Gangneung Danoje Festival
JuneGangwon
Gangneung Danoje is a UNESCO-listed Intangible Cultural Heritage festival that carries on a thousand-year tradition. It takes place every year at the Namdaecheon riverside venue in Gangneung, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, bringing together ancestral rites, shaman rituals and a lively open-air market. Admission is free, and it runs from 10:00 to 21:00.
When is it held?
Every year around mid-June. The exact dates change every year.
This year’s dates
Held 2026: Jun 15 ~ Jun 22 (ended). Check the official website for next year’s dates.
Before you go, check this year’s dates and fees on the official website.
What can you do there?
- Watch traditional performances like Danoje shaman rituals and the mask dance drama
- Wash your hair in iris water and paint a Danoje fan
- Taste suritok rice cake and traditional tea
- Try on Danoje clothes and make a Danoje badge
- Enjoy folk games such as swing, ssireum and tug-of-war
Tips for visitors from abroad
Getting there
From Seoul you can reach the Gangwon area by KTX, express bus or intercity bus. Once there, check public transit to the venue in a map app (Naver Map and KakaoMap are the most accurate in Korea).
Naver Map ↗ KakaoMap ↗ Google Maps ↗ Official website ↗
What to wear and bring
Summer festivals are hot and sunny. Bring a hat, sunscreen and water, plus spare clothes if there is water play.
This is general guidance. Check the official website for what to bring and how to enter each event.
Photos
Source: Korea Tourism Organization TourAPI. Dates may change. · Photo: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type3 · Shown unaltered.
Other festivals in the same month
Frequently asked questions
When is Gangneung Danoje Festival held?
Every year around mid-June. The exact dates change every year. This year’s dates have not been announced yet.
How do I get to Gangneung Danoje Festival?
From Seoul, take KTX, an express bus or an intercity bus toward Gangwon, then check public transit to the venue in a map app.
Is Gangneung Danoje Festival free?
The official overview does not list admission. Please check the official website.
Places to visit near this festival in Gangwon
Top attractions close to the event site. Add them to the same day trip.
Source: Korea Tourism Organization TourAPI. Dates may change.