Andong International Mask Dance Festival, A Tradition Shaking Today's City

Andong is wearing a mask for ten days now. From street parades to the permanent performances in Hahoe Village, traditional mask dance is transforming the entire city into a stage. The area around Andong Station, the old downtown, Mask Dance Park, and Hahoe Village are widely spread out, allowing the audience's movement to flow naturally and their stay to be prolonged. The bustling atmosphere of midday changes to a different rhythm with the evening lights, creating the vibe of this year's festival.

The 2025 Andong International Mask Dance Festival will be held from September 26 to October 5. The main stages are located around Andong Station on the Jungang Line 1942, the old downtown, Mask Dance Park, and Hahoe Village, and most programs can be enjoyed for free. However, some performances and experiences have paid seating available, so you can choose according to your preferences and schedule. English guidance is provided for first-time visitors and international audiences, making it easy to navigate.

The urban parade and the Daedong Nanjang are like the 'start' of the festival. In the procession leading from the station area to the old downtown, international teams and citizens mix naturally, and when music comes from over the shoulder, footsteps automatically head towards the stage. Thanks to the long stretches, there are plenty of moments to capture in photos or videos. City tourism guides and festival channels provide information on parades and street performances, ensuring that first-timers can enjoy without missing out.

The mask dance performances and the 'World Mask Play' competition, continuing from day to night, are the heart of the festival. If you're a first-time visitor, you can learn traditional movements and rhythms during a daytime performance, and at night, choose the main stage to experience the contrast of lights and heat. Domestic and international teams alternate on the same stage, showcasing a different breath each day. During this time, nearby shops and night markets also come alive, providing scenes throughout the city.

In Hahoe Village, permanent performances such as the Hahoe Byeolsin Gut Mask Play continue daily. The Seonyu Jullbul Nori, where lights flow over the river between Mansongjeong and Buyongdae, is a scene that can only be seen on specific nights, raising expectations. The long aftertaste created by the overlap of natural scenery and rituals allows for a complete story in one shot, even without a tripod. Checking the operating days and times before visiting can help reduce unnecessary trips.

If you're planning a day course, this is a reasonable itinerary. Start with the parade around Andong Station, briefly stop at street performances in the old downtown, and elevate the atmosphere at the main stage in Mask Dance Park in the evening. Then, move to Hahoe Village to watch the permanent performances and finish with a riverside walk, creating a simple yet pointed route. Referring to the festival's official page and tourism information makes it easy to estimate shuttle and walking times.

Check seating and usage information before departure. While free viewing is the norm, premium seats or advance reservations are available for popular performances. On busy days, securing seats to focus on the central stage is advantageous for managing stamina. The latest announcements are based on the official website and local tourism information.

If you're accompanying family or foreigners, actively utilize experiential programs and English guidance. Transitioning from merely watching to drawing, creating, and following dance movements brings tradition into everyday experiences. The context of the UNESCO-listed mask dance becomes easy to understand. Multilingual signs and guidance personnel are placed throughout, reducing the worry of getting lost.

This festival is a place to confirm tradition with a contemporary sense. The parade, competition, and experiences are linked in a single flow, allowing the temperature of the local commercial area, audience flow, and nighttime program operations to be seen at a glance. With clear schedules and stage compositions, and distributed photo points, the on-site report and practical guide naturally overlap. It is a festival that paints a clear 'picture' for visitors wanting to leave a record and for first-time travelers.

The period is from Friday, September 26, 2025, to Sunday, October 5, 2025, and the location is around Andong Station on the Jungang Line 1942, the old downtown, Mask Dance Park, and Hahoe Village. Most viewing is free, while some performances and experiences are operated for a fee. Specific programs, schedules, and seating information can be found on the Andong International Mask Dance Festival website and Andong City tourism information.

As the sun sets, the expressions of the masks change. In the night air, the mask dance becomes a play of today rather than a ritual of the past. There is enough reason to leave a space in the weekend schedule and fill that space with the rhythm of the city. This year, the devices that hand over tradition to today are well prepared everywhere, waiting for the moment to transition from a 'viewing festival' to a 'moving together festival.'

Information

Period: September 26, 2025 (Friday) ~ October 5, 2025 (Sunday)

Location: Around Andong Station, Old Downtown, Mask Dance Park, Hahoe Village

Viewing: Mostly free viewing, some paid seats and experiences available

Note: It is recommended to check the official Andong City and festival guides