{"schema_version":"v1","type":"trip_article","slug":"taiwan-lantern-festival-2026","locale":"en","canonical_url":"https://www.voucherdata.asia/en/trips/taiwan-lantern-festival-2026","updated_at":"2026-10-14T00:00:00+00:00","headline":"Taiwan Lantern Festival 2027: 20 February–7 March (est.), around HSR Miaoli Station","one_sentence_summary":"The 2027 Taiwan Lantern Festival is in Houlong, Miaoli. The lantern area surrounds HSR Miaoli Station, provisionally 20 February (Yuanxiao) to 7 March 2027. The 2026 edition ran 3–15 March in Chiayi County.","facts":[{"label":"2027 dates","value":"Provisionally 20 February 2027 (Lantern Festival night) to 7 March, 16 days","source":"https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202603170324.aspx","sourceLabel":"cna.com.tw"},{"label":"2027 lantern area","value":"Houlong Township, Miaoli County, around the HSR Miaoli Station","source":"https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202603170324.aspx","sourceLabel":"cna.com.tw"},{"label":"2026 edition","value":"Took place 3 to 15 March 2026 in Taibao, Chiayi County","source":"https://udn.com/news/story/7266/9354317","sourceLabel":"udn.com"},{"label":"2026 in numbers","value":"About 13.6 million visits over 13 days (Chiayi County preliminary count); main lantern \"Light Bathing: The World's Alishan\"","source":"https://udn.com/news/story/7266/9394116","sourceLabel":"udn.com"},{"label":"Host county","value":"Selected by the Tourism Administration and rotated each year: Chiayi County in 2026, Miaoli County in 2027","source":"https://www.motc.gov.tw/ch/app/data/view?module=news&id=14&serno=341849c6-7b19-46c1-9b1a-dcba678193df","sourceLabel":"motc.gov.tw"},{"label":"Same-season events","value":"Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival (New Taipei) and Yanshui Beehive Fireworks (Tainan); both fall on the same night as the opening","source":"https://www.nownews.com/news/6790216","sourceLabel":"nownews.com"}],"city_tabs":{"miaoli":{"title":"Miaoli (2027)","bullets":["Provisionally opens on 20 February 2027 (Yuanxiao) and runs until 7 March","The lantern area is around HSR Miaoli Station in Houlong, which connects to TRA Fengfu Station","Pingxi's sky lanterns and the Yanshui fireworks are on the same night, in two other counties"],"source":"https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202603170324.aspx","sourceLabel":"cna.com.tw"},"chiayi":{"title":"Chiayi (2026, ended)","bullets":["Held 3–15 March 2026 in Taibao, Chiayi County, over 13 days","The main lantern was \"Light Bathing: The World's Alishan\"","In the same season, the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival ran on 27 February and 3 March, and the Yanshui fireworks on 2–3 March"],"source":"https://udn.com/news/story/7266/9394116","sourceLabel":"udn.com"}},"faq":[{"q":"When is the Taiwan Lantern Festival 2027?","a":"Provisionally from 20 February 2027 (Lantern Festival night) to 7 March, 16 days; check announcements from Miaoli County and the Tourism Administration. The 2026 edition took place from 3 to 15 March in Chiayi County.","sources":["https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202603170324.aspx","https://udn.com/news/story/7266/9354317"]},{"q":"Where is the 2027 Taiwan Lantern Festival held?","a":"2027 is in Miaoli: Miaoli County hosts, with the lantern area around the HSR Miaoli Station in Houlong Township, a short walk from the train. The Tourism Administration selects a new host county each year: Chiayi County in 2026, Miaoli County in 2027.","sources":["https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202603170324.aspx","https://www.motc.gov.tw/ch/app/data/view?module=news&id=14&serno=341849c6-7b19-46c1-9b1a-dcba678193df"]},{"q":"What is the difference between the Taiwan Lantern Festival, the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, and the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks?","a":"All three belong to the same Lantern Festival season but are separate from one another: the Taiwan Lantern Festival has an official main lantern and lantern zones across counties and cities, Pingxi releases sky lanterns, and the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks fire beehive fireworks into the crowd.","sources":["https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202603170324.aspx","https://newtaipei.travel/file/3794","https://www.nownews.com/news/6790216"]},{"q":"When should you arrive to see the main lantern?","a":"The main lantern's light show only starts after dark. Opening night (a Saturday) and weekends are the busiest, and queues are shorter if you arrive at dusk on a weekday.","sources":["https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202603170324.aspx"]},{"q":"What precautions does the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks require?","a":"Full-body gear is required to enter the main firing zone at Yanshui Junior High School, and the Yanshui Wu Temple recommends non-flammable materials. If you don't want to be hit, or have children with you, stay outside the firing zone.","sources":["https://www.twtainan.net/yanshuifireworks","https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/zh/news/5100611"]},{"q":"How do you get to the festival grounds?","a":"The 2027 lantern area is right by HSR Miaoli Station, so the high-speed rail is easiest, and TRA Fengfu Station connects to it too. For Pingxi, take the train from Taipei to Ruifang and change to the Pingxi Line. In Yanshui the town centre closes to traffic from 15:00 on Lantern Festival day, so take a bus from TRA Xinying Station.","sources":["https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202603170324.aspx","https://www.twtainan.net/yanshuifireworks"]}],"sources":["https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202603170324.aspx","https://www.motc.gov.tw/ch/app/data/view?module=news&id=14&serno=341849c6-7b19-46c1-9b1a-dcba678193df","https://www.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0044351","https://udn.com/news/story/7266/9354317","https://udn.com/news/story/7266/9394116","https://newtaipei.travel/file/3794","https://www.nownews.com/news/6790216","https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002099","https://udn.com/news/story/7241/9464732","https://www.twtainan.net/yanshuifireworks","https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/zh/news/5100611"],"key_takeaways":[{"text":"The 2027 Taiwan Lantern Festival is around HSR Miaoli Station in Houlong, Miaoli, provisionally 20 February to 7 March. The 2026 edition ran 3–15 March in Chiayi.","date":"2027-02-20","scope":"festival","source_url":"https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202603170324.aspx","source_label":"cna.com.tw"},{"text":"Three separate events share the Lantern Festival season: the Taiwan Lantern Festival, Pingxi's sky lanterns and the Yanshui beehive fireworks. All three fall on the same night, 20 February, in 2027.","date":"2027-02-20","scope":"festival","source_url":"https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202603170324.aspx","source_label":"cna.com.tw"},{"text":"The 2027 theme is \"Between Mountains and Sea: Slow City, Miaoli Light\". Miaoli County dropped a plan for separate main and secondary zones and put the whole festival in the HSR special district.","date":"2026-03-03","scope":"festival","source_url":"https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202603170324.aspx","source_label":"cna.com.tw"}],"reading_outline":[{"id":"executive-summary","label":"Summary"},{"id":"facts","label":"Key facts"},{"id":"city-routes","label":"Places and routes"},{"id":"faq","label":"FAQ"},{"id":"planning","label":"Trip planning"}],"topic":{"chain":["trips","taiwan-festivals","taiwan-lantern-festival","taiwan-lantern-festival-2026"]},"status":"published","hero_image":{"src":"/hero/taiwan-lantern-festival-2026.webp","alt":"Taiwan Lantern Festival 2027: 20 February–7 March (est.), around HSR Miaoli Station"},"editorial":{"tagline":"In 2027 the lantern zones fill about 30 hectares around HSR Miaoli Station","paragraphs":["The Taiwan Lantern Festival goes to a different host county every year. The 2026 edition in Taibao, Chiayi County, ran 13 days from 3 to 15 March and drew about 13.6 million visits by the county's preliminary count. In 2027 it moves to Houlong Township in Miaoli County, provisionally opening on Yuanxiao and running for 16 days. Yuanxiao is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the last night of the New Year holiday.","Miaoli County considered reusing the Zhunan–Toufen sports park that hosted the 2011 centenary lantern festival, and also looked at splitting the event into main and secondary zones. County magistrate Chung Tung-chin settled on a single site: the HSR special district around HSR Miaoli Station, about 30 hectares of county-owned and leased private land. The 2027 theme is \"Between Mountains and Sea: Slow City, Miaoli Light\".","The centrepiece is the main lantern, with a new theme each edition. In 2026 it was \"Light Bathing: The World's Alishan\", with timed light-and-music shows after dark. Around it are display zones from county and city governments, companies and schools, together covering more ground than the main lantern area.","On Yuanxiao night the Pingxi sky lanterns in New Taipei and the Yanshui fireworks in Tainan run at the same time, in two other counties. In Pingxi the lanterns rise one by one up the valley; in Yanshui the main fireworks fortress at Yanshui Junior High School shoots rockets into a crowd in full protective gear."]},"guide":{"lede":"Yuanxiao night means picking one: the Pingxi sky lanterns and the Yanshui fireworks happen at the same time as the opening. In Miaoli the lantern area is right by the HSR station, a short walk from the train.","sections":[{"heading":"2027 dates and venue","body":"The 2027 Taiwan Lantern Festival is hosted by **Miaoli County**, provisionally **opening on Yuanxiao night**, with the lantern area concentrated in the HSR special district **around HSR Miaoli Station in Houlong**, about 30 hectares.\n\nThe 2026 edition was in Taibao, Chiayi County. The host county changes every year, which is why you see different cities named online."},{"heading":"Lantern Festival, Pingxi sky lanterns and Yanshui fireworks: the differences","body":"The same Lantern Festival season has three separate events. **① The Taiwan Lantern Festival**: an official main lantern (new theme each edition) plus county and city lantern zones, with the host county rotating each year; it ran 13 days in 2026 and is provisionally set for 16 days in 2027. **② The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival** (Pingxi, New Taipei): lanterns inscribed with wishes are released in waves over the valley. **③ The Yanshui Beehive Fireworks** (Yanshui, Tainan): rocket towers fire bottle rockets into the crowd, and it is the only one of the three that requires a helmet and full-body cover. Pick the event first, then the city."},{"heading":"The main lantern and the lantern zones: arrive at dusk","body":"The main lantern has a new theme each edition, with timed light shows after dark. **Arriving at dusk** means smaller crowds: find a spot with a clear view of the whole lantern, then wait for the evening show. The county and corporate displays around it cover more ground than the main lantern area, so leave separate time for them."},{"heading":"Pingxi sky lanterns: how release works and the rules","body":"The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is run by the New Taipei City Government. In 2026 the mass releases took place on two nights, 27 February and 3 March (Yuanxiao). Release lanterns only at the official sessions and follow the rules, never under power lines or anywhere release is not allowed. From Taipei, take the train to Ruifang and change to the Pingxi Line."},{"heading":"Yanshui Beehive Fireworks: gear and safety","body":"Yanshui is not a fireworks show you watch from a distance: once a rocket tower is lit, the bottle rockets fly flat into the people around it. Full-body gear is required to enter the main firing zone at Yanshui Junior High School, and the Yanshui Wu Temple recommends non-flammable materials for the helmet, neck towel, heavy jacket, gloves and the rest. **If you don't want to be hit, or have children with you, stay outside the firing zone.**"},{"heading":"One night, three choices: Miaoli, Pingxi or Yanshui","body":"On Yuanxiao night the Taiwan Lantern Festival opens in Miaoli while Pingxi and Yanshui run the same night in two other counties, so one night means one choice. For something **family-friendly and safe**, go to the **Miaoli lantern area** (it runs for weeks, so opening night is optional). For **sky lanterns in a mountain valley**, go to **Pingxi**. If you are fully equipped and willing to be hit by rockets, go to **Yanshui**. Since the lantern festival runs for weeks, you can spend Yuanxiao night in Pingxi or Yanshui and visit Miaoli on a weekday afterwards."},{"heading":"Getting there and where to stay","body":"The 2027 lantern area is right by **HSR Miaoli Station**, which connects to TRA Fengfu Station. For Pingxi, take the train from Taipei to Ruifang and change to the **Pingxi Line**. Yanshui's town centre closes to traffic from 15:00 on Lantern Festival day, so take a bus from TRA Xinying Station. Rooms in Miaoli get scarce around Yuanxiao, so book early.\n\nThe county has made securing land for shuttles and parking a priority; shuttle and parking arrangements for 2027 have not been announced."},{"heading":"An evening at the festival: main lantern to outer zones","body":"A common plan is to arrive at dusk, wait at the main lantern for the evening show, and then head out to the county and corporate zones. The outer displays are numerous and varied, and that is where most of the evening goes."},{"heading":"With older relatives and children: avoiding crowds","body":"Opening night and weekend evenings are crowded, so for shorter queues arrive at dusk on a weekday. With older relatives, avoid the crush right in front of the main lantern. The grounds are large, so keep children close. After the shows, everyone heads for the station at once, so plan your HSR or TRA train home before you go in."},{"heading":"Yuanxiao lanterns and the rotating host county","body":"Yuanxiao is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month and the last night of the New Year holiday, traditionally marked by carrying lanterns, viewing lantern displays and guessing lantern riddles. The Taiwan Lantern Festival turned it into a national event, with the host county chosen by the Tourism Administration and rotating every year: Taibao City in Chiayi County in 2026, Houlong in Miaoli County in 2027."}]},"kind":"festival","available_locales":["zh-TW","en","th","id"],"event_start_date":"2026-03-03","event_end_date":"2026-03-15","dates_estimated":false,"next_edition":{"start_date":"2027-02-20","end_date":"2027-03-07","estimated":true,"source":"https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202603170324.aspx"},"offers":[{"id":"thsr-pass","title":{"zh-TW":"台灣高鐵國旅聯票（車票＋景點組合）","en":"Taiwan High Speed Rail tickets with attraction add-ons","th":"ตั๋วรถไฟความเร็วสูงไต้หวัน พร้อมตั๋วสถานที่ท่องเที่ยวเสริม","id":"Tiket Kereta Cepat Taiwan dengan tambahan atraksi"},"merchant":"klook","utility":"transport","landing_url":"https://www.voucherdata.asia/go/taiwan-lantern-festival-2026?o=thsr-pass&locale=en&src=data","checked_at":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"lantern-joye-sanyi","title":{"zh-TW":"苗栗三義卓也小屋門票","en":"Joye Cottage, Sanyi (Miaoli) ticket","th":"ตั๋วโจเย่คอทเทจ ซานอี้ เหมียวลี่","id":"Tiket Joye Cottage, Sanyi (Miaoli)"},"merchant":"klook","utility":"ticket","landing_url":"https://www.voucherdata.asia/go/taiwan-lantern-festival-2026?o=lantern-joye-sanyi&locale=en&src=data","checked_at":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"lantern-shifeng-spa","title":{"zh-TW":"苗栗大湖石風溫泉城堡：湯屋・大眾湯","en":"Shi Feng Stone Spa, Dahu: private & public baths","th":"ออนเซ็นปราสาทหินสือเฟิง ต้าหู: ห้องส่วนตัวและบ่อรวม","id":"Shi Feng Stone Spa, Dahu: pemandian privat & umum"},"merchant":"klook","utility":"experience","landing_url":"https://www.voucherdata.asia/go/taiwan-lantern-festival-2026?o=lantern-shifeng-spa&locale=en&src=data","checked_at":"2026-10-13"}]}