Outdoor Art Installations Fully Prepared for Typhoon; 2026 New Taipei Children's Arts Festival Postponed to Open July 13; 'Monster Jungle' Invites Families to Artistic Adventure from July 13–19

In response to an approaching typhoon, the New Taipei City Government has prioritized public safety and announced the postponement of the 2026 New Taipei Children's Arts Festival from its original opening date of July 11 to July 13–19. The Cultural Affairs Bureau stated that large-scale outdoor art installations at New Taipei City Citizen Plaza will undergo typhoon preparedness measures, including dismantling, reinforcement, and protective actions to minimize damage from wind and rain. After the typhoon passes, comprehensive safety inspections of the venue and facilities will be conducted to ensure visitor safety before reopening to the public.

The Cultural Affairs Bureau emphasized that due to potential heavy winds and rainfall, typhoon preparedness operations have been initiated for the 10 large-scale art installations at the plaza. Considering the time required for post-typhoon site restoration, equipment testing, and reinstallation of artworks, the festival opening has been delayed to July 13 to ensure both event quality and public safety. The bureau urges the public to avoid approaching protected art installations during the typhoon to safeguard personal safety.

This year’s festival, themed 'Monster Jungle,' transforms the New Taipei City Hall into an interactive tech zone called 'Monster Base' and the Citizen Plaza into a large-scale art exhibition area named 'Phantom Beast Valley.' Collaborating with artists and international teams from Taiwan, Japan, France, and South Korea, 10 large-scale art installations have been co-created to invite children and adults alike into an imaginative monster world, embarking on a fantastical adventure blending art, interaction, and exploration.

Inside City Hall, 'Monster Base' features four interactive zones. The central area, 'Dr. Dinosaur’s Guardian Base,' invites children to complete missions with Dr. Dinosaur to protect the dinosaur world. On the east side, 'Monster Supply Station' allows kids to become monster caretakers, replenishing energy for the creatures. The west side features a large dome called 'Dimensional Dinosaur Hatchery,' where selecting and hatching a dinosaur egg yields a unique commemorative photo. Additionally, 'Researcher’s Glow Tunnel' invites participants to walk through a secret passage and creatively draw their own monster graffiti.

'Phantom Beast Valley' at the Citizen Plaza offers an immersive sensory experience through 10 large-scale art installations. (Photo: New Taipei City Government Cultural Affairs Bureau)

'Phantom Beast Valley' uses 10 large-scale installations to create an immersive sensory journey. Taiwanese land artist Wang Chen-Wei’s 'Monster Jungle – Mountain Beast' invites visitors to explore mountain and cave structures. French artist Aster Cassel presents 'Rainbow Dreams,' guiding audiences on a journey through a fantasy world with a four-eyed fox. Another piece, 'Illusionary Jungle,' combines light effects and sound design to create a mysterious forest atmosphere.

For those who enjoy interactive games, creative installations offer engaging experiences. Taiwanese artist Chang Yu-Chia’s 'Baron Gymnast and Friends’ Ball Pool Party' creates a vibrant carnival atmosphere through ball-throwing and rolling track games. Taiwanese craftsman Yin Chi-Chun uses recycled wood to create 'Kaka Beast,' which emits red dry ice, allowing visitors to experience the creative fusion of environmentalism, art, and science. Japanese artist Hirosi Yoshii presents 'Chichipu-chan,' featuring a ring-toss challenge. South Korean team INAPSQUARE introduces 'SOSOLLA' and 'Play Tuho with SOSO FAMILY,' combining traditional tuho (arrow-throwing) games with cute characters for family-friendly fun.

Beyond interactive installations, whimsical art pieces spark childhood nostalgia. Taiwanese land artist Chan Wei-Hsin’s 'Zhuanzhuan怪’s Secret Slide' evokes shared childhood memories. The motion-sensor interactive installation 'Look at Me' allows monsters to actively 'see' each participant, creating surprising interactive moments.

This year’s Children’s Arts Festival features not only 10 large-scale art installations but also a rich lineup of domestic and international performances, interactive games, markets, and themed exhibitions. Teams from Taiwan and France will perform in rotation, creating a summer arts festival that blends viewing, play, and learning. The 2026 New Taipei Children's Arts Festival will run from July 13 to 19. After the storm passes, families are warmly invited to enter the 'Monster Jungle' and embark on a magical adventure where art and imagination intertwine. For more information, visit the 'New Taipei City Cultural Affairs Bureau' Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/e7summer) or the 'New Taipei Children's Arts Festival' page (https://www.facebook.com/hellohellomonsters/).