[Provided by Gyeongsan City]
[Provided by Gyeongsan City]

Gyeongsan, a city in North Gyeongsang Province, will hold the 2026 Gyeongsan Jain Dano Festival — a nationally designated intangible cultural heritage event — for three days from June 19 to 21 at Gyejeong Forest in Jain-myeon, the city announced Wednesday.

This year's festival carries the theme "Embracing Citizens, Connecting the World, Opening the Future."

A preview performance titled "Dano Promotional Concert" will open the festivities on June 13 at the outdoor stage along Namcheon Riverbank, featuring a hojang procession and traditional arts performances.

On opening day, the program begins with the Han General Grand Rite and an opening ceremony, followed by five nationally designated intangible heritage performances: the hojang procession, Jain Dano gut shamanistic ritual, Yeowonmu dance and Jain Palgwangdae mask dance.

A VR drawing performance and a special appearance by the performing arts troupe from Thailand's Silpakorn University will also take the stage, underscoring the festival's aim to bridge tradition and the future, and the local with the global.

The second day features a random play dance event, a national gugak competition, a historic house concert and a community music concert. A Gyeongsan citizens' talent show and hands-on booths showcasing Dano cultures from around the world will give residents and tourists additional ways to take part.

The final day brings representative traditional performing arts from across the country — including Busan Jwasuyeong Eobang Nori, Gwangyang Beokku Nori and Tongyeong Ogwangdae — as well as a nostalgic live radio show, a children's Silla tea ceremony demonstration and an LED dance performance.

A closing celebration concert and laser show will bring the three-day festival to a grand finale.

To promote the festival, Gyeongsan will participate in "Dano, Becoming One in Insadong," an event held at Nam Insa Madang in Seoul's Insadong neighborhood starting at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 6.

"The 2026 Gyeongsan Jain Dano Festival is being prepared as a representative traditional cultural festival of Korea — one that carries forward a millennium of heritage while connecting citizens, the world and the future," a city official said. "We hope many residents and tourists will visit Gyejeong Forest and enjoy the special charm of Dano together."


kbj7653@heraldcorp.com