Thousands of paper lanterns drifting into the night sky above a narrow mountain valley make the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival one of Taiwan's most striking annual events, and one of the most photographed festivals in Asia. Held in New Taipei City's Pingxi District, the festival pairs the lantern releases with night markets, folk performances, and traditional street food, all set against the backdrop of the old Pingxi railway line. Here's what to know about the 2026 festival dates, where to stand, and how to get there.

Most travellers fly into Taipei before making the trip out to Pingxi, so booking flights is the natural first step.

The tradition traces back to the Qing dynasty, when Pingxi's mountain villages were vulnerable to bandit raids during the winter months. Residents would retreat further into the hills for safety, and upon confirming it was safe to return, they released lanterns into the sky as a signal to the rest of the village that danger had passed. That original safety signal evolved over generations into the wish-making ritual seen today, where visitors write hopes for the coming year directly onto the lantern's paper panels before letting it go.

What started as a village-specific practice grew into a major organised event by the 1990s, now drawing visitors from across Taiwan and increasingly from overseas specifically for the release. The festival has become closely tied to the end of Lunar New Year celebrations, typically marking one of the final major events on the holiday calendar.

The 2026 festival runs across two separate sessions in two nearby towns: February 27 in Pingxi itself, and March 3 in Shifen. Both sessions hold their main lantern releases between 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm, with mass releases sending hundreds of lanterns into the sky together roughly every 20 minutes throughout the evening.

Shifen tends to draw the larger crowds thanks to its dramatic setting around the old railway tracks and nearby Shifen Waterfall, while Pingxi's session offers a slightly more local, small-town atmosphere. Travellers who can only attend one date should weigh the railway-track photo opportunities at Shifen against the marginally thinner crowds typically found at the Pingxi session.

Vendors line the streets around both event sites selling traditional Taiwanese snacks, from stinky tofu to grilled squid, alongside stalls specifically selling the large paper lanterns used in the release. Buying and decorating a lantern on-site is part of the standard experience, with vendors offering brushes and ink for writing wishes directly onto the paper.

Traditional performances, including drumming and dance troupes, run alongside the market stalls throughout the evening, giving visitors something to watch while waiting for each mass release. Small games and activities aimed at families also pop up around the main viewing areas.

Attending and watching the festival is free, but sending an individual lantern into the sky requires registering with the local organising committee on-site, since uncontrolled releases raise fire and safety concerns in the surrounding hills. Registration is handled at designated tables near the main viewing areas and typically involves a short wait during peak hours.

A hotel booked in Taipei keeps the day trip out to Pingxi and Shifen manageable without an early departure.

The Pingxi Branch Line runs directly from Ruifang Station to both Pingxi and Shifen, making the local train the most straightforward option for visitors coming from Taipei on festival days.

Additional shuttle buses typically run during the festival period to help manage the surge in visitor numbers, supplementing the regular train service on the two event dates.

Taxis are available in the area for travellers wanting more flexibility, though the narrow mountain roads and event-day traffic can make this a slower option compared to the train during peak arrival and departure times.

Many visitors pair the Pingxi festival with a stop in nearby Jiufen, the hillside old town famous for its lantern-lined tea houses and mountain views over the coast. A guided day tour, bookable through Traveloka's activities listings, is a convenient way to combine both destinations without arranging separate transport.

Both Pingxi and Shifen fill up quickly in the hours before the first mass release, so arriving at least an hour ahead secures a clearer view and shorter wait to buy and register a lantern.

Late February and early March evenings in the Pingxi hills run cooler than in central Taipei, so a warm layer is worth packing even if the daytime temperature feels mild.

Staying overnight closer to Shifen rather than making a same-day round trip from Taipei allows for a calmer morning walk along the old railway tracks before the crowds arrive for the evening release.

Getting between Taipei and the wider Pingxi district is simple with an airport transfer covering the arrival leg, and a car rental is a useful option for travellers wanting to extend the trip into Taiwan's wider Northern Coast afterward.

A single evening watching hundreds of lanterns rise together over the Pingxi valley is one of Taiwan's most memorable travel experiences, and one worth building an itinerary around. Traveloka is Southeast Asia's leading travel platform, trusted by over 100 million users, bringing flights, hotels, activities, car rental, eSIM, and travel insurance together in one app for trips across Asia and beyond. Check Traveloka promotions before booking, and download the app ahead of festival season.