The Taiwan Lantern Festival is a cultural event that takes place in Chiayi County from March 3-15, 2026. The Canvas Festival will include light art, performances, and art from Taiwan, and will feature Taiwan’s Chiayi County. Being held annually in a different Taiwanese city, it is being held in Chiayi, which is a county surrounded by the Alishan Mountains in the west and is on the coast extending east to the Taiwan Strait. The Taiwan Lantern Festival in Chiayi County will be a festival for the end of the Lunar New Year celebration and open to all to come to see a celebration bursting with color, light, and art.
The Lantern Festival in Chiayi County offers 12 attractions and 16 immersive themed zones that encourage a look into Taiwan’s culture and advancements. It offers a look into the deepest cultural innovations of the island, along with the advances in modern technology. This year, 2023, the festival is themed, “Glow with Taiwan, Light Up Chiayi.” This theme offers a look into the deepest cultural innovations of the island, along with the advances in modern technology.
Festival Highlights
The Taiwan Lantern Festival is much more than just lanterns; it is a cultural experience with many different sides to it. There are 16 different themed zones throughout the festival, so each area has something new to offer. One of the major attractions is the “Glow of Alishan”. This 21-meter-high lantern is the centerpiece of the festival. Each night, it synchronized with a dazzling sound and light show. It is unforgettable to see the lantern pulse and glow along with the rhythm of the music and to watch fireworks.
Those with a passion for advanced technology should get a kick out of the festival’s impressive drone light shows. Hundreds of drones create bright colors and stunning visual effects and choreographed patterns to light up the night sky, painting the sky with their lights. All those interested in the more modern side of technology should enjoy the aerial spectacle and show of fireworks that modern technology is capable of.
Festival Carnival Performances and Activities
Festival attendees can enjoy a multitude of performances that celebrate and honor world culture and heritage. International performances will occur during the entire duration of the festival. For those who love the performing arts, there will be the elegant French Cavalcade of White Horses as well as spirited performances of Irish tap dancing. From the Taiwanese Paper Windmill Theatre, there will be family-friendly performances. Ming Hwa Yuan Arts & Cultural Group will feature some of the performances that celebrate and reflect the culture of Taiwan.
The festival will also have street carnival performances and large parades, which will celebrate the festival in a beautiful explosion of color, music, and light. The festival parades will wind around the festival grounds. They will sustain a joyous energy that will engage the festival attendees.
For those who love modern technology, the Osaka Expo TECH World Pavilion will be at the festival. This part of the festival will help visitors experience the world of digital technology. Toondom Super Mario Starry Carnival area will also be at the festival, which will create wonderful experiences of digital joy and playful and whimsical pop culture elements of Mario, which is also a great tribute to the digital future of Taiwan.
The city of Chiayi also makes traveling to the Taiwan Lantern Festival easy. You can take the high-speed rail to reach Chiayi. From the Chiayi HSR Station, it is possible to connect to Taipei in under 90 minutes. For this event, festival grounds will also offer free shuttle buses from the HSR and the TRA Chiayi Station. Festival grounds will also offer free parking lots, with over 10,000 spaces. Shuttle buses to the event will be a better option than driving and parking, especially during crowded and busy festival days.
More to Explore in Chiayi Besides the Festival
There might be more things to see in Chiayi County, the most famous being Alishan National Scenic Area and its access to Taiwan’s high-mountain forest railway, where visitors can enjoy stunning views of the mountains and valleys. Chiayi is also home to turkey rice, a dish that foodies from all over the world enjoy.
Those who stay a little longer in Chiayi can explore a perfect mix of nature, culture, and history. Chiayi has ancient temples, hot springs, and beautiful scenery that allow visitors to experience the history and culture of Taiwan more.
Guide to the Event
Those attending the 2026 Taiwan Lantern Festival have plenty of helpful resources to aid their experience at the event. The official festival website offers instructions for the event in English, Japanese, and Korean. The website also contains numerous resources, including awards, event times, and event zone maps. On the website, visitors can also find real-time updates about event parking, shuttle services, and road closures.
Closing Statement
The Taiwan Lantern Festival will surely provide entertainment for everyone, celebrating the arts, technology, and the community. Enjoy the dazzling light and artistic displays and engaging, themed zones at the festival. The festival is perfect for visitors to Taiwan for the first time and a great escape for locals wanting to leave the busy, vibrant city of Taipei. The festival in Chiayi will radiate the friendliness and cultural beauty of the island.
With the growth of Taiwan as a travel destination in Asia, the Taiwan Lantern Festival continues to be an iconic event in Taiwan, bringing people from across the globe to celebrate light, culture, and creativity.
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