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Papua New Guinea🇵🇬 | festivalsNational Mask and Warwagira FestivalTubuan masks, Kokopo, tabu shell money, mask-making | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in National Mask and Warwagira
🌟 Highlightfestival ranked #4
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 15, 2026

The National Mask and Warwagira Festival takes place in Kokopo, in the east of Papua New Guinea, on the Gazelle Peninsula, usually in July over a few days. Expect towering Tolai Tubuan and Dukduk masks, string-band music, sing-sing groups from across the province, and a crowd of locals, with only a thin layer of foreign travelers. The vibe is loud, face-painted and welcoming, nothing like a polished tourist show. Wander the grounds, ask before photographing, and stay for the dancers who arrive with leaf skirts rustling. Volcanic Rabaul sits just along the coast.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #4 festival in Papua New GuineaReasons people choose to celebrate the here

Backpackers build a route around this because it puts the Tolai Dukduk and Tubuan masked spirits in front of you at close range, performed for their own community rather than staged for tour groups. In Papua New Guinea that is rare, and it costs far less than the big highlands shows to reach, with simple guesthouses and local transport in the Kokopo and Rabaul area.

The festival also gives you a reason to cross to East New Britain, a province most itineraries skip. Once you are here, the temporary community builds fast: villagers selling food, dancers comparing paint, and locals curious about why you came. Strike up conversation and you get invited to see more. It fits neatly into a longer island trip, pairing with the volcano-ringed town of Rabaul, war relics in the hills and the black-sand coast.

💡 HighlightsKey sights and experiences for travelers

  1. Dukduk and Tubuan masked dancers: The headline act. Cone-shaped Dukduk figures in leaf-fringed costumes and the squat Tubuan spirit masks are secret-society symbols in Tolai culture, and seeing them emerge and dance is the reason the festival exists.
  2. Warwagira sing-sing groups: Dance troupes from across East New Britain and other provinces perform in turn, in feathers, shells, body paint and woven headdresses. Each group has its own songs and steps, so no two performances look alike.
  3. Mask-making displays: Carvers and weavers show how masks are built from cane, bark cloth and leaves. Talk to them and you learn what each design represents, and you can buy a small piece directly from the maker.
  4. String-band and local music stages: Guitar and ukulele string bands play island-style songs that blend
… read more 👉
  1. Dukduk and Tubuan masked dancers: The headline act. Cone-shaped Dukduk figures in leaf-fringed costumes and the squat Tubuan spirit masks are secret-society symbols in Tolai culture, and seeing them emerge and dance is the reason the festival exists.
  2. Warwagira sing-sing groups: Dance troupes from across East New Britain and other provinces perform in turn, in feathers, shells, body paint and woven headdresses. Each group has its own songs and steps, so no two performances look alike.
  3. Mask-making displays: Carvers and weavers show how masks are built from cane, bark cloth and leaves. Talk to them and you learn what each design represents, and you can buy a small piece directly from the maker.
  4. String-band and local music stages: Guitar and ukulele string bands play island-style songs that blend into the evenings. It is relaxed, social and a good place to meet people.
  5. Tolai shell money (tabu) and craft stalls: Tabu, the strings of tiny shell currency still used in Tolai ceremonies, appear alongside baskets, carvings and food stalls. Looking at how it is used in rituals explains a lot about the local culture.
Pair the mask performances with the craft stalls in one day, watching the dancers in the morning and then talking to the makers afterward.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🌤️ When to go?When is the celebration of National Mask and Warwagira Festival?

The National Mask and Warwagira Festival runs for about three days in Kokopo, East New Britain, usually in July, with the date set each year by the organizers and the main venue at the Ralum showground in Kokopo.
  • Best day: Go on the opening day for the Kinavai, the dawn ceremony at Omorong Beach when Tolai Tubuan figures arrive by canoe. The final day is more relaxed, with more room to photograph.
  • Weather: Expect 24 to 31°C (75 to 88°F), humid, with short showers possible and sunrise near 6 am. Bring a rain jacket, sun hat, sunscreen and sandals you can get muddy.
  • Booking: Reserve beds two to three months ahead, since Kokopo has limited rooms. Rates can rise 20 to 40 percent during the festival.
  • Arrival and departure: Flights into Tokua Airport fill early, so book them with your bed. Leave the
… read more 👉
The National Mask and Warwagira Festival runs for about three days in Kokopo, East New Britain, usually in July, with the date set each year by the organizers and the main venue at the Ralum showground in Kokopo.
  • Best day: Go on the opening day for the Kinavai, the dawn ceremony at Omorong Beach when Tolai Tubuan figures arrive by canoe. The final day is more relaxed, with more room to photograph.
  • Weather: Expect 24 to 31°C (75 to 88°F), humid, with short showers possible and sunrise near 6 am. Bring a rain jacket, sun hat, sunscreen and sandals you can get muddy.
  • Booking: Reserve beds two to three months ahead, since Kokopo has limited rooms. Rates can rise 20 to 40 percent during the festival.
  • Arrival and departure: Flights into Tokua Airport fill early, so book them with your bed. Leave the airport road clear by traveling a day before or after the main parade.
Arrive the day before the opening so the Kokopo to Tokua road traffic does not cost you the first dance.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: not recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: not recommended for travelingMARMarch: not recommended for travelingAPRApril: not recommended for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: not recommended for travelingJULJuly: not recommended for travelingAUGAugust: not recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: not recommended for travelingOCTOctober: not recommended for travelingNOVNovember: not recommended for travelingDECDecember: not recommended for traveling

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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

Kokopo town is the best base, because the festival grounds, market and most budget beds sit within a short walk or a PMV ride of each other.
Stay in central Kokopo near the market and Rabaul Road if you want to meet other travelers. Guesthouses here tend to have shared kitchens and common verandas where festival-goers swap plans, and you can walk to shops, banks and PMV stops in daylight. Kokopo Beach, along the waterfront, is a calmer stretch with a few small lodges and sea breezes, good if you want sleep after late dancing.
Vunapope, just outside town near the mission, offers quieter guesthouse … read more 👉
Kokopo town is the best base, because the festival grounds, market and most budget beds sit within a short walk or a PMV ride of each other.
Stay in central Kokopo near the market and Rabaul Road if you want to meet other travelers. Guesthouses here tend to have shared kitchens and common verandas where festival-goers swap plans, and you can walk to shops, banks and PMV stops in daylight. Kokopo Beach, along the waterfront, is a calmer stretch with a few small lodges and sea breezes, good if you want sleep after late dancing.
Vunapope, just outside town near the mission, offers quieter guesthouse rooms and is reachable by short PMV or taxi ride. Rabaul, about 30 to 40 minutes away by road, sits beside Mount Tavurvur and its volcanic landscape, and is a reasonable fallback if Kokopo is full, but you will need a car or PMV to reach the festival each day.
Safety matters in PNG. Choose places with secure fences and guards, book ahead, avoid walking after dark and use hotel-arranged taxis at night. Solo travelers do best choosing central Kokopo, where staff can arrange trusted drivers.
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👛 Costs (as of 15 October 2026)How expensive it really is

A day at the National Mask and Warwagira Festival in Kokopo costs roughly US$0 to 15 for an independent traveler, with a total daily budget of about US$125 in high season.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival ticketsUS$0 to 15Entry to the Ralum showground has been low or modest for locals, and foreign visitors can expect to pay a bit more. The Kinavai dawn ceremony at Omorong Beach is usually watched without a ticket. Budget US$10 for the main grounds.
AccommodationUS$30 to 80Guesthouses and basic rooms in and around Kokopo fill up and rise in price during festival week. A simple private room runs about US$40 to 70, and beds in the cheapest guesthouses start near US$30. Use US$55 for the total.
Local transportUS$5 to 20PMV minibuses along the Kokopo roads cost under US$1 to 2 a ride. Charter
… read more 👉
A day at the National Mask and Warwagira Festival in Kokopo costs roughly US$0 to 15 for an independent traveler, with a total daily budget of about US$125 in high season.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival ticketsUS$0 to 15Entry to the Ralum showground has been low or modest for locals, and foreign visitors can expect to pay a bit more. The Kinavai dawn ceremony at Omorong Beach is usually watched without a ticket. Budget US$10 for the main grounds.
AccommodationUS$30 to 80Guesthouses and basic rooms in and around Kokopo fill up and rise in price during festival week. A simple private room runs about US$40 to 70, and beds in the cheapest guesthouses start near US$30. Use US$55 for the total.
Local transportUS$5 to 20PMV minibuses along the Kokopo roads cost under US$1 to 2 a ride. Charter taxis to Omorong Beach before dawn run about US$10 to 20 one way. Use US$10 for the total.
Food & drinksUS$12 to 30Festival stalls sell roast fish, sweet potato, taro and grilled chicken with rice, usually US$2 to 6 a plate. Fresh coconuts cost about US$0.50 to 1. Café meals in Kokopo cost US$8 to 15. Use US$25 for the total.
Miscellaneous expensesUS$10 to 30Budget for local masks and bilums, which range from US$5 to 50, plus bottled water, mobile data and sunscreen. Cash in kina is the norm at stalls. Use US$25 for the total.
Total Daily BudgetUS$95 to 160About US$125 for a typical high-season day (US$10 + US$55 + US$10 + US$25 + US$25).
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🍲 FoodEating & Drinking in National Mask and Warwagira

Food at the festival is mostly grilled and boiled local staples sold from stalls and the nearby Kokopo market.
Look for mumu, food slow-cooked in an earth oven with pork, sweet potato, taro and banana wrapped in leaves, which is the dish to try if you want something authentic. Fresh fish from the Bismarck Sea turns up grilled or in coconut cream, and kaukau (sweet potato) and roasted corn are cheap fillers. Packets of rice with tinned fish or chicken are everywhere, plus bags of fried dough.
For drinks, buy green coconuts, whose water cools you in the humid heat. Bottled water, soft drinks and SP or South Pacific beer are sold in town, though drinking in the crowd can attract problems, so keep it to your lodge or a proper bar.
Bring cash in small kina notes, since stalls rarely take cards and … read more 👉
Food at the festival is mostly grilled and boiled local staples sold from stalls and the nearby Kokopo market.
Look for mumu, food slow-cooked in an earth oven with pork, sweet potato, taro and banana wrapped in leaves, which is the dish to try if you want something authentic. Fresh fish from the Bismarck Sea turns up grilled or in coconut cream, and kaukau (sweet potato) and roasted corn are cheap fillers. Packets of rice with tinned fish or chicken are everywhere, plus bags of fried dough.
For drinks, buy green coconuts, whose water cools you in the humid heat. Bottled water, soft drinks and SP or South Pacific beer are sold in town, though drinking in the crowd can attract problems, so keep it to your lodge or a proper bar.
Bring cash in small kina notes, since stalls rarely take cards and change for big notes is hard. Servings are generous and often shared among families, so ask politely before taking photos of people eating. Lines form quickly at the best stalls after the parade, so eat early.

FAQFrequently asked questions about National Mask and Warwagira

The festival usually takes place over about three days in July in Kokopo, East New Britain. Exact dates change each year, so check with the organizers before booking. Rabaul is 30 to 40 minutes away by road, and flights land at Tokua Airport.
Expect to spend about US$105 to 190 a day, including festival entry of roughly K50 to 150 (US$12 to 38). A guesthouse room in Kokopo costs about K200 to 400 (US$50 to 100) during festival week. Meals from stalls and the market cost K60 to 100 a day.
Buying entry in advance is not always required, and tickets are often sold at the gate, but arrangements change by year. Your bed and flights matter far more, so book them two to three months ahead. Bring small kina notes for entry and stalls.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Papua New Guinean festivals near National Mask and Warwagira

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We 💚 feedbackParting advice and final tips

Treat the festival as the centerpiece of a week in East New Britain, not a day trip. I would combine it with a climb or viewpoint over Rabaul’s volcanoes and a few days on the Gazelle Peninsula coast. Book accommodation early, bring small cash, and ask before photographing dancers.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Papua New Guinea. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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