Taiwan Lunar New Year 2026 Travel Guide (Temple Fairs/New Year Shopping/Celebrations)
Overview
The 2026 Lunar New Year (Bing Wu year) falls on 17 February (the first day of the Lunar New Year, Tuesday). Taiwan's government public holiday runs from Chinese New Year's Eve (16 February) to the sixth day of the New Year (21 February), a total of 6 days. Taiwan's Lunar New Year is filled with traditional activities such as temple fairs, New Year markets, and lantern festivals. Dihua Street New Year Market is the most representative pre-New Year activity across Taiwan. Longshan Temple is packed with people on New Year's Eve, making it the best choice to experience the Taiwanese New Year atmosphere.
Key Dates and Events Calendar
2026 Lunar New Year Key Dates
| Date | Lunar | Day | Public Holiday | Main Activities/Customs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 February | 27th day of the 12th lunar month | Saturday | No | Dihua Street New Year Market peak season |
| 15 February | 28th day of the 12th lunar month | Sunday | No | New Year shopping and spring cleaning |
| 16 February | New Year's Eve | Monday | Yes | Reunion dinner and temple blessings |
| 17 February | First day of lunar new year | Tuesday | Yes | First day outing to see the God of Wealth at Longshan Temple |
| 18 February | Second day of lunar new year | Wednesday | Yes | Daughters' return to parental home day |
| 19 February | Third day of lunar new year | Thursday | Yes | Red Dog day (traditionally stay home) |
| 20 February | Fourth day of lunar new year | Friday | Yes | Gods' return day |
| 21 February | Fifth day of lunar new year | Saturday | Yes | Welcoming the God of Wealth, eating leftover food |
| 22 February | Sixth day of lunar new year | Sunday | No | Most shops reopen |
| 3 March | Lantern Festival | Tuesday | No | Lantern Festival/lantern riddles/floating lanterns |
Main Lunar New Year Event Locations in Taipei
| Location | Event Details | Transport | Opening Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dihua Street | New Year Market (mid-December to New Year's Eve) | 5 mins' walk from MRT Daqiao station | 10:00–22:00 |
| Longshan Temple | New Year's Eve blessings/queue to burn incense on New Year's Day | MRT Longshan Temple station | 24 hours (special days) |
| Xingtian Temple | New Year wealth prayers/divination | 5 mins' walk from MRT Xingtian Temple station | 04:00–22:30 |
| Taipei Lantern Festival | Lantern Festival themed area (location changes annually) | Varies by year | One week around Lantern Festival |
| Dajia Zhenlan Temple | Mazu procession preparations (lunar March) | Dajia, Taichung | — |
Detailed Information
Dihua Street New Year Market Guide
Dihua Street (Datong District, Taipei) is Taiwan's most historic north-south goods wholesale street, becoming the 'New Year Market' about 3 weeks before the Lunar New Year:
Must-Buy New Year Goods List：
| Goods Type | Representative Items | Price (TWD) |
|----------|----------|------------|
| Dried Goods/North-South Goods | Abalone/Shark's Fin/Scallop/Dried Shrimp | TWD 200–5,000/pack |
| Nuts and Snacks | Pistachios/Cashews/Pine Nuts | TWD 150–500/bag |
| Candy Gift Boxes | Nougat/Pineapple Cake/Mochi | TWD 100–500/box |
| Taiwanese Specialities | Mullet Roe (Taiwanese Mullet Roe, HKD 500+) | TWD 500–2,000 |
| New Year Flowers | Kumquat/Phalaenopsis/Chrysanthemum | TWD 100–800 |
Transport Tips：MRT Danshui-Xinyi Line to 'Daqiaotou Station' Exit 1, 5 minutes' walk. Weekends are extremely crowded; it is recommended to arrive before 10am or visit on a weekday.
Major Temple Spring Festival Activities
Longshan Temple (Taipei's Most Famous)
- New Year's Eve：Crowds begin gathering after 23:00, waiting for the first incense burning at midnight
- Early New Year's Day：The competition for the first incense is fierce; you need to arrive early to secure a spot
- New Year's Day to the Fifth Day：Daily crowds burning incense; it is recommended to go before 07:00 or after 16:00
- Special Events：Lantern Festival riddles/lantern exhibitions (see temple announcements for details)
Xingtian Temple (Merchants' God of Wealth Temple)
- During the Lunar New Year period, Guan Di is worshipped; Taipei business people visit most frequently
- Welcoming the God of Wealth on the Fifth Day: Traditionally, Fifth Day morning is the best time to worship the God of Wealth
- You can experience 'Zha-Sheng' (a unique Taiwanese folk healing ritual, free of charge)
Dazhi Mazu Temple (Taichung, Lunar Month 3)
- One of Taiwan's three major Mazu temples
- The 'Mazu Pilgrimage' is held in the Lunar Month 3 after the New Year (Taiwan's largest religious event)
- There are also special Dharma assemblies during the New Year period
New Year's Day to Sixth Day Customs (Practical Travel Information)
| Date | Custom | Travel Impact |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Eve | Reunion dinner, family gathering | Most restaurants closed or require booking |
| New Year's Day | Worship the gods, do not sweep, say auspicious words | Attractions open, most restaurants closed |
| Second Day | Return to maternal home | Some shops begin opening |
| Third Day | Red Dog Day, traditionally stay indoors | Taiwanese people travel less, fewer crowds at attractions! |
| Fourth Day | Welcoming the Gods Day | — |
| Fifth Day | Welcoming the God of Wealth, 'Breaking the Five', shops gradually reopen | Commercial areas begin returning to normal |
| After Sixth Day | Return to work with good luck | Essentially back to normal |
Travel Tip：Travelling on the Third Day is most comfortable with fewer crowds at attractions, but some shops remain closed.
Taiwan New Year's Eve (12/31) vs Lunar New Year Lantern Festival Comparison
| Event | Time | Venue | Cost | Crowd Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taipei 101 New Year's Eve Fireworks | 31st December 23:50–00:00 | Xinyi District | Free viewing (need to reserve a spot) | 100,000+ |
| Dadaocheng New Year's Eve Fireworks | Lunar New Year's Eve~ | Dadaocheng Pier | Free | 50,000+ |
| Taipei Lantern Festival | Around Lantern Festival (approximately early March 2026) | Varies yearly | Free | 100,000+ |
| Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival | On Lantern Festival day | Shifen/Pingxi | Lantern TWD 150–200 | 30,000+ |
Travel Notes
- From 2 weeks before to after Chinese New Year, average hotel prices in Taipei rise by 30–50%, so bookings should be made in advance.
- From the first to the fifth day of the Lunar New Year: most convenience stores remain open, but independent restaurants and street food stalls are generally closed.
- THSRC and Taiwan Railway tickets for the Chinese New Year holiday need to be purchased one month in advance (they are very popular).
- During the holiday period, Taiwan's motorways are severely congested; taking the THSRC or Taiwan Railway is recommended instead.
- At midnight on New Year's Eve, there are huge crowds near Longshan Temple, with pickpockets about – please take care of your belongings.
- Macau travellers usually depart on the second or third day of the Lunar New Year, which avoids the most crowded first day.
Related Resources
- [[FactcheckDocs/TW/TW_datatable_taiwan_lantern_festival_2026_v1]]
- [[FactcheckDocs/TW/TW_datatable_年度活動日曆_v3]]
- [[KNOWLEDGE_MAP]]
Data Sources / Related Verification
The information in this article is compiled from internal FactcheckDocs (TW_datatable_taiwan_lunar_new_year_2026_v1.md), using publicly available official data from the TW region and industry documents. Should you require verification details, please refer to the authority sources at the end of the page.
[[FactcheckDocs/TW/TW_datatable_年度活動日曆_v3]][[KNOWLEDGE_MAP]]
Taiwan Market Data
Taiwan 2023 visitors 8.1 million, GDP USD 759 billion, night market culture renowned worldwide, 2024 Michelin 13 one-star restaurants.
| Indicator | Data | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Visitors | 8.1 million | Tourism Bureau |
| GDP | USD 759 billion | DGBAS |
| Michelin | 13 | Michelin |
