Green Shuttle to Shihsanhang for a Picnic with Golden Melodies! 2026 New Taipei Austronesian Festival Kicks Off This Weekend

This weekend, the Bali riverside will come alive with the rhythms of the Pacific! The '2026 New Taipei Austronesian Festival' will be held on July 25 and 26 at the Sunshine Plaza of the Shihsanhang Museum, bringing together Golden Melody performers, traditional music and dance from seven countries, an island-themed market, and interactive nautical challenges. This year, free shuttle buses from Taipei Metro's Tamsui or Guandu Stations will take visitors directly to the venue. The Tamsui route uses electric shuttles that cross the Tamsui River via the Danjiang Bridge, offering scenic views as a prelude to the festivities.

Themed 'Tides Gather at Shihsanhang, Crazy for Austronesia,' the festival celebrates oceanic culture in collaboration with the Taitung County Government's Cultural Affairs Division. It unites 20 performance groups from Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Fiji, the Philippines, the Marshall Islands, and Tuvalu. From traditional afternoon chants to evening mother-tongue rap, the musical journey spans genres and generations. Golden Melody Best Female Singer Sumi Wushima and Best Male Singer Balai will each lead international ensembles, with Wusha Kawas and Kacaw closing out the nights with high-energy performances.

The 'Austronesian Exploration Quest' offers interactive games and hands-on experiences like weaving with plantain fibers. During the event, the Shihsanhang Museum will also formalize a sister-museum partnership with the Alele Museum of the Marshall Islands, adding a significant cultural milestone.

The 'Island Breeze Market' features over 40 unique vendors, offering everything needed for a perfect picnic. It showcases indigenous cuisine, healthy light meals, and island-style snacks, alongside museum-themed picnic文创 goods and handmade crafts. The market supports plastic reduction by encouraging vendors to minimize single-use items and offering reusable utensil rentals, promoting sustainable living.

For transportation, eco-friendly shuttles are provided from Tamsui and Guandu MRT stations. The Tamsui route uses electric buses, creating a green corridor from the MRT line, across the Danjiang Bridge, to the museum. With support from the New Taipei City Environmental Protection Bureau's 'Low-Carbon Promotion Center,' ZEMO Zero Mobility also provides electric vehicle shuttles, ensuring carbon reduction starts from the moment visitors depart.

Dr. Lo Pei-Hsuan, Director of the Shihsanhang Museum, emphasized that this year’s festival not only expands its scale through collaboration with Taitung County but also fully embraces sustainability—from electric shuttles to plastic-free markets. 'We hope visitors experience the passion and vitality of Austronesian cultures in the most environmentally friendly way possible,' she said.

The '2026 New Taipei Austronesian Festival' runs from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM on July 25 and 26 at the Shihsanhang Museum Sunshine Plaza, with free admission. The museum will extend its hours until 9:00 PM on both days, inviting visitors to explore the concurrent special exhibition, 'Sailing the Winds—Ancient Austronesian Seafaring Vessels,' which highlights the maritime wisdom of ancestral Austronesian peoples. For more information, visit the official website (https://www.2026austronesian.tw) or Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/13hangmuseum).