Taiwan is gearing up to celebrate the New Year at events across the country, headlined by the annual countdown and Taipei 101 fireworks display at midnight.
Many of the events are to be livesteamed online. See below for lineups and links:
Photo courtesy of the New Taipei Metro
Taipei
Taipei’s New Year’s Party 2026 is to begin at 7pm and run until 1am, with the theme “Sailing to the Future.”
South Korean girl group KARA is headlining the concert at Taipei City Hall Plaza, with additional performances by Amber An (安心亞), Nick Chou (周湯豪), hip-hop trio Nine One One (玖壹壹), Bii (畢書盡), girl group Genblue (幻藍小熊) and more.
The festivities are to culminate in a countdown to midnight and the annual Taipei 101 fireworks and light display.
This year’s display is to last for six minutes, featuring low-smoke pyrotechnics imported from Italy set to original music composed by young Taiwanese artists.
More information is available on the event's Web site.
The livestream can be viewed on the Taipei City Government’s YouTube.
New Taipei City
New Taipei City is to hold its fireworks display earlier in the evening at 8:26pm in Tamsui District (淡水).
Two stages are to be set up across the river from each other at the Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf (淡水漁人碼頭) and the Bali Left Bank (八里左岸), with performances running from 4:30pm to 9:30pm.
More information is provided at the event’s Web site.
The livestream may be viewed at the TVBS News YouTube here.
Taichung
Taichung’s New Year’s Countdown Party begins at 6pm at Shuinan Central Park (水湳中央公園).
Hosted by comedian A-Ken (阿Ken) and television host Tsai Shang-hua (蔡尚樺), the concert is to be headlined by Jam Hsiao (蕭敬騰), Power Station (動力火車) and Crowd Lu (盧廣仲).
More information is available on the event’s Web site.
The livestream can be viewed on the SET TV YouTube here.
Kaohsiung
The southern port city is to ring in 2026 with a major concert starting at 7pm on Shidai Boulevard in front of the Dream Mall.
Performers are to include Kwon Eunbi (權恩妃), Lulu Huang (黃路梓茵), Accusefive (告五人), 831 (八三夭), Wing Stars and more.
The event is to be hosted by Hank Chen (陳漢典), Wenny Lin (林葦妮) and A-Ben (阿本).
More information is available on the event’s Web site.
The livestream can be viewed on the Next TV YouTube here.
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