The 2026 Taitung Hot Air Balloon Festival (Taiwan International Balloon Festival) runs July 4 to August 20 at Luye Highland in Taitung, closed every Tuesday. This year’s themed balloons feature the anime IP Chiikawa (ちいかわ) series, with 8 Night Glow concerts, held alongside the Taitung Expo. Tethered balloon rides cost NT$550–650 per person, and tickets are available on-site and online.
內容目錄
2026 Taitung Hot Air Balloon Festival dates and location
Dates: July 4 (Sat), 2026 – August 20 (Thu), 2026
Location: Luye Highland, Taitung
The 2026 Taitung Hot Air Balloon Festival runs from July 4 all the way to August 20, closed every Tuesday, with balloon displays and tethered rides every other day. Highlights this year include: the Chiikawa themed balloon making its debut (ground display only), 8 Night Glow concerts paired with drone shows and fireworks, and a tie-in with the Taitung County Expo, making the event bigger than ever.
On opening day, July 4, there will be a special mass balloon launch premiere. Only balloon displays are offered that day, with no tethered rides, so if you want to ride, plan your trip from July 5 onward.
Read on for full details on the Taitung balloon festival, Night Glow concert times, how to get there, and tips for booking tethered rides, so you can plan your summer trip to Taitung in one go!
Best times to watch the 2026 Taitung balloons
Think you can take your time once the session starts? In fact, the sky fills with balloons right from the start!
| Session | Event hours | Best viewing time | Venue |
| Morning session | 5:30–7:00 a.m. | 5:30 a.m. | Luye Highland |
| Afternoon session | 5:00–6:30 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. | Luye Highland |
(Weather permitting, balloon displays and tethered rides are held every day during the festival!)
Taitung balloon festival venue map
2026 Taitung balloon-spotting log, latest update – June 30 version
The most anticipated themed balloon of 2026 is the hugely popular anime character Chiikawa (ちいかわ) series! The confirmed themed balloon this year is Chiikawa (on site every day), currently planned as a ground display only with no tethered rides, so you can get up close for photos.
| Themed balloon | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chiikawa (ちいかわ) | Ground display only | No tethered rides; on site every day |
| Themed balloons from other countries | Ground display and flight display | No tethered rides; see the chart below for details |
Night Glow concerts: times, dates, venues, and guest lineup
Night Glow concerts 2026: details for all 8 events
There are 8 Night Glow concerts planned for the 2026 Taitung balloon festival, paired with drone shows and fireworks.
| Night Glow concert | Performing guests | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Night Glow concert – opening show | Pets Tseng, 831 | 7/5 (Sun) | 19:00 | Taitung International Landmark |
| Night Glow concert – starlight show | Yanwei Wang, Sam Lee | 7/9 (Thu) | 19:00 | Luye Highland |
| Night Glow Concert – Starlight Session | Nam Min-jin & Lee Hao-zhen, Bii | 7/16 (Thu) | 19:00 | Luye Highland |
| Night Glow Concert – Dawn Session | To be announced | 7/23 (Thu) | 4:00 | Taimali Sunrise Park |
| Night Glow Concert – Starlight Session | GENBLUE | 7/30 (Thu) | 19:00 | Luye Highland |
| Night Glow Concert – Starlight Session | To be announced | 8/6 (Thu) | 19:00 | Chishang Dapo Pond |
| Night Glow Concert – Starlight Session | Claire Kuo, Van Fan | 8/13 (Thu) | 19:00 | Taitung International Landmark |
| Night Glow Concert – Closing Session | Hsu Wei-hsiang, Crowd Lu | 8/20 (Thu) | 19:00 | Luye Highland |
For the 2026 Taitung balloon festival night glow concerts, 11 singers and groups have already been confirmed, including Crowd Lu, Pets Tseng and 831.
Each session has a different lineup, so check who’s performing before you go after tickets!
Tethered balloon ride information
At the Taitung balloon festival, besides watching all kinds of hot air balloons at Luye Highland, visitors can also take a tethered balloon ride and enjoy the night glow concerts.
Tethered ride dates
07/04 (Sat) – 08/20 (Thu)
* On opening day, July 4, tethered rides are not available in the morning due to the mass free-flight event.
* On 07/05, 07/16, 07/30 and 08/20, afternoon tethered rides coincide with the night glow concerts, and tickets are sold on site only.
Tethered ride times
Every tethered balloon ride in Taitung lasts about 5–7 minutes!
| Date | Session | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 07/05 (Sun) – 08/20 (Thu) | Morning session | 05:30–07:00 |
| 07/04 (Sat) – 08/20 (Thu) | Afternoon session | 17:00–18:30 |
How to buy tethered ride tickets
1. On-site ticket sales
Weekday ticket: NT$550 for Monday–Thursday sessions, limit 2 tickets per person per session.
Weekend ticket: NT$650 for Friday–Sunday sessions, limit 2 tickets per person per session.
2. Online reservation
Go to the online reservation platform for tethered rides at the 2026 Taiwan International Balloon Festival
If someone cancels during the festival, the spot goes straight back into the system, so there’s always a chance of grabbing a released ticket — it’s worth refreshing the page now and then.
Ticket notes:
※ Riders must be at least 110 cm tall.
※ There is only one ticket type, at a single price.
※ On-site sales are limited to 2 tickets per person per session; one ticket admits one person.
※ The number of on-site tickets released each day depends on the weather and will be announced on site, while supplies last.
※ Tethered rides mainly use standard balloons.
Tethered ride check-in times
| Date | Session | Check-in time |
|---|---|---|
| 07/05 (Sun) – 08/20 (Thu) | Morning session | 05:00–06:00 |
| 07/04 (Sat) – 08/20 (Thu) | Afternoon session | 16:30–17:30 |
Things to know about the tethered balloon ride
- Tethered balloon flight times and takeoff/landing points depend on wind direction and wind speed. For safety reasons, the experience may be delayed or canceled due to unstable weather, and during the ride the pilot has full authority to carry out a technical landing, which passengers must accept.
- Any changes to the event will be announced on Facebook, the official website and Instagram, as well as on site by the organizers. Follow these channels in advance for the latest news.
- Riders must be at least 110 cm tall. Children who are 110 cm or taller but not yet in elementary school must be accompanied by an adult family member.
- Rides are not permitted for anyone who is intoxicated, has a fear of heights, high blood pressure, asthma or cardiovascular disease, is carrying a pet, or is pregnant. If you get nervous easily, are afraid of heights or feel unwell, it’s best not to ride.
- Do not make any dangerous movements during the ride, and do not touch any of the equipment inside the basket.
⚠️ No drones allowed: flying drones is completely banned at Luye Highland during the event, with fines of up to NT$1.5 million for violations.
How to get to the Taitung Balloon Festival
There are three main ways to reach the Taitung Balloon Festival: the shuttle bus, a taxi, or renting a car and driving yourself.
2026 Taitung Balloon Festival transportation at a glance
| Transportation | Shuttle bus | Taxi | Car rental |
|---|---|---|---|
| Route and stops | Taitung Bus Station ↓ Taitung Train Station ↓ Kuncitang Temple ↓ Luye Train Station ↓ Luye Visitor Center ↓ Luye Highland | Taitung Train Station ↓ hail a taxi → Luye Highland | Taitung Train Station ↓ car rental shop → Luye Highland |
| Time needed | About 60 minutes | About 40–50 minutes | About 40–50 minutes |
| Cost | NT$190/person one-day pass | About NT$165–315/person round trip | About NT$260/person 5-seater sedan NT$1,280/day, parking NT$150 per entry |
| Flexibility | Low | Medium | High |
Rent a car in Taitung to see the balloon festival
Most car rental shops in Taitung are near the train station, and some even offer free pickup and drop-off at Taitung Airport!
Rent a scooter in Taitung to see the balloon festival
If parking sounds like too much hassle, or you don’t drive a car, you can also rent a scooter once you arrive in Taitung.
Most of the rental companies near Taitung Train Station offer scooter rentals too!
Taking the shuttle bus from Taitung to the balloon festival
Taitung Balloon Festival FAQ
A: From Saturday, July 4 to Thursday, August 20, 2026, closed every Tuesday. On opening day (July 4) there is a mass balloon launch, and no tethered rides are offered in the morning; tethered rides run in both the morning and afternoon sessions starting from the afternoon of July 4.
A: Yes. Each tethered ride lasts about 5–7 minutes. Weekdays (Monday to Thursday) are NT$550; weekends (Friday to Sunday) are NT$650. Tickets can be bought on site or online.
A: This year’s theme is the hugely popular anime IP Chiikawa (ちいかわ), and the confirmed themed balloon is Chiikawa. Hachiware and Usagi will appear in a drone show. Note that all Chiikawa balloons are ground displays only and are not open for tethered rides, but you can take photos up close on site. For the other countries’ shaped balloons, see the official balloon-tracking log.
A: Balloon flights depend on wind speed and weather, and the organizers reserve the right to delay or cancel tethered rides for safety reasons. Changes are announced first on the official Facebook page, the official website and Instagram, so check before you head out.
A: Admission to the Night Glow concert is free and no ticket is needed. It’s worth arriving early to claim a spot, as popular sessions draw big crowds, and if you’re taking the shuttle bus, keep an eye on the last departure time.
A: We recommend renting a car and driving yourself — it’s the most flexible option, isn’t tied to shuttle bus schedules, and lets you plan the trip there and back freely. There are several car rental companies near Taitung Train Station, with rates starting at about NT$1,280 a day. If you don’t drive, you can take the official shuttle bus (NT$150/person round trip) from Taitung Bus Station; the trip takes about 60 minutes.
Photo highlights from the Taitung Balloon Festival
Every summer, the colorful balloons that lift off from Luye Highland in Taitung fill the sky with color and draw travelers from all over the world to the longest-running balloon festival anywhere.
Read more about traveling in Taitung:
👉[Taitung Car Rental] Recommended rental companies and a full breakdown of prices — everything in one article!
👉[Daylily Season] 2026 guide to Liushishi Mountain in Hualien, Taimali in Taitung and the daylily season (updated regularly)
👉 [Comparing the 5 Big Online Car Rental Services] iRent, Zipcar, gogoout, LINE GO and Go Smart — a complete comparison
👉 Car rental in Taiwan [Self-Drive Guide]: recommended companies and what to watch out for — everything in one article!
👉 How is the cost of renting a car in Hualien calculated? A complete guide to train station pickup and one-way rentals
Looking for a rental car?
Head to gogoout
Worried about spending hours trying to decide which rental company to book with, with unclear details about the cars
and vague insurance terms that keep you from making up your mind?
↓↓↓ Enter your dates and times below to see Taitung car rentals right away ↓↓↓
A look back at the 2025 Taitung hot air balloon festival
↓
Taitung hot air balloons — 2025 shaped balloons and balloon-chasing diary
For the 2025 Taiwan International Balloon Festival, the event teamed up with Doraemon to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the movie series. The world’s only Doraemon-shaped hot air balloon, exclusive to Taitung, soared over Taitung’s skies with everyone in 2025!
Before 2016, the Taitung hot air balloon festival featured fewer than 20 shaped balloons each year. That number passed 30 in 2017 and reached 40 in 2022, and since 2023 even more distinctive balloons have joined the lineup!
Below is the latest balloon-chasing diary from 2025 — see which ones you missed!
This article was translated by AI from the original Chinese version.
