TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taichung Mayor Shiow-Yen Lu (盧秀燕) announced Monday (Jan. 5) that the 2026 Central Taiwan Lantern Festival will feature Finland's beloved Moomins (姆明一族) characters in a major international collaboration. The festival opens Feb. 15 at Taichung Central Park (水湳中央公園), showcasing the "Valley of the Moomins Under the Northern Lights" theme. Organizers plan to display Moomin-themed lanterns throughout the venue, marking one of Taiwan's largest fairytale-themed celebrations.
Vice President of the Legislative Yuan Chiang Chi-chen (江啟臣) and several legislators joined Mayor Lu at the Taichung City Government during a press conference at Citizen Square on Monday. Officials unveiled a 21-meter-tall Moomin installation and a 3D animation visible to the naked eye. The festival runs from Feb. 15 to March 3, with a rest day on Feb. 16, featuring Taiwan's largest fairytale scene.
Mayor Lu aims to create a citywide celebration, with several public spaces featuring Moomin installations at Taichung High-Speed Rail Station and Taichung Railway Station. The Water Resources Bureau of Taichung City Government showcased Moomin-themed lighting at the Taichung City Government building, known as the Yangming Building, on Sunday. The display attracted families seeking photo opportunities with the Nordic-themed installations.
The lighting event continues the "River of Light: Happiness Continues" zone, which began Dec. 17, incorporating a 3-meter-tall Moomin inflatable and family-themed lights. Water Resources Bureau Director Fan Shih-i (范世億) highlighted the display's main visual featuring the Moomin inflatable, complemented by Christmas trees and nighttime light projections. Snow effects activate at the top of each hour to evoke a Nordic "Snowy Forest" atmosphere. ◼