[Haslla Rhapsody], named after "Haslla," the ancient name of Gangneung, is an integrated performing arts stage that expresses the region's history and identity with a modern sensibility. Structured in a "rhapsody" format that freely combines music, dance, traditional Korean music (Gukak), and contemporary performance, it showcases another captivating charm of the festival.

This year, a total of nine teams will participate. On June 16, the second day of the Gangneung Danoje Festival, spectacular stages will be presented by The Best Kim Myung-hee Dance Troupe, Jeonggangi, Gangneung Blue Beach Ensemble, Flute Amor, and Gangneung Solhyang Silver Arts Troupe.

Let us fully enjoy the millennium-old Gangneung Danoje Festival through this stage, which breathes in unison with the audience, beautifully translating the vibrant energy of Dano into music and movement.

[Gukak Band Haerang] is a crossover fusion Gukak (traditional Korean music) band based in Gangneung that reinterprets our unique traditional arts with a modern sensibility, presenting a new paradigm for Korean traditional music.

Formed chiefly by talented young local artists representing the region, Haerang breaks away from the genre limitations and stereotypes of traditional music. The band engages in diverse creative activities to ensure the public can easily connect with and enjoy Gukak as a familiar part of their daily lives.

"The Millennium-Old Gangneung Danoje Festival, Awakened Once More as a Legendary [Legendary Space]!"

This performance is a creative work that reinterprets the essence of the Gangneung Danoje Festival—a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity—namely, Sinmyeong (vibrant excitement) and Nori (play), into a modern-day "K-Disco." Inspired by [Legendary Space], a legendary venue imbued with the burning passion of Gangneung's youth in the 1970s, it masterfully combines the nostalgia of that era with the infectious excitement of traditional music.

Based on the narratives of those days when top artists of the era, such as singer Jeon In-kwon, passed through this iconic space, it layers traditional folk songs like Baetnorae (Boating Song) and Arirang over funky disco rhythms. This creates a massive Nanjang (a grand, festive marketplace of celebration) where the audience transcends mere viewing to jump, dance, and enjoy themselves together.

We warmly invite you to this "Joseon-style nightclub" that will light up the nights of the Gangneung Danoje Festival with pure joy.

Founded in May 1992 as the first choir in the Gangwon Yeongdong region, the Gangneung Civic Chorale has fully dedicated itself to its mission as a professional municipal organization over the past 30 years, communicating deeply with citizens through high-quality performances. Having provided deep comfort and artistic inspiration to the citizens of Gangneung through music, the choir once again prepares a special stage to celebrate the Gangneung Danoje Festival, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The prelude to the performance will be adorned with G. Verdi's dynamic ‘Anvil Chorus’ and the splendid ‘Brindisi (The Drinking Song)’. In the following stage, friendly traditional Korean folk songs, such as ‘Nongbuga (Farmers' Song)’ and ‘Miryang Arirang’, will be reinterpreted through choral music to create a joyful festive gathering.

What is more, as a stage to honor the noble humanistic heritage of Gangneung, they will present ‘Yearning for Mother (Sachin)’ and ‘Dyeing with Garden Balsam Leaves’, which sublimate the poems of Shin Saimdang and Heo Nanseolheon into original choral pieces. By adding ‘Jangtaryeong (Song of the Marketplace)’, which condenses the humor and zest of the common people, the Gangneung Civic Chorale will fully display its wide repertoire and unique artistic world that encompasses both authentic classical music and Korean lyricism.

This stage will be conducted under the rich interpretation and leadership of Principal Conductor Park Jong-won, who took office in May 2025. The harmonious chords woven by the members will not only elevate the emotions of the audience but also breathe vibrant energy and deep emotion into the festival grounds.

[Dano Puppetry Troupe] is a professional puppetry company affiliated with the Gangneung Danoje Preservation Association, established to create diverse original performances utilizing the foundational cultural content of the Gangneung Danoje Festival. Since 2009, the troupe has adapted the traditional GwanNo Mask Dance Drama into a puppet show, allowing audiences of all ages to enjoy this rich heritage in a fun and accessible way.

is a creative reimagining of the traditional GwanNo Mask Dance Drama—Korea's only non-verbal mask drama centered on dance and gestures—reborn as a verbal puppet show infused with witty and humorous dialogue.

Thanks to the inclusion of spoken lines, the performance is easy to follow and delightfully entertaining for everyone. The stage is beautifully brought to life through the seamless collaboration of puppeteers manipulating string puppets, a dramatic narrator, and live musicians. True to its roots, faithfully follows the original character lineup and narrative progression of the traditional mask drama.

Gangneung Nongak: The Fastest and Most Spirited Rhythms of Korea
Designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 1985 and recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Gangneung Nongak is celebrated as one of South Korea’s eight most prestigious regional farmers’ music styles. It is a living testament to the communal spirit and rhythmic heritage of the nation.

The ensemble is a grand tapestry of sound and color, featuring the nonggi (village flag), the piercing suenap (double-reed wind instrument), and a powerful percussion core of gongs and drums (kkwaenggwari, jing, buk, and janggu). Performers wear traditional white robes adorned with vibrant red, blue, and yellow sashes, while the mudong (child dancers) appear in multi-colored costumes, creating a vivid visual spectacle.

What truly sets Gangneung Nongak apart from other regional styles is its technical structure and sheer velocity. It is unique in its clear distinction between the beopgo and sogo dancers and its incorporation of a large number of mudong. Known as the fastest nongak in Korea, its rhythms are simple yet incredibly rapid. The choreography is famously vigorous; performers often dance as if they are running, exuding a spirited and masculine energy that is both powerful and infectious.

During the Gangneung Danoje Festival, the Ari-madang stage at Namdaecheon Stream becomes the beating heart of the festivities. Every day, eight different village bands from the Gangneung area take turns performing, preserving the authentic original form of this thousand-year-old tradition. Performed by the local residents themselves, the dynamic beopgo plays and sogo dances provide visitors with a direct experience of the cheerful, explosive energy that is characteristic of the Yeongdong

It is a mask play that was performed during the period of 'Gangneung Danoje', a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and National Intangible Heritage. As a mask drama performed by GwanNo (slaves who belonged to government offices during the Joseon Dynasty), it conveyed stories through humor and satire even within social status constraints. It is Korea's only non-verbal traditional mask drama, expressed solely through dance and body gestures without dialogue.

The main characters are Yangban Gwangdae, Somae Gaksi, two Sisi Ttakttakis, and two Jangjamaris, and musicians who lead the mask drama also appear. It consists of a total of five acts: the first act features the appearance of Jangjamari to heighten the excitement of the performance; the second act is the love play between Yangban Gwangdae and Somae Gaksi; the third act shows Sisi Ttakttaki interfering with the two; and the fourth act brings a great commotion with Somae Gaksi's suicide scare. Finally, the fifth act is a scene of reconciliation between Yangban Gwangdae and Somae Gaksi, concluding as all characters and even the audience blend together to dance and harmonize. In Gangneung City, various groups learn the GwanNo Mask Dance Drama and continue its legacy, and every year at the Danoje Festival, a stage is provided for them to showcase their skills.

Let's enjoy the exciting performance together to see how the Eoullim Team's GwanNo Mask Dance Drama stage will unfold.

To celebrate the 2026 Gangneung Danoje Festival, the Gangneung Nongak Preservation Association, a National Intangible Heritage organization, is hosting the historic first 'Nongak Hanmadang' together with elementary school nongak troupes from transmission schools that carry on the legacy of tradition.

This performance, bringing together the young, vibrant spirits of the Gangneung region in one place for the very first time, will be a harmonious gathering that showcases the essence of our traditional rhythms cultivated by their tiny hands. The children's dynamic sangmo (ribboned hat) spinning and upbeat drumming, echoing amidst the vibrant energy of the Dano festival grounds, will deliver an unforgettable, moving experience to the audience. Furthermore, it is expected to truly showcase the essence of local culture to tourists visiting the festival.

We warmly invite you to come to this radiant festival scene that brightens the future of our local cultural heritage, and send your generous applause and encouragement to the pure passion of these children who love our tradition.

[Gangneung Minyeochong (Gangneung Branch of the Gangwon Federation of People's Artists)] is a representative artists' organization in the region, operating with about 10 associations including music, dance, literature, magic, modeling, and ocarina. It actively continues its artistic activities through major performance projects—including the Chuseok 'Gangneung Dalmaji (Moon Welcoming) Festival', 'Gangneung Folk Arts Festival', 'A Place Where Music Rests', 'Simgok Port Song Festival', and 'Uri-ot Jang (Our Clothes Market)'—as well as various large and small events hosted by each association.

The is a performance that Gangneung Minyeochong has presented every year in conjunction with the Gangneung Danoje Festival. Inspired by "Suri" from "Surinal," the pure Korean word for Dano, it was named to carry the meaning of "let us enjoy the Dano Festival together." Year after year, it has firmly established itself as a performance festival where both citizens and tourists visiting the Dano festival grounds can heal and enjoy themselves.

This year's is an integrated performance where dance, magic, and music harmoniously blend together. It will present a rich variety of sights and entertainment to the audience at the Dano festival grounds, featuring:

The spectacular group dance of The Best Kim Myung-hee Dance Troupe (Dance Association),

The mysterious yet witty magic show of Magician Choi Woo-hyun (Magic Association),

The sweet saxophone performance of Saxophonist Jang Yong-guk (Entertainment Artists Association),

And the exciting, vibrant stage of Singer Eom Hye-jin (Entertainment Artists Association).

The <Traditional Performing Arts Madang (Traditional Yeonhui Madang)>, which anchors the vibrant excitement of the Gangneung Danoje Festival, serves as a living arena for transmitting Nongak (traditional Korean farmers' music) where one can vividly experience Gangneung's deeply rooted community culture. Throughout the festival period, eight village nongak troupes from the Gangneung region take turns daily at the Namdaecheon Ari Madang to deliver exhilarating performances. Presented directly by local residents who preserve the original form of Gangneung Nongak—a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity—the dynamic Beopgo (small drum) play and Sogo (hand drum) dance infuse visitors at the Dano festival grounds with the upbeat and powerful energy unique to the Yeongdong region.

Designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Property (currently National Intangible Heritage) in 1985, Gangneung Nongak is counted among Korea's top eight nongak traditions, alongside Jinju Samcheonpo Nongak, Pyeongtaek Nongak, Iri Nongak, Imsil Pilbong Nongak, Gurye Nongak, Gimcheon Geumneung Bitnae Nongak, and Namwon Nongak.
Gangneung Nongak is composed of the Nonggi (farming flag), Swaenap (traditional oboe/nallari), Kkaenggwari (small gong), Jing (large gong), Buk (barrel drum), Janggu (hourglass drum), Sogo (hand drum), Beopgo (small drum), and Mudong (child dancers). The performers wear white pants and jackets adorned with sashes of three colors—red, blue, and yellow—while the mudong are dressed in multi-colored garments.
Unlike other nongak styles, Gangneung Nongak clearly distinguishes between the roles of beopgo and sogo, and features a large number of mudong. The brass rhythmic patterns (Soegarak) are simple yet exceptionally fast, making it recognized as the fastest nongak in the country. Since most of the dancing is performed at a running pace, it is remarkably brave, vigorous, and lively.
As one of the representative Yeongdong nongak styles passed down east of the Taebaek Mountains in Gangwon State, it is also referred to as "Nongsa-puri (Farming Ritual) Nongak" because it includes performances that mimic and reenact agricultural life. Focusing primarily on collective play, Gangneung Nongak plays a vital role in helping people forget the hardships of farming while fostering mutual harmony and village unity.

Just as in the traditional ways of praying for the peace and abundance of the village, we warmly invite you to feel the true essence of our traditional rhythms at the passionate scene of the Traditional Performing Arts Madang, where the audience and performers become one.

Dano class is a stage dedicated to local youths, who are the future leaders of the Danoje festival. This event aims to provide instrument recitals and presentation stages for young students enrolled in local arts, music, and physical education academies, with no restrictions on the performance format, which encompasses both music and dance.

Teams participating in 'Dano Class' are provided with a performance venue (The Performance Hall of the Gangneung Danoje Festival Transmission Education Center), full stage systems, and online/offline promotion free of charge, and participating students receive a certificate of participation. This project can be described as a "Dano DNA Verification Project," designed to help local youth realize their identity and feel a sense of pride as citizens of Gangneung through their experience on the Dano Class stage.

On June 16, you can enjoy sweet music and exciting stage performances by Sorikkol Music Academy, Schumann Music Academy, I Can You Can, Jade On Junior, and Gangho Taekwondo.

Donghae Mangsang Nongak is a village community nongak (traditional farmers' music) boasting a deep history of over 400 years, with its rhythms and performances passed down through generations remaining vividly alive to this day. Within the lineage of transmission starting with Sang쇠 (lead gong player) Yoo Sang-jun around the time of liberation and continuing through Choi Jong-ha, Sim Sang-gil, and Jeon Sun-yeong, the ancient melodies and performance styles have been preserved intact.

The nongak, which unfolds alongside various seasonal customs such as ‘Jilmeokgi Nori’, ‘Seondol-mari’, and ‘Hwaetbul (Torch) Nori’, heightens the excitement of the audience through the powerful march of the Jilkkonaegi rhythm, the rapid Oegarak (single stroke rhythm), and the dynamic organization of Beokgu (small drum) and Sogo (hand drum) players spinning their Sangmo (ribboned hats).

Furthermore, centering on the Seonangdang (shrine to the village deity) rituals, it preserves the tradition of Seonanggut Nongak which prays for the peace and prosperity of the village, shaping the unique musical color of Goeran Village. In particular, individualistic rhythms such as the ‘Jjeokjjeoki rhythm’, ‘Dancing Swae (Gong)’, and ‘Playing Swae’, along with lively dance movements, further highlight the unique charm of Donghae Mangsang Nongak.

In recognition of its tradition and artistry, it won the Presidential Award at the Korea Folk Arts Festival in 2007 and was designated as a Gangwon-do Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2017.

The Pangut (communal courtyard performance) of Donghae Mangsang Nongak proceeds in the following order: Gocheong-je (Seonanggut) – Jisin-balgki (Treading the Earth God) – Gimul Nori – Beokgu Nori – Mudong (Child Dancer) Nori – Sogo Nori – Combined Nori – Gase Nori – Jjeokjjeoki – Obang Nori – Yeoldubal (Twelve-yard Ribbon) Nori – Ttolttol-mari – Hwangdeokgut Nori.