The 2026 and 2027 Taiwan Lantern Festivals are to be held in Chiayi and Miaoli counties respectively, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) announced today.
The two counties were chosen by the Tourism Administration and a selection committee, which reviewed applications to hold the festival based on location, transportation, hosting capabilities, safety, promotional planning and fundraising abilities, the ministry said.
Photo: Wu Chun-feng, Taipei Times
Chiayi and Miaoli both have experience holding the festival and that experience can be passed down, Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) said.
“In addition to bringing artistic aesthetics to the festival, they would also focus on local urban imagery and emerging technologies to turn the festival into a large-scale international tourist event,” Chen said.
The 2026 edition is to be held from March 3 to March 15, 2026, at locations including the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum, Taizih Boulevard (太子大道) and the Chiayi City Government Plaza, the ministry said.
Curation would be centered around “new Chiayi,” integrating digital technologies and multimedia applications to create an international visual spectacle, the ministry said.
The 2027 festival is to be held from Feb. 20 to March 7, 2027, at locations including Jhunan Township (竹南), Toufen Sports Park (頭份運動公園) and surrounding areas, the ministry said.
“Slow living” is to be the theme of the festival, taking sustainability and outdoor activities as conceptual themes, with the lantern displays integrating future technologies, ethnic diversity, local specialties, modern artistry and more, it added.
The Taiwan Lantern Festival is an important event for international tourism and reflects the post-COVID-19 pandemic rise of nighttime economic activities, Tourism Administration Director-General Chou Yung-hui (周永暉) said.
The 2026 and 2027 festivals are to be held near high-speed rail and Taiwan Railway Corp stations, Chou said.
Next year's festival is to take place in Taoyuan from Feb. 2 to 23.
It is to have two main exhibition areas outside Taoyuan MRT stations A18 and A19, and encompass the Taoyuan HSR Station Plaza, Asia Silicon Valley IOT Exhibition Hall outdoor space, former World Hakka Expo transfer station, Rakuten Taoyuan Baseball Stadium, Cingtang Park (青塘園), the Children’s Art Museum and areas around Ciasi Road (洽溪路).
The Chiayi Country Government has been invited to attend the festival’s closing ceremony to participate in a handover ceremony, symbolizing the passing of the festival’s spirit and traditions, the ministry said.
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