2026 Dandandan Festival
Nov 26 – Nov 28, 2026 · Gangwon
Overview
Dandandan (端單團) combines Dan (端), meaning "foremost," Dan (單), meaning "only one," and Dan (團), meaning "our group," together meaning "our one and only foremost festival."
This festival was organized around Gangwon's traditional culture to give local artists opportunities for creative work, and to promote citizens' enjoyment of culture and boost tourism. At the 2026 Dandandan Festival, running for three days from November 26 to 28, visitors can enjoy a rich lineup of performances, including Seodo Band, winner of the 1st JTBC Pungryu Daejang; the Children's Traditional Performing Arts Festival, featuring children and teenagers from five daycare centers and institutions in Gangneung; four performing teams from Gangwon joining together, and the Yeongsanhong Concert, featuring Park Ae-ri, Poppin Hyun Joon, past winners of the Yeongsanhong Challenge, and local artists. A prize raffle event for visitors will also be held.
Why go
Dandandan is Gangneung's festival of traditional performing arts, built around Gangwon's local culture to showcase both established and up-and-coming performers. The 2026 edition runs three days and features Seodo Band (winner of the 1st JTBC Pungryu Daejang), a Children's Traditional Performing Arts Festival with young performers from five Gangneung institutions, four joint Gangwon performing teams, and a Yeongsanhong Concert with Park Ae-ri, Poppin Hyun Joon, and past Yeongsanhong Challenge winners.
Getting there from Seoul
Gangneung is reachable by KTX on the Gyeonggang Line from Seoul Station (or Cheongnyangni), with a journey of roughly two hours. Express or intercity buses also run from Seoul's bus terminals (such as Dong Seoul) to Gangneung Intercity Bus Terminal in a similar timeframe. The festival address in Noam-dong is a short taxi or local bus ride from either the KTX station or the bus terminal.
Tips
- Late November in Gangneung is cold and coastal, so pack warm layers and windproof outerwear.
- Book KTX tickets ahead of time, especially for a Thursday–Saturday weekend festival window.
- Don't miss the visitor prize raffle event held during the festival.
Best for: traditional performing arts fans, families, music lovers, culture travellers.
Other festivals in Gangwon
Gangwon
Gangneung Noodle Festival
Oct 15 – Oct 18, 2026
The Gangneung Noodle Festival is a leading food festival held in Gangneung, a city of noodles where noodle dishes such as jang-kalguksu, makguksu, jjamppong, and gamja-ongsimi-kalguksu are more beloved than in any other region. Through 2025, it was known and loved as the Gangneung Noodle Festival; for its 5th edition in 2026, the event has been renamed the Gangneung Guksu Festival — guksu being the native Korean word for noodles — to feel more familiar to the public and to reflect the region's character in a broader way. In 2026, it will run for four days from October 15 to October 18 along Wolhwa Street, featuring a food zone where visitors can taste Gangneung's various noodles, along with a wealth of related sights and activities, offering a chance to experience noodle flavors ranging from Gangneung's famous restaurants to hidden spots tucked away in back alleys. With a variety of hands-on experiences, exhibitions, competitions, cooking shows, and other activities, visitors can fully enjoy the golden autumn of 2026 right here on Wolhwa Street.
Gangwon
K-Drone Festival
Oct 19 – Oct 23, 2026
In connection with the 2026 Gangneung ITS World Congress, this event introduces government policies and major support programs for developing core drone technologies and fostering the drone industry, and promotes the achievements and future vision of the drone industry to the public through exhibitions.
Gangwon
Gangneung Coffee Festival
Oct 21 – Oct 25, 2026
The Gangneung Coffee Festival traces its roots to the everyday memories created around the coffee vending machines at Anmok Beach and to the café and roasting culture cultivated by local coffee artisans. Since it began in 2009, the festival has grown into a celebration of Gangneung’s distinct identity, connecting the city’s natural scenery, everyday culture, and local businesses. Residents, merchants, coffee professionals, and visitors come together to enjoy coffee and share stories about Gangneung through programs that bring together the humanities, arts, and local culture. A simple cup of coffee enjoyed by the sea has grown into a culture shared by the entire city. Today, the festival is a living cultural asset of the region, reflecting Gangneung’s history, the tastes of its people, and the pride of its community.
Reach travelers heading to Gangwon: sponsor this page.
Dates and programs can change. Check the official site before you go.