Taiwan Lantern Festival

台灣燈會

View on map
UniqueTaibao/Chiayi
DatesDates TBA · Usually MarchCheck locally before booking
Duration13 daysListed event span
CrowdMassiveAbout 1M people
Best forUnusual spectacle, playful rulesUnlike a single fixed venue, the Taiwan
Language["zh-Hant"]Currency: TWD
CategoryUniqueFestival type
The story

Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taibao/Chiayi

The Taiwan Lantern Festival is the Tourism Bureau's annual national celebration of the Lunar New Year Lantern Festival, touring a different host city each year since 2001. In 2018 the event was staged in Taibao City, Chiayi County, near the Chiayi high-speed rail station, filling the area with towering illuminated lantern displays built around that year's Chinese zodiac theme.

Taiwan Lantern Festival matters because it turns identity into something shared in public. You do not just learn about Taiwan; you stand inside one of the ways people there remember, celebrate, compete, mourn, or make joy together.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Unlike a single fixed venue, the Taiwan Lantern Festival relocates annually, so each edition becomes a one-time civic event that reshapes a host city around a temporary lantern district

02

The mystery stays covered

The Chiayi edition brought the tradition to Taibao, blending the modern infrastructure of the high-speed rail corridor with towering illuminated displays, a main lantern over ten metres tall accompanied by its own three-minute theme music, plus smaller lanterns depicting the year's zodiac animal, historical figures and folklore scenes, drawing crowds from across Taiwan for a limited multi-week run timed to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival marks Yuan Xiao

Water and renewal

Living ritual

the fifteenth and final day of Lunar New Year celebrations

The sacred route

Living ritual

when lanterns are traditionally lit to send New Year wishes skyward

The local code

Living ritual

The Tourism Bureau formalized a rotating national event in 1990 and began touring it to a different Taiwanese city each year from 2001

Tradition 5

Living ritual

spreading a tradition once centered on Taipei's Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Park to smaller cities and counties in turn

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually March

Getting around

For route-based days, arrive early and expect normal streets around Taibao/Chiayi to work differently.

What to wear

Warm layered clothing is recommended, since the festival runs in late winter shortly after Lunar New Year when Chiayi evenings can be cool and breezy; comfortable closed-toe walking shoes...

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

For peak dates, book flexible lodging near reliable routes into and out of Taibao/Chiayi.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

["zh-Hant"] · TWD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map23.45 N, 120.32 EOpen in Google Maps

Taibao/Chiayi, Chiayi County, Taiwan

Nearest airportTNN — Tainan International Airport / Tainan Air Base
TransportFor route-based days, arrive early and expect normal streets around Taibao/Chiayi to work differently.
Stay areaFor peak dates, book flexible lodging near reliable routes into and out of Taibao/Chiayi.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Taibao/Chiayi via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Taibao/Chiayi, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for March.Compare faresFestival gearWarm layered clothing is recommended, since the festival runs in late winter shortly after Lunar New Year when Chiayi evenings can be cool and breezy; comfortable closed-toe walking shoes are important given the extensive grounds and standing crowds.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Taiwan and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Taiwan Lantern Festival?

Taiwan Lantern Festival is listed for Past edition: 3–15 March 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Taiwan Lantern Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Taibao/Chiayi, Taiwan. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

13 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Taibao/Chiayi, Chiayi County, Taiwan

How big is it?

Massive: 1000000

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URL2026taiwanlanternfestival.org
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually March
Source statusOfficial source linked
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