Asia-Pacific Traditional Arts Festival to be held in Yilan

The 2026 Asia-Pacific Traditional Arts Festival, themed ‘Where All Waters Meet’, will be held at the National Center for Traditional Arts in Yilan from October 3 to 11. The festival focuses on the relationship between humanity and nature through the themes of historical myths, religious celebrations, and reverence for nature.

International performing groups from India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan will participate, presenting music, dance, drama, and folk arts centered on river and ocean cultures. Featured performances include Japanese ‘Teuma’ magic, Korean shamanic ritual dances, Indonesian epic storytelling, and Indian folk music. Local Taiwanese teams will also present works inspired by indigenous myths and local water-related folklore.

In addition to theater performances, the event includes street parades, international markets, and ‘Cultural Roaming DIY’ workshops. These hands-on activities allow participants to experience various cultures through crafts such as Thai floating lanterns, Indonesian shell keychains, Indian Henna, Japanese paper crafts, and Korean traditional accessories. Indoor theater tickets will be available for online reservation starting September 1, while DIY workshop registration opens on September 21.