It feels strange to write this now, but my most recent trip to Taiwan hinged on me being able to attend the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival. Had I not been able to work that piece of my itinerary out, I likely would’ve postponed or even canceled.
The good news? I found a workaround to the abysmal award availability which, in combination with my last-minute hotel fix (more on that in a second) ensured that I would be able to take part in the festival. Well, assuming that my flight was on-time, and that the in-person ticketing process went off without a hitch. (Spoiler alert: It did.)
If you’re considering attending the next Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, I’ve very glad that you’ve navigated here. I’m hoping I can save you from some of the trouble I experienced!
Why I Find Taiwan’s Sky Lantern Festival(s) So Confusing
As 2025 faded into 2026—literally; I spent New Year’s Eve on a flight that saw January 1 literally disappear over the International Date Line—I had a bad feeling about the lantern festival, which was still more than two months away at that point. I had no idea where the feeling came from, but it turns out it was spot on: I had not only booked my Pingxi hotel for the wrong dates (March 4 instead of March 3), but for the wrong city.
The second (and better) edition of the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, you see, actually takes place in Shifen rather than Pingxi (which is where the first takes place). That was the bad news. The good news? By some stroke of luck, I managed to find availability for a room right in the heart of Shifen, which would save me from having to rush back to Taipei after the conclusion of the festival (even though this isn’t necessarily a bad option—more on that in a second).
What to Know About the Pingxi Lantern Festival
There are two
If we are just talking about the lantern festivals with the Pingxi designation, there are actually two: The one in Pingxi takes place on the first day of Chinese New Year; on the last day of the holiday, 15 days later, a second (and better) edition of the festival takes place near Shifen Old Street. This matters a lot if you plan to stay overnight for one or both of the festivals.
(Well, more than two if we’re being technical)
Of course, this doesn’t tell the whole story of the Taiwan lantern festival, at least not if you expand the definition of “lantern.” If you do—specifically, to include illuminated and attached-to-the-ground installations that are only lanterns in a literal sense, i.e. that they’re lit-up—then you can attend a national lantern festival (in 2026, it was in Chiayi) and a Taipei one, in the Ximen district, as well.
Dates are different ever year
I mention the dates of the festival relative to the Chinese New year holiday for a reason, because this is what the dates are based on. While not set in stone, the Pingxi edition of the festival generally takes place on Chinese New Year itself, which in 2027 is on February 6. In theory, the Shifen one should happen 15 days later; if that pattern holds next year, it will mean a Shifen lantern festival on February 21, 2027.
Getting tickets can be an ordeal
The good news? If you are in line for tickets (whether at the Shifen lantern festival or the Pingxi one) no later than 10:30 AM, you should get tickets—and they’re free. The bad news? Although the mechanism of getting tickets is simple (i.e. just wait patiently), that patient wait can easily extend for an hour or more. Moreover, when you arrive in the evening for your designated time slot, you’ll need to wait even longer.
Sky lanterns are controversial
Walking to Shifen Waterfall the morning after the festival, I saw the riverbed below strewn with literally dozens of lantern carcasses. This saddened me, but it didn’t surprise me—what goes up must come down, which has led some Taiwanese (but mostly angry, holier-than-thou expats) to call for the tradition to be abolished. I don’t pass judgment one way or another, but you should at least be aware of this tension before you yourself participate.
Is Taiwan’s Sky Lantern Festival Worth It?
As you might remember if you followed my latest trip to Taiwan (or, if you’re reading this in the far future, my March 2026 trip), I nearly didn’t take…or, rather, couldn’t take it. I fly long-haul almost exclusively with points, and simply couldn’t find any availability. In order to soften the blow of what seemed like an inevitable last-minute cancellation, I pondered whether missing the lantern festival would actually be such a big deal. Was the festival even worth attending?
I say this because while I’m happy I saw the Taiwan sky lanterns with my own eyes, I wouldn’t say that doing so was one of my top travel experiences, not even within Taiwan. For me, it was more of an opportunity to create content, as well as removing yet another item from my Taiwan bucket list. By contrast, the stress of almost not getting a hotel and the misery of the near-contest rain falling counteracted a lot of the exhilaration I might otherwise have felt.
Other FAQ About the 2027 Taiwan Sky Lantern Festival
Where is the Lantern Festival in Taiwan?
The main Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival has two dates: The first, which is on the first day of Chinese New Year, takes place in Pingxi; the second, on the last day, is in Shifen. Beyond this, however, there are festivals throughout Taiwan that feature “grounded” lanterns that are illuminated by are never released into the sky.
Is Taiwan Lantern Festival worth it?
The Taiwan Lantern Festival is definitely enjoyable if you work out the logistics beforehand, and make peace with any difficulty of discomfort in advance. Likewise, it’s “worth it” if it fits into a trip that would see you in Taiwan at that time anywah, though I wouldn’t come just for the festival, if I were you.
Is Taiwan Lantern Festival free?
Surprisingly, the tickets to the Taiwan Sky Lantern Festival are completely free! You just need to be in line by 10:30 AM on the day of the festival, and be prepared to wait as long as necessary to get your tickets. With this being said, you’ll also need to pay for transportation from Taipei to Pingxi and/or Pingxi and back, and maybe a hotel in one of both cities if you want to stay the night. So while the festival is free, the experience isn’t.
The Bottom Line
Is the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival worth it? To be honest, it really depends on your situation. If you’ll be in Taiwan anyway, and if getting to Pingxi and/or Shifen isn’t a hassle, I’d say you should go for it. On the other hand, the festivals is interesting but not life-changing, and because of the time of year it takes place, it’s likely to be cool (maybe even cold) and rainy, which is not ideal weather for spending hours of the day queueing, never mind local environmental concerns about the lanterns themselves. Need personalized assistance planning out your Taiwan itinerary, whether or not it involves a lantern festival? Consider hiring me to help!
