A Thousand Years of Tradition

Gangneung Danoje is one of Korea’s most ancient and continuously observed festivals, celebrated during the lunar Dano holiday (the fifth day of the fifth lunar month) since at least the 10th century. In 2005, UNESCO inscribed it on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity — one of only a handful of Korean festivals to receive this designation.

What Happens During the Festival

The centerpiece is the Gwanno Mask Dance Drama — a satirical, comedic performance with seven masked characters that mocks corrupt officials and Confucian hypocrisy. No Korean language skill is needed to follow the physical comedy. The festival also includes elaborate shamanic rituals (gut), traditional wrestling competitions (ssireum), swinging contests, and the brewing of soju from fermented iris flowers. The open-air traditional market (nanjang) is Korea’s largest, with hundreds of vendors selling street food, crafts, and folk goods.

Unique Customs to Try

Washing your hair in water boiled with sweet flag iris (changpo) is the quintessential Dano custom — believed to bring health and ward off evil. Several stations along the festival grounds offer this experience. Visitors can also try making rice cakes and participate in the swing competition.

Getting to Gangneung

Gangneung is approximately 2 hours from Seoul via KTX from Cheongnyangni Station or Cheongnyangni KTX Station. The festival grounds at Namdaecheon stream are a 15-minute taxi ride from Gangneung Station. Book KTX tickets in advance — Gangneung trains fill up quickly during summer weekends.