[Gangneung] The “Millennium Festival,” the 2026 Gangneung Dano Festival, came to a close on the 22nd after an exciting eight-day run.

Despite inclement weather, this year’s Gangneung Dano Festival attracted over 1.1 million visitors, once again proving itself to be South Korea’s premier traditional festival in both name and reality.

The Dano Festival team achieved a “sold-out” milestone, drawing crowds of visitors seeking solace and healing from the stresses of daily life through lively traditional rituals. Over 50,000 visitors came to the “Dano Theme Pavilion” over the eight days, and approximately 70,000 people visited the “Dano Experience Village.”

The “Changpo Water Battle,” making its debut, reinterpreted the traditional custom of splashing water with changpo leaves as a modern group water play activity. Known as the “Dano Water Beam,” it emerged as the festival’s biggest hit. The “Memories of Dano” area, which featured a significantly expanded festival space, rapidly emerged as a “hotspot” most frequented by young people and families, thanks to its participatory programs designed to be accessible to everyone, regardless of age or gender.

Furthermore, the Gangneung Dano Festival promotional video surpassed 920,000 views without any separate advertising budget. Combined with aggressive marketing efforts—including the renewal of the foreign-language website, outreach campaigns, and nationwide advertising—the festival grounds were filled with international tourists of various nationalities.

Furthermore, the diverse performances presented by overseas art troupes from five countries—including China (Xingzhou City and Jiaxing City), Japan, Mongolia, the Philippines, and Thailand—further solidified the Gangneung Dano Festival’s status as a global festival.

Despite strong winds and heavy rain over the weekend, the festival concluded without a single safety incident, thanks to the seamless cooperation and swift response of relevant organizations, including the Gangneung Dano Festival Committee, the Gangneung Dano Festival Preservation Society, and Gangneung City.

Crowd density was perfectly managed through real-time crowd counting and monitoring via unmanned counters, and convenience for tourists was maximized by providing real-time location information and performance/program guides via QR codes. In particular, the “Gangneung Dano Festival Mobile Game,” which incorporated augmented reality (AR) technology, received an overwhelmingly positive response from younger audiences.

Another notable initiative was the designation of 71 local shops as “Dano Welcome Shops,” which offered tailored events and amenities during the festival. A linked “Welcome Stamp Rally” was also held, naturally drawing tourists into the local alleyway shopping districts.

Kim Dong-chan, Chairman of the Gangneung Dano Festival Committee, said, “Despite the major challenge of deteriorating weather conditions, the festival was able to conclude safely and successfully thanks to the enthusiastic support of 1.1 million visitors and their mature civic-mindedness,” adding, “I hope this festival served as a time of warm healing and relaxation for everyone weary from their daily lives.”