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The 13-day-long 2026 Taiwan Lantern Festival attracted more than 10 million visitors and drew over 200 international media representatives and influential KOLs, receiving high praise from global media. At today’s (15th) closing ceremony, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications Lin Kuo-Shian, Director-General of the Tourism Administration Chen Yu-hsiu, Chiayi County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang, and Miaoli County Magistrate Chung Tung-chin led their administrative teams to join tens of thousands of attendees in admiring the main lantern “Alishan, Veiled in Luminous Mist ,” which illuminated the night sky of Chiayi. Amid widespread admiration, the audience experienced a stunning audiovisual spectacle, bringing this year’s Taiwan Lantern Festival to a perfect close.

Seamless Collaboration Between Central and Local Governments, and Between Public and Private Sectors

Magistrate Weng expressed his sincere gratitude to visitors from across Taiwan for coming to Chiayi to participate in the festival. He also thanked all working teams, volunteers, and central and local sectors for their support, which allowed the world to witness Chiayi’s transformation, vitality, and brilliance. Looking ahead, Chiayi will evolve from a major agricultural county into a city integrating agriculture, industry, and technology. Although the festival has concluded, Chiayi’s progress will continue.

Deputy Minister Lin thanked Magistrate Weng and his administrative teams for successfully using the festival to present Taiwan to the international community. He also expressed appreciation to the affiliated agencies of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications as well as organizations including the Taiwan High Speed Rail, Taiwan Railway , and bus operators; through the coordinated efforts between the central and local sectors, travelers were able to return home safely. Special thanks were also extended to lantern and general artists, sponsoring enterprises, news media, policemen, firefighters, cleaning staff, and service volunteers working behind the scenes. It is through the dedication and hard work of all participants that the Taiwan Lantern Festival has once again achieved a brilliant milestone.

Heritage and Vision: Miaoli Will Integrate Hakka Elements to Impress Taiwan in 2027

The 2027 Taiwan Lantern Festival, tentatively scheduled to run from February 20, 2027 (the day of the Lantern Festival) to March 7, 2026 , will be held in Miaoli County. The main exhibition areas will be located in Zhunan and Toufen Sports Parks and surrounding locations. Building on its experience hosting the 2011 Taiwan Lantern Festival , Miaoli will introduce the theme of “slow pace of Hakka life.” Through interconnected exhibition zones, the festival will showcase Miaoli’s natural landscapes, cultural heritage, and urban vitality.

Magistrate Chung stated that the 2027 Taiwan Lantern Festival will carry forward Chiayi’s integration of future technology, ethnic inclusivity, local characteristics, and contemporary craftsmanship, highlighting Miaoli’s cultural depth as a major Hakka county alongside its innovative technological capacity. Through hosting the festival, Miaoli aims to create an international-scale tourism event, further enhancing the Taiwan Lantern Festival brand and allowing both the nation and the world to witness Miaoli’s charm and strength.

Where Technology Meets Culture: Preserving Culture and Inspiring Innovation

At the conclusion of the lantern festival, the remarkable lantern artworks will be carefully preserved by relevant authorities and local governments, allowing the artworks to continue shining in the future. The Taiwan Lantern Festival is often praised as “a Disneyland without roller coasters” and is a key tourism brand for Taiwan. Next year, efforts will continue to be made to explore the narratives and context of the land, enabling craftsmen and creative teams to express local characteristics. Visitors from Taiwan and abroad are warmly invited to visit Miaoli again next year!