TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The 2026 Taiwan International Balloon Festival (2026年臺灣國際熱氣球嘉年華) will run from July 4 to Aug. 20 at Luye Plateau (鹿野高台) in southeastern Taiwan, Taitung County Government (臺東縣政府) announced on Tuesday (March 31). The 48-day event will feature characters from the popular Japanese anime Chiikawa (ちいかわ, 吉伊卡哇), coinciding with the summer theatrical release of "Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island."
Organizers will hold an international press conference on Friday (April 11) at Taitung County Stadium (臺東縣立體育場) to promote the festival. Chiikawa, along with characters Hachiware (ハチワレ, 小八貓) and Usagi (うさぎ, 兔兔), will appear and interact with fans during the event. The anime franchise, created by illustrator Nagano, has gained a devoted following in Taiwan and across Asia since its 2020 debut.
Hot air balloon displays will take place twice daily throughout the festival, except on Tuesdays when the venue is closed for maintenance. Morning sessions run from 5:30 a.m. to 7 a.m., and evening sessions from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., subject to weather conditions. Each balloon can carry approximately 200 kilograms (440 pounds), accommodating three to four passengers for tethered rides lasting five to seven minutes.
Luye Plateau, situated at an elevation of approximately 350 meters (1,150 feet) and known for its panoramic views and stable air currents, is one of Taiwan's few locations suitable for hot air balloon flights. Nearby attractions include the Shikano Shinto Shrine (鹿野神社) and Longtian Green Tunnel (鹿野龍田綠色隧道), which offer visitors Japanese colonial-era architecture and tree-lined cycling paths through pineapple and tea plantations.