The 2026 Taiwan Lantern Festival was officially illuminated at 7 p.m. this evening (3rd). President Lai Ching‑te, Chiayi County Magistrate Weng Chang‑Liang, Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shih‑Kai, Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh‑Fang, and Tourism Administration Director‑General Chen Yu‑Hsiu jointly planted a symbolic “tree of hope” and activated the main lantern “Alishan, Veiled in Luminous Mist.” More than one million visitors gathered on‑site to witness the radiant moment, as a sea of mobile‑phone lights intertwined with the main lantern to form a touching scene.

Weng Chang‑Liang first thanked the heavens for the favorable weather, saying, “The people of Chiayi welcome visitors from across the nation and around the world with the heartfelt joy of hosting a traditional countryside celebration.” He emphasized that the 2026 Taiwan Lantern Festival is not only a festive event, but also a showcase of Chiayi’s transformation. “Chiayi is an agricultural county and Taiwan’s food basket, but it will be more than a food basket,” he said. In the future, it will become “a manufacturing and R&D base for drones” and “the world’s largest advanced chip‑packaging base,” gradually evolving into a county strong in agriculture, industry, and technology.

He stressed that the lantern festival theme, “Illuminating Taiwan, Lighting Up Chiayi,” symbolizes Taiwan’s light shining upon the world and brightening Chiayi’s future. He noted that behind this magnificent celebration lies a year of intense preparation and full team commitment. Recalling last year’s destruction caused by Typhoon Danas, he said, “The branches of the big trees have begun to sprout new buds, symbolizing resilient vitality”—just like the resilience and hope of the people of Chiayi.

President Lai Ching‑te stated that Chiayi County “has transformed from a major agricultural county into an agricultural‑industrial county, and is now advancing further into an agriculture‑industry‑technology county.” He noted that the nation’s most important drone base and advanced packaging and testing base will both be located in Chiayi, promising a bright future. He also highlighted that this year’s lantern festival achieved several breakthroughs, including inviting international teams to participate in artistic creation, and bringing the internationally acclaimed Tech World Pavilion from the Osaka Expo back to Chiayi. He praised the county government team for “an entire year of high‑intensity preparation, using the stories of Chiayi and the stories of Taiwan to design and create the lanterns.”

This year’s lantern festival features 12 major highlights, including the Tech World Pavilion from the Osaka Expo, a drone show of one thousand units, a two‑hectare Super Mario family zone, the Aomori Nebuta display from Japan, the Team Taiwan Parade, the Chiayi Dream Lantern Area, international performing arts groups, and high‑altitude fireworks—showcasing the fusion of cultural creativity and technological innovation.

The main lantern “Alishan, Veiled in Luminous Mist” was jointly created by artists Yao Chung‑Han, Chen Wei‑Chih, and Lu Yen‑Chen. Standing 21 meters tall, it incorporates imagery of the Alishan sacred tree, the sun, and drifting mist, symbolizing the coexistence and cyclical harmony of light, water, and wood. As the main lantern performance and a ten‑minute fireworks show lit up the night sky, waves of cheers echoed throughout the venue, marking a brilliant opening to the 2026 Taiwan Lantern Festival.

The Chiayi County Government stated that the years 2025 to 2035 will be Chiayi’s “golden decade.” The lantern festival not only illuminates the night sky but also lights up the city’s confidence and future vision. The public is invited to visit between March 3 and March 15 to witness Chiayi’s moment of rising brilliance.