As the leading North Korea travel specialists, Koryo Tours are the first to get updates on the latest Mass Games news.

Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and sign up to our mailing list for the most up to date information on the Mass Games 2019.

- How can I see the Mass Games?

Sign up for one of our Mass Games groups tours between June and October 2019 to see the Mass Games. We can also arrange private tours for small groups.

- I want to book one of your tours, but it says ‘Tour Full’ — how can I join this tour?

The capacity of certain tours over this period are limited by the number of seats available on the planes and trains scheduled to enter North Korea during this time. Once those methods of getting to Pyongyang have gone it's impossible to add any more.

As such, if you were looking at a particular tour that is now full your options are to either (a) see if one of the other Mass Games tours that are still available work for you, and to join that; or (b) contact us to be placed on the waiting list for each of our fully booked tours in the hope that someone else drops out.

- I’m already booked on one of your tours — can I go to the Mass Games?

We've had confirmation from various parties in Pyongyang that this year's Mass Games will definitely be taking place but the dates are not yet fixed. The assumption is that the initial run will be confirmed from Sept 9th to the end of Sept so we currently will list tours in this period as Mass Games Tours. As confirmation is given of extra dates and extensions we will expand the number of tours that include a chance to witness and attend the event. If you are booked on to one of our tours during this period then, yes, you can go to the Mass Games.

If you are booked on to one of our tours that fall outside the Mass Games period and no extension is made to include your dates then, no, you cannot go to the Mass Games — you would have to move to one of our Mass Games tours. All of our tours that offer the chance to see this year's Mass Games are listed here.

- How much will it cost to attend the Mass Games?

2019 Mass Games ticket prices:

3rd Class: 100 EUR (1150 seats available)
2nd Class: 300 EUR (270 seats)
1st Class: 500 EUR (70 seats)
'VIP' 800 EUR (30 seats)

Please note that the cost of this entry ticket is not included in our Mass Games tour packages as different people in the group may want to sit in different sections (with the higher-class tickets being more central, and having better views). Members of a tour group do not all have to sit in the same section.

- What is the difference between the seating classes?

In years past, the largest difference between seating classes has largely been proximity to the Mass Games even on the stadium floor below.

We are currently waiting for a final seating chart and will post it here when it is confirmed.

- I'm American and would like to travel to Pyongyang to see the Mass Games. Can US citizens go to North Korea?

There is currently a restriction on US citizens travelling to North Korea. This is due to legislation put in place by the US State Department on 1 Sep 2017, which essentially prohibits the use of an American passport to travel to the DPRK (North Korea).

As such, Koryo Tours currently can not and will not take anyone on a tour to North Korea if they intend on travelling there with an American passport. This includes our Mass Games tours.

Of course, if and when this travel ban is lifted we will announce the news via our newsletter and social media channels, and accept American passport holders on our tours once more.

You can read more about the details of this travel restriction at the US State Department website.

- When will the travel ban on Americans be lifted?

The decision on whether or not to lift the travel ban rests with the US State Department. Should you wish to try and influence American government policy you can write to your senator or contact your representative. Alternatively, why not send a tweet to President Trump? Or perhaps just wait and see when this piece of legislation is changed or elapses.

When the travel ban is lifted we will once again accept American-passport holders on our tours. You're probably more likely to follow us on social media than the US State Department so rest assured that, as soon as we have it, we will announce any news on this via our newsletter and social media channels. You can subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of this page.

- I'm not an American. Can you guarantee that I’ll definitely get to go to the Mass Games?

We've now been specialising in tourism to the DPRK (North Korea) for 26 years, and have successfully taken people to every single Mass Games performance season to have taken place since 1993. In our experience, over a quarter of a century of working with the same people in Pyongyang, we have always been able to take tourists to see the Mass Games once our partners there have confirmed that we have secured access. This confirmation has now been given to us.

The only time in our 26-year history when we've been unable to take tourists to a Mass Games performance is when a political leader has been in attendance on a particular evening, such as when China's then-President Hu Jintao went to one of the shows in 2005. But this is either made known to us in advance, and/or the itinerary is rearranged so that our tour group are able to attend a performance on a different evening during their time in the country.

However, as you know, it turns out that black swans do exist, and in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. But as a company we have successfully taken tourists to every Mass Games to have taken place since our first year of operations in 1993, so you can rest assured that you're in safe hands with Koryo Tours.

- Can I secure tickets in advance?

Tickets to each show have to be bought in person and on the spot. Ticketmaster is yet to break in to the North Korean live-event market. However, it's thought that this year's Mass Games will be held in Pyongyang's May Day Stadium, which the Koreans say can hold 150,000 people — so there is plenty of capacity. As a company, we also let our partners in Pyongyang know how many tickets to each show we need, and they make sure to reserve tickets for us so we are able to pick them up in person when at the stadium.

The only way to "secure" your ticket to the Mass Games in advance is to book one of our Mass Games tours, and we will notify our partners in Pyongyang how many people will be travelling with us and how many tickets we will need. We are, of course, unable to request event tickets for people who have not made a solid booking to join one of our tours travelling to the Mass Games.

- Will there be performances every night of the week? Will they all be the same?

The exact schedule of this year's performance season is yet to be 100 per cent confirmed, but, based on previous years and our past experience, it's our understanding that there will be shows three or four times a week during the event's entire run.

Yes: every show will feature the same content, narrative, choreography and routines. This is a performance involving thousands upon thousands upon thousands of people. Who have been rehearsing for at least the last three months. So spontaneous changes in the performance or an unplanned sprinkling of free-jazz improvisation are beyond unlikely.

That said, the story and content of this year's performance is expected to be the same as in 2018; The event known as 'Glorious Country' - a true masterpiece of the form, something you will never forget witnessing!

Updated 01 Aug 2019

Check out our Koryo Tours North Korea Mass Games Travel Guide - the ultimate travel guide to the North Korea Mass Games.

Further reading:
- North Korea Mass Games Short History
- Mass Games in North Korea 2018
- Arirang Mass Games North Korea 2002-2013
- 2018 Mass Games FAQs
- Koryo Tours & North Korea Mass Games
- 'My First Mass Games 2002'