Taiwan’s annual flagship tourism event, the 2026 Nantou Lantern Festival, will officially kick off on February 14! On February 4, Nantou County Magistrate Hsu Shu-hua led the county government team to unveil this year’s festival highlights, including the first-ever “twin main lanterns” inspired by the Year of the Horse, the Phantom Circus lantern area combining Nantou’s scenic beauty with circus motifs and large-scale playful installations, a collaboration with the popular Japanese IP “Aggressive Retsuko”, a star-studded lineup of performers, and a range of activities such as souvenir coin giveaways with tourism and accommodation spending. At the press conference, popular characters White Cat “Wagahai” and Black Cat “Tango” made a surprise appearance, taking part in an adorable “triple photo” session with Deputy Magistrate Wang Rui-de, officially marking the countdown to the festival’s opening.
Beyond the dazzling festival lights, this year’s most anticipated outdoor attraction, Jioujiou Peaks Helium Balloon Park, will hold its inauguration ceremony and balloon lift-off on February 11, officially opening to the public. The park is designed around ecological conservation, environmental integration, and sustainable development, combining the unique terrain and natural scenery of Jioujiou Peaks. Its main recreational theme focuses on “slow, fly, beauty, and wild”, and it features Taiwan’s first tethered helium balloon, awarded the 2025 Nantou County Architecture Yuan-ye Award and the 114th Annual Public Works Gold Award, showcasing outstanding landscape creation achievements. Residents of Nantou County (700 spots) and Caotun Township (1,000 spots) can pre-book a three-day free admission experience from February 12 to 14 via the park’s official website starting February 5 at 12:00 PM, while nationwide tourists can reserve tickets for February 17 to March 8 from February 12 at 12:00 PM, with a daily capacity of 2,000 visitors and 600 balloon rides, allowing visitors to enjoy panoramic views of Jioujiou Peaks from 150 meters above ground.
Magistrate Hsu Shu-hua expressed her gratitude for the continuous support from the Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, and highlighted the bilingual services launched with the support of the National Development Council. She also thanked local businesses, temples, communities, and schools for their participation. Nantou Lantern Festival has become an essential emotional connection for Taiwanese people during the Lunar New Year, with the primary goal of creating a warm, engaging experience. While preserving tradition, the county government continues to innovate. The award-winning Jioujiou Peaks recreational park and recognition with the Public Works Gold Award, one of the highest honors for public engineering in Taiwan, not only acknowledge the professionalism and hard work of the project team but also reflect the county government’s commitment to high-quality public construction management.
As one of Taiwan’s most iconic Lunar New Year cultural events, the Nantou Lantern Festival has been held by the county government since 2016, accumulating strong public recognition and tourism momentum over the past decade. The 2025 Nantou Lantern Festival won four international awards, including the main lantern “Shilai Fugi”, which received the Rome Design Awards Platinum Award and London Design Awards Gold Award, while the collaborative “Flowing Colors Art” theme lantern area earned the Rome Design Awards Platinum Award and DNA Design Awards Paris Honorable Mention, demonstrating the festival’s excellence in art and creativity. For four consecutive years, the festival has partnered with renowned domestic and international IPs, increasing online engagement and global visibility. This year, the festival collaborates with the popular Japanese IP “Aggressive Retsuko”, featuring a large lantern area, an inflatable maze lantern, and 13 large lantern sets inspired by Nantou’s thirteen townships and the twelve zodiac animals. Special commemorative coins and limited-edition souvenirs will also be available through digital stamp collection activities or accommodation spending, promising a collectible craze that fans of “Aggressive Retsuko” won’t want to miss.
The main lanterns this year break from tradition, introducing the “twin main lantern” concept. The press conference showcased the aerial main lantern “Wings of Light”, featuring a flying horse with large gear mechanisms reflecting the Year of the Horse. During the festival, it will rotate to music, creating the illusion of a flying horse in motion. The ground-based main lantern “Galloping Paradise” reinterprets the 2014 Taiwan Lantern Festival main lantern, transformed into a dreamlike unicorn, offering an immersive fairytale experience. Together, the twin lanterns create a stunning visual effect, blending aerial and ground perspectives, motion and stillness. The festival’s official theme song “Sapah Home” will be performed by Kumu Basaw, winner of the Best Indigenous Language Singer at the Golden Melody Awards, debuting at the press conference.
The festival features 11 themed lantern areas, reflecting Magistrate Hsu Shu-hua’s vision for a “livable city” while integrating sustainability, culture, and tourism. The Phantom Circus Lantern Area builds on the success of last year’s award-winning “Flowing Colors Art” area, collaborating with artists Wang Zhenwei, Zhang Yu-jia, Floating Man, and animator Qiu Zhi-qun to create imaginative works such as “Meow Beast”, “Phantom Circus”, and “Phantom Forest”. Interactive installations, carousel rides, a Ferris wheel, pirate ship, and balloon corridor provide fun for visitors. Additionally, the Eco Lantern Area demonstrates sustainable living practices from local to global levels using interactive light installations, while the Inclusive Light Lantern Area combines Nantou’s traditional bamboo craftsmanship with modern audiovisual technology, showcasing the harmony of tradition and innovation.
Besides the static lantern displays, the festival’s performances are equally spectacular. The Water Dance Plaza features a 3D water show with layered sound, light, and visual effects, accompanied by film-level music composed by renowned musician Fan Yang-jing, and a three-level fireworks theater. To celebrate the Lunar New Year, opening day performances on February 14 include powerhouse singers Dai Ai-ling, versatile entertainer An Xin-ya, and indigenous singer Kumu Basaw, hosted by Nantou native Hou Yi-jun. On February 15 and 28, rising stars such as girl group Ghost Crystal, boy band Saturnday, PinkFun ACE Sheng-en, and singer-songwriter LCY Lu Zhi-yu will perform. Legendary singers including Tseng Hsin-mei, Ye Ai-ling, Cai Qiu-feng, Pan Yue-yun, and Li Yi-jun will perform classic hits on February 19 and 27, while other popular artists such as Zhan Shi-wei, Ban En, Abus, and Jocelyn9.4.0 will take the stage on February 20 and 21.
Daytime activities are just as engaging. Visitors can explore and take photos in the lantern areas, enjoy interactive games, and participate in DIY painting, making the festival ideal for families. Miaoluo Creek offers free SUP (stand-up paddleboarding) experiences, while the exhibition center hosts the Hello Gift Market, featuring local agricultural products and souvenirs. The two-hectare Flower Adventure Sea displays colorful flowers forming the Nantou landmark Jioujiou Peaks, echoing the new Jioujiou Peaks Helium Balloon Park.
Reflecting on the 2025 Nantou Lantern Festival, the 22-day event featuring the “Cocoppa Cat” IP and drone fireworks generated over NT$3.9 billion in tourism revenue, attracting nearly 5.6 million visitors and boosting local tourism. This year’s festival upgrades include twin main lanterns, the Phantom Circus theme area, and the “Aggressive Retsuko” collaboration, with expected attendance of nearly 6 million visitors and an estimated NT$4 billion in tourism revenue.
To meet international standards and the National Development Council’s bilingual policy, the festival offers reservation-based bilingual guided tours and online bilingual guides, ensuring all visitors can enjoy the festival. A digital stamp collection activity will allow visitors to redeem commemorative items after collecting stamps. Showing proof of accommodation or shopping in Nantou during the festival allows visitors to exchange for Aggressive Retsuko commemorative coins (single or double coin sets), with daily limited quantities. At 6:30 PM daily, small lantern number cards will be distributed, redeemable for Year of the Horse-themed lanterns.
Visitors are encouraged to explore surrounding attractions, creating a complete Lunar New Year itinerary. The Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village Cherry Blossom Festival will be in full bloom, offering romantic lakeside strolls and photo opportunities with illuminated lanterns. Nantou, Taiwan’s premier firefly destination, will host firefly season in areas like Aowanda and Cingjing, with glowing displays creating a magical nighttime experience. Visitors can also enjoy Sun Moon Lake boat tours and cycling paths, as well as wine-tasting at Puli Winery and hot springs in Yuchi, combining scenic, cultural, and leisure experiences.
The Nantou Lantern Festival integrates culture, art, interactive entertainment, tourism, and family-friendly experiences, making it a must-visit destination during the Lunar New Year. For more information, visit the official Nantou Lantern Festival website, Travel Nantou website, or Travel Nantou Facebook page.
