The 2026 Zhuangwei Sand Dune Art Festival grandly opened, with the Starry Night Sand Dune Concert taking center stage. Huang Fei and Huang Shanliang will perform in succession on July 19th.
The 8th "2026 Zhuangwei Sand Dunes Art Festival," jointly organized by the Northeast Coast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration of the Tourism Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications (hereinafter referred to as the Northeast Coast Administration), the Yilan County Government, and the Zhuangwei Township Office of Yilan County, grandly opened on July 18 at the outdoor waterfront stage of the Zhuangwei Sand Dunes Ecological Park. Distinguished guests gathered at the event, including Wang Zhenhong, Deputy Director-General of the Tourism Administration; Lin Maosheng, Acting Magistrate of Yilan County Government; You Liyu, Director of the Northeast Coast Administration; Shen Songzhi, Advisor to Legislator Chen Junyu's Office; Huang Jianyong and Chen Fushan, Yilan County Councilors; Shen Qingshan, Mayor of Zhuangwei Township, Yilan County, and representatives from Zhuangwei Township; village chiefs; and members of the Greater Northeast Coast Tourism Advisory Group and industry partners, all attending to promote local tourism in Yilan. This year's event will feature four "Starry Night Sand Dune Concerts" on two weekends during July and August, combined with "Sand Dune Markets" and "Arts and Culture Experiences," aiming to lead visitors to deeply experience the local stories and natural scenery of Zhuangwei through a multi-sensory experience. The Zhuangwei Starry Night Sand Dune Concert will make its debut on July 18th! Chen Mingzhang will headline the concert, delivering an island story that will resonate along the Lanyang River. The first "Starry Night Sand Dune Concert" was kicked off by a blessing dance by the Kavalan Tribe Development Association of Yilan County. Following them, Hsieh Ying-hsiung & Hsieh Pao-hsuan, STACO, A_Root, and the Elf Dance Troupe took to the stage. The diverse musical styles intertwined with the natural scenery along the Lanyang River, and the singing had already captivated the audience from the very beginning. Many people even gathered in front of the stage to dance enthusiastically. As the night deepened, the atmosphere became more and more high-energy! The grand finale of the musical feast featured heavyweight Taiwanese singer Chen Ming-chang and the Formosa Tamsui Singing Troupe, who hoped to convey profound island stories through their songs, providing a perfect ending to the first day of the Zhuangwei Summer Festival. The Northeast Coast National Scenic Area Administration stated that the Zhuangwei Sand Dune Art Festival has entered its eighth year. This year's theme, "Floating Island and Flowing Sand," not only showcases Zhuangwei's unique geographical features but also deepens the dialogue between local culture and public participation. The Administration has long been committed to promoting sustainable tourism and local development. In addition to inviting domestic and international artists to create works in residencies, this year's event also expands its connections with local farmers, artisans, and arts groups, hoping to encourage tourists to slow down and deeply experience the natural landscapes and lifestyle aesthetics of the Greater Northeast Coast tourism area, thereby boosting local tourism revenue and cultural heritage. The golden lineup takes over on July 19th! Pili Heroes Mobile Game makes a surprise appearance! Those who missed the first day's performance shouldn't be disappointed, as the climax of the weekend will arrive on July 19th. Themed "Drifting in the Sand Sea," the show boasts an incredibly strong cast, including Lilium from Lily Puppet Theater, as well as legendary Pili puppet show singers Xi Qing, Huang Fengyi, Huang Shanliang, Huang Fei, Lai Fuzheng, Cai Jiaying, Qian Yi, Liu Yuxian, and others. Together with exquisite puppets, they will perform a perfect blend of traditional opera and contemporary pop music, making it an absolutely anticipated feast for both the eyes and ears. It's worth mentioning that a special "Pili Heroes Tour Zhuangwei - A Mobile Adventure" event will be held at the visitor center on both afternoons of the weekend. On the afternoon of the 19th, Pili heroes, cosplayers, and chibi-style mascots will make surprise appearances, accompanying everyone on a joyful mobile adventure through fun challenges, interactive experiences, and exciting mini-dramas. It's perfect for the whole family to enjoy together. The lineups for the remaining matches in August are equally star-studded: August 15 (Saturday) Shaanxi Galaxy: Go Go Machine Orchestra, Wu Wenfang, Xu Fukai, Sangbuyi. August 16 (Sunday) Sand Island Dream (Coming Soon): Original Brewing, Usay Kawlu, Fool and Idiot, Pai Xie Boy. Artist residency and community collaboration create new highlights in the landscape. This year's highlight of the land art is "a dialogue between local culture and public participation," with three groups of domestic and international artists collaborating with local residents to complete their works: Japanese artist Mayiko Kanno: Combining the "Pearl" body shape workshop, she incorporated rattan weaving techniques and collected local plants from the Zhuangwei sand dunes into her works, creating them in collaboration with the public. Not Wasting Cross-Village Lab (Lin Chun-tso, Yang Fang-yi): Launched the "Make Your Own Time Hourglass Workshop", incorporating the unique hourglasses created by residents into the work "Between Sands". Yilan-based artist Lin Szu-ying: Through the "Shape of Home" pulp sculpture workshop, participants were led to personally experience the creative process of sculpture and installation art. These three new works will be exhibited together with the park's existing 10 classic resident artworks, totaling 13 wonderful landscape creations that complement each other on site. They will also be paired with the park's specially collected "Taiwan Lantern Festival Masterpieces", allowing visitors to leisurely stroll through the park and deeply feel the immersion and edification of nature and art. Textured Sand Dune Market × Local Artisan Experience: Creating a Comprehensive Art Platform Beyond the visual and auditory feast, the "Sand Dune Market" on-site features stalls showcasing local farmers, creative handicrafts, and food from Zhuangwei Township, and regularly hosts photo-taking and prize-winning events. This year, visitors can also enjoy experiences from various organizations including Niu Tou Si Elementary School, Zhen Shi Gan Kan Rice Workshop, Wei Wei Co-creation Food and Agriculture Studio, Zang Tian Handmade Workshop, Goldfish Neighborhood, Yi Shi Life Studio, Wu Du You Ou Studio Theatre Troupe, Ai Jiu Tao's Crystal and Agate Sisters, Brother Studio, and local partners such as the Yilan County Kavalan Tribal Development Association. During the afternoons of the concert, these partners will host art exhibitions and limited-edition paid DIY workshops at the visitor center, working together to create a cultural and artistic platform connecting the local community. The Northeast Coast National Scenic Area Administration cordially invites people from all over the country to join in this grand event. Take advantage of the good weather this weekend and bring your families to Zhuangwei Sand Dunes in Yilan to experience this art feast that blends tourism, culture, and nature. For more event information, please continue to follow the Northeast Coast Tourism Information Network's " Zhuangwei Sand Dunes Art Festival Theme Website " and the " Friends of the Northeast Coast " Facebook fan page.