2026 Central Taiwan Lantern Festival - Taichung MOOMIN ON
Posted Date : 2026-01-21 62
Taichung MOOMIN ON
The 2026 Central Taiwan Lantern Festival will grandly take place from February 15 to March 3 at Taichung Central Park (closed on New Year's Eve). As Taiwan's largest local-scale lantern festival, it will present an immersive aurora show unparalleled in Taiwan!
Coinciding with the Year of the Horse in the lunar calendar, the Central Taiwan Lantern Festival collaborates with the globally beloved IP Moomin, which symbolizes love and courage, under the exhibition theme of "Moving on." The event also uses the homonym "MOOMIN ON" to echo the character's imagery, signifying that, as the era advances, Moomin accompanies everyone with courage and warmth, ushering in the new year and continuously amplifying happiness.
The Main Axis of Curation
The 2026 Central Taiwan Lantern Festival, curated around the Moomins IP, integrates cultural festivals, light-and-shadow art, air-supported membrane technology, and traditional crafts, creating seven themed exhibition zones to provide visitors with a pedestrian-friendly urban exhibition space. The curatorial content aligns with urban governance principles and sustainable development goals, conveying core values of love and inclusion through international collaboration with the Moomins.
Seven Exhibition Zones Introduction
Coinciding with the Year of the Horse in the lunar calendar, the Central Taiwan Lantern Festival collaborates with the globally beloved IP Moomin, which symbolizes love and courage, under the exhibition theme of "Moving on." The event also uses the homonym "MOOMIN ON" to echo the character's imagery, signifying that, as the era advances, Moomin accompanies everyone with courage and warmth, ushering in the new year and continuously amplifying happiness.
The Main Axis of Curation
The 2026 Central Taiwan Lantern Festival, curated around the Moomins IP, integrates cultural festivals, light-and-shadow art, air-supported membrane technology, and traditional crafts, creating seven themed exhibition zones to provide visitors with a pedestrian-friendly urban exhibition space. The curatorial content aligns with urban governance principles and sustainable development goals, conveying core values of love and inclusion through international collaboration with the Moomins.
Seven Exhibition Zones Introduction
Main Light Zone - The Moomins Valley Under the Aurora
Taiwan's Pioneer IP Mechanical Main Light in 2026
Taiwan's Only 60-Meter Fairy Tale Scene x Taiwan's Pioneer IP Mechanical Main Light x Taiwan's Most Beautiful Exotic Dream Aurora
The 2026 Taiwan Lantern Festival invited "The Moomins" to come to Taichung, a happy city, to create "The Moomins Valley under the Aurora." Breaking away from the frame that people could only view IP statically in the past, the main light show will combine with dynamic mechanical technology, allowing "The Moomins" to slowly move through the Woods on a circular rail train, in rhythm with the music and the fading of surrounding light and shadow. And with professional aerial silks dancers to present the leisurely appearance of butterflies flying, supplemented by color laser projection on the smoke to create an aurora effect, as well as the surprise of special effects bubbles.
Performance Time
Daily from 18:00 to 22:00 (final show at 21:30). ※The opening day (February 15th) will begin at 19:00. Performances will run every 30 minutes, each lasting 3 minutes.- Performance Team: National Taiwan College of Performing Arts.
- Music Production: Chia-Yi Lin and Chun-Yi Wu.
Riverside Zone - Riverside Adventure
A giant Moomin floats along the riverbank of Central Park, its solitary rowing posture under the starlight becoming the gentlest guardian of the lantern festival. The design utilizes water mist and colorful lighting effects to create a dreamlike world reminiscent of the Northern Lights. This "chasing dreams" raft symbolizes that, with love by your side, you can travel on life's journey with peace of mind.
Forest Zone - Camping Time
Following the joyful sounds from the depths of the forest, you enter the "Camping Time" exhibit created by Moomin. This area cleverly utilizes the park's topography to showcase a lakeside retreat, creating a space for the soul to settle and let go of the hustle and bustle. Through the two themes of "Starry Night by the Lake" and "Camping Under the Moon," The Moomins bring Scandinavian-style warmth to Taichung, narrating that care and companionship are the most trustworthy sources of love.
The Adventure Zone – Insects Awakening World
Thunderous roars herald the official arrival of spring! This immersive performance, titled "Awakening of Insects" and presented by the Construction Bureau of Taichung City Government, will take you on a captivating journey through nature, ecology, art, and culture. You might encounter ancient beasts deep in the misty forest, or hear the call of antiquity beside a giant stone arrangement. Get ready, the adventure begins!
Play Zone - Children's Fun Valley
Dear adults and children, are you ready for a colorful adventure? The Education Bureau of Taichung City Government, inspired by vibrant fairy tales, has created a dreamlike fairytale park that will leave both adults and children in awe! From the colorful "Children's Fun Valley" and the sweet "Smart Candy House," to "The Brave Musician," the fantastical "Field Miracle," "The Happy Carriage," "The Little Duck's Metamorphosis," the pink "Dream Flying Elephant," and the giant "Dream-Chasing Tree," families, couples, and friends can take photos and explore the scenes. Through the interactive light and shadow device, let's experience the magic of fairy tales coming true together!
Blessing Zone - Happy Wishing Village
The exhibition zone of the Civil Affairs Bureau of Taichung City Government takes the "tolerance" of the MOOMIN world as its core value, shapes the vision of "a land of abundant harvest," and creates a happy wishing village of ethnic harmony and local connection. As a cultural center blessed by faith, Taichung specially invited representative groups from four regions to highlight this cross-domain power, including the Dali Seven Generals Temple in the Tun (Rural) Area, the Wuqi Yongtian Temple in the Sea Area, the Fengyuan Cih Ji Gong in the Mountain Area, and the Nantun Wanhe Palace in the Urban Area, to show religious symbols and blessing events through lantern art, and to show the scene of the common blessing and harmonious coexistence of the gods in Taichung.
Ecological Zone - Animal Dream World
Welcome to the "Animal Dream World" created by the Agriculture Bureau of Taichung City Government! The ancient Egyptian cat goddess Bastet opens up a fantasy space, following the small white cat "Meow Meow" and the city bird "White-Eared Sibia" to explore the beauty of coexistence between humans and animals. Each light group has the significance of animal protection and environmental sustainability, inviting you to work together to safeguard the vision of "animals have homes and cities have love."
The Moomin Little Lantern
Coinciding with the Chinese Lunar Year of the Horse, this specially designed Moomin little lantern incorporates the element of "iron horse (bicycle)" to showcase Taichung's sunny, vibrant, and sustainable tourism city image. During the lantern festival, queues open at 4 pm every day, and small lanterns are distributed in limited quantities starting at 4:30 pm. 3000 on weekdays and 4000 on holidays, with a limit of one per person. Friends who like it must come to Central Park to admire the lanterns and bring home the cute Moomin lantern.
