City of Mask Dance Returns: 2026 Andong International Mask Dance Festival Opens Sept. 24

Andong in North Gyeongsang Province will be filled with masks and dances from around the world starting next week. According to the organizing committee of the Andong International Mask Dance Festival, the 2026 edition runs for 11 days from Thursday, September 24 to Sunday, October 4, across the Mask Dance Park, the old downtown, and Hahoe Village. The opening ceremony is on September 25, with 28

Andong in North Gyeongsang Province will be filled with masks and dances from around the world starting next week. According to the organizing committee of the Andong International Mask Dance Festival, the 2026 edition runs for 11 days from Thursday, September 24 to Sunday, October 4, across the Mask Dance Park, the old downtown, and Hahoe Village. The opening ceremony is on September 25, with 28 overseas troupes from 24 countries performing traditional mask dances and mask plays. Centered on Hahoe Byeolsingut Talnori, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, the festival lets visitors compare mask traditions from across the globe in one place. Because stories unfold through gesture and mask expression rather than spoken dialogue, there is no language barrier to following the performances — making it especially accessible for first-time visitors to Korea. Hahoe Village, the festival's ma

in venue, is about 20-30 minutes by car from downtown Andong, and extra city and shuttle buses will run during the festival period. Travelers should check the official Andong International Mask Dance Festival website (maskdance.com) in advance for the exact performance schedule, which sections are free or paid, and shuttle times. With this information in hand, travelers can combine a Hahoe Village visit with a mask dance performance into one day trip on the weekend just before Chuseok, enjoying a rich autumn experience without needing an interpreter or guide. Korea Tourism Times Editorial Desk