Andong Mask Dance Festival 2026

The Andong International Mask Dance Festival is one of South Korea’s oldest and most respected traditional performing arts events. Running for 10 days from late September into early October, it draws both domestic and international visitors to the city of Andong in North Gyeongsang Province. The festival centres on the Hahoe Byeolsingut Talnori, a mask dance tradition recognised by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

What the festival is about

Mask dances (talchum) were historically performed by commoners to satirise the ruling yangban class, Buddhist clergy and corrupt officials. The masks themselves - carved from alder wood and painted in distinctive expressions - represent a range of characters from the pompous aristocrat to the wandering monk. At the Andong festival, you will see not just Hahoe-style performances but also mask dance traditions from across Korea and invited international troupes, making this a genuine cultural exchange rather than a single-style showcase.

The main performance venue sits near the Nakdong River. Daytime shows run in the open-air stage area, while evening performances gain added atmosphere with torchlit staging. Expect pyrotechnic finale sequences on select nights.

What to expect on the ground

Beyond the headline performances, the festival grounds host folk games, craft demonstrations, mask-making workshops and traditional food stalls selling Andong jjimdak (braised chicken), soju and Andong sikhye (a fermented rice drink specific to this region). Visiting the nearby Hahoe Folk Village - a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 25 km from central Andong - pairs naturally with the festival and shows the living architectural context from which the mask tradition emerged.

Free outdoor performances run across the festival grounds throughout the day. Evening main-stage shows typically require a ticketed seat; prices have historically ranged from around 10,000 to 30,000 KRW depending on the performance tier. Check the official site at maskdance.com for 2026 ticketing details closer to the event.

Getting there and practical tips

Andong is approximately 2.5 hours from Seoul by KTX to Andong Station (the Gyeongbuk line). City buses and taxis connect the station to the festival grounds; the journey takes around 15 minutes. If you are coming from Busan, intercity buses run regularly and take about 1 hour 40 minutes.

The festival runs through the end of September and into early October, when temperatures in Andong are mild and generally dry. Layers are sensible for evening performances, which can turn cool once the sun drops. Arrive early for evening shows as parking and shuttle access gets congested from around 5 pm. Weekdays are noticeably less crowded than weekends.

For anyone planning a wider trip through North Gyeongsang Province, the festival sits well alongside visits to Gyeongju and the surrounding historical sites. See our practical travel guide for transport options across the region.