Andong International Mask Dance Festival

The moment you put on a mask, Andong's old downtown becomes one big stage

The Andong International Mask Dance Festival is an autumn festival where you can see Korea's mask dances, listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, together with mask dances from many countries around the world. Centered on Hahoe Byulsingut Talnori, its identity lies in the overlapping masks and dances of performance troupes from around the world. What I liked most was that this festival is not just a performance you watch from a stage. There are plenty of chances to jump in yourself, such as the Dae-dong Nanjang where the audience puts on masks and joins in, parades that fill the streets, and the World Mask Dance Competition. It is also quite large in scale; more than 1.48 million people visited the 2024 festival. That year, overseas troupes from 25 countries and 35 groups took part, presenting a wide variety of masks and mask dances.

The festival is held every year from late September to early October, for about 10 days. In 2025, it ran from September 26 to October 5. The venues are not in just one place; they are spread across "Jungang Line 1942 Andong Station" (the former Andong Station building), the old downtown, and the Mask Dance Park area. So rather than being a festival where you sit in one performance hall, it feels more like a festival where you walk through the city and come across stages here and there. The exact dates and program for 2026 are still being updated, so be sure to check the final schedule on the official page before visiting.

From Seoul to Andong, then to the festival site — a day in the life of a foreign traveler

Andong is a city you can reach from Seoul by taking the KTX-Eum. I traveled by train from Cheongnyangni Station to Andong Station, and since the old downtown stage during the festival is around the former Andong Station area, arriving by train felt like stepping straight into the festival atmosphere. The good thing is that you do not have to worry much about admission fees. The street parade and old downtown programs are set up so you can enjoy them naturally on the street, which makes this festival different from ones that you can only see by buying a ticket. That said, some paid performances or reserved seats may be available, so if there is a specific show you really want to see, it is safest to check the ticket information in advance.

Language-wise, you can relax a little. Mask dance performances rely more on gestures, rhythm, and facial expressions than on dialogue, so even if you do not understand Korean, the funny moments still come through. Since this is an international festival with performance troupes from all over the world, foreign visitors blend in naturally too. Food is where Andong really shines. In 2024, at the The Born Zone run by CEO Baek Jong-won, food made with local agricultural and specialty products, as well as dishes inspired by foods appearing in mask dance performances, was sold. Payments generally accept cards and mobile payments, but some stalls or booths only take cash, so I recommend keeping a little cash in your wallet.

The parade I met on the street, and the Dae-dong Nanjang where everyone jumps in together

The moment that made me laugh the most at this festival was the street parade. During the festival period, overseas performance troupes held street parades several times, allowing visitors to get up close to unusual masks, costumes, instruments, and dances. I kept raising my camera because I felt like the expressions and colors of masks were so different from country to country. On top of that, hands-on programs such as the Dae-dong Nanjang, where visitors put on masks and mingle, the World Mask Dance Competition, and activities like making masks and learning mask dances by following along, make you move before you even realize it. That is why it is great for everyone, from children to older adults, to enjoy together.

If you go knowing the background, the experience becomes even more moving. Hahoe Byulsingut Talnori, the root of this festival, was inscribed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2022. If you have time, it is also nice to continue on to Hahoe Village. The contrast between the lively festival in the city and the traditional mask performance in the village makes the day feel much richer.

What to bring so you do not make a wasted trip

The busiest time is on weekend afternoons. If you want to avoid crowds, it is better to go on a weekday or aim for evening performances instead of daytime ones. Since the stages are spread across the old downtown, Mask Dance Park, and the former Andong Station area, you will end up walking quite a bit in one day, so comfortable sneakers are a must. In late September to early October, Andong can be pleasantly warm during the day but quite chilly after sunset, so bringing a light outer layer will let you enjoy the evening performances without trouble.

• Comfortable shoes and a light outer layer — you will walk between multiple stages, and temperatures drop in the evening
• Small amount of cash — cards and mobile payments usually work, but some stalls only accept cash
• Wet wipes and a hand towel — useful when visiting food stalls
• Check the official schedule — the 2026 dates and program are still being updated, so it is safest to confirm before visiting

For changes or detailed operations, you can contact the festival office at 054-840-3400. One reason I recommend taking the train rather than driving is that the old downtown stage is right next to the former Andong Station, so if you come by train, you can enter the festival immediately without parking stress.

Recommended for these travelers

It is perfect for travelers looking for a festival that communicates through the body even when the language does not, and for people who want to experience Korean tradition not as a static exhibit but as something alive and moving. The moment you put on a mask, age and nationality become blurred, and you end up laughing in the same rhythm as strangers — I think that is the best souvenir you can bring back from Andong.