2026 Taichung Shigang Hot Air Balloon Festival

The "2026 Taichung Shigang Hot Air Balloon Festival" will be grandly held from Saturday, August 22nd to Monday, August 24th, 2026. The event is themed "Shigang Takes Off, Happy Mountain Town" and is fully upgraded by integrating four major themes: "Happiness, Good Food, Music, and Family Fun." In addition to continuing the popular hot air balloon ascent experience, the festival will also feature Shigang's local agricultural specialties, food trucks, creative markets, and arts and cultural performances, inviting multiple famous artists and performing groups to take turns on stage. Activities will run from day to night, allowing visitors not only to gaze at hot air balloons soaring across the mountain town's sky but also to enjoy music performances and dazzling fireworks, experiencing Shigang's diverse charm that combines tourism, culture, and leisure amidst the mountain night. Highlights of this event include the world's only Taitung Tianhou Temple Mazu-shaped hot air balloon making its debut exhibition in Taichung, hot air balloon tethered flight experience, music concert (featuring popular groups like Nine One One, Golden Melody Award winner Ricky Hsiao, and other famous artists), food market, dazzling fireworks, and parent-child activities. Hot air balloon tethered ride experience information is as follows: (1) Event Dates | August 22nd to 24th, 2026. (2) Event Location | Tunghu Sports Park, Shigang District (at the end of Guoxiao Lane, Fengshi Road, Tunghu Village, Shigang District, Taichung City). (3) Tethered Rides | Two sessions daily: 5:00 AM to 7:30 AM, and 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM. (4) Ticket Purchase Information | On-site queueing for tickets opens 30 minutes before each session. (5) Ticket Price | NT$500 per ticket, limited to 150 tickets per session. (6) Hot Air Balloon Ride | Each ride lasts approximately 4 to 6 minutes, with 3 to 4 people per balloon. (7) Hot Air Balloon Ride Requirements | Children must be at least 110 cm tall and accompanied by a parent to ride. The 2026 Taichung Shigang Hot Air Balloon Festival will take place from August 22nd to 24th at Tunghu Sports Park in Shigang District. According to Wu Shih-wei, Director-General of the Civil Affairs Bureau, this year's festival specially features the world's only "Taitung Tianhou Temple Mazu-shaped hot air balloon" making its debut ascent in Taichung. In addition to hot air balloon exhibitions, tethered rides, night glow shows, food markets, and stage performances, the festival also offers recommended itineraries for a "One-Day Mountain Town Tour" and a "Two-Day Taichung Tour." This invites the public to use the hot air balloon carnival as a starting point to explore the mountain town, urban areas, and coastal attractions, savor local delicacies, and experience Taichung's rich and diverse tourism characteristics. "One-Day Mountain Town Tour": First, head to Shigang Dam to admire the Dajia River valley scenery, then cycle leisurely along the Dongfeng Bicycle Green Way, and visit Jiufang 3D Painted Village. At noon, savor authentic Hakka cuisine. In the afternoon, you can visit the Tunghu Hakka Culture Museum, Wufu Linmen Sacred Tree, and Dienhuo Canal Ecological Trail. In the evening, proceed to Tunghu Sports Park to enjoy the Mazu-shaped hot air balloon exhibition and related activities, experiencing the diverse charm of the mountain town's natural landscapes and cultural history all at once. "Two-Day Taichung Tour": On the first day, wander through Shigang and participate in the hot air balloon festival, then stay overnight in Taichung city center to experience shopping districts and night market delicacies. On the second day, you can plan a coastal or urban itinerary according to your preference, heading to Gaomei Wetlands, Wuqi Fishing Harbor, MITSUI Outlet Park Taichung Port, or visiting famous attractions such as the National Taichung Theater, Calligraphy Greenway, and Shenji New Village, fully experiencing Taichung's diverse facets that blend natural landscapes, arts and culture, gourmet food, and urban life. This year, with the hot air balloon festival as a starting point, the public is invited to slow down and immerse themselves in the mountain town, experiencing Shigang's rich natural landscapes, Hakka village culture, and local customs, while also extending their journey to various parts of Taichung to explore more tourism highlights. From August 22nd to 24th, everyone, young and old, is welcome to meet in Shigang. Explore the mountain town and savor local delicacies during the day, enjoy the hot air balloon exhibition in the evening, and take side trips to Taichung's unique attractions, creating unforgettable memories in a vibrant summer journey. For more event information, please visit the Shigang District Office Facebook fan page (https://www.facebook.com/shigang.district/?locale=zh_TW).