Taiwan Lantern Festival SENDAI 2026: Wish upon a Star, Feelings in the Light

About this event

'Taiwan Lantern Festival SENDAI 2026: Wish upon a Star, Feelings in the Light' is an event held to express gratitude to Taiwan for its tremendous support following the Great East Japan Earthquake. Authentic Taiwanese lanterns arrive from Tainan City, which has an exchange promotion agreement with Sendai City, illuminating the night sky of Sendai, the city of Tanabata, with fantastical lights adorned with wishes and thoughts. Submissions from last year's 'Painted Lantern Contest' will also be exhibited, crossing the sea from inside and outside Miyagi Prefecture to serve as lights of exchange linking Taiwan and Sendai. In its 4th edition this year, approximately 600 lanterns will illuminate the skies along Sendai's coast with the light of recovery and exchange. Centering around the Taiwanese lantern illumination, the event features a wide variety of activities to experience Taiwan's diversity throughout the period, including sales of Taiwanese gourmet food and sundries, a painted lantern contest, meet-and-greets with Taiwan support mascot 'Taiwonder*', a night market game experience, handheld lantern sales, an original mini lantern making workshop, Little Taiwan Day, caricature portraits by Taiwanese artists, a Yamagata 'Wish Lantern' exhibition, a joint Tanabata project across 3 facilities, Fire Fest 2026, and more. Admission is free, though merchandise and interactive experiences require a fee.

Venue

Aquaignis Sendai

33-3 Matsunonishi, Fujitsuka, Wakabayashi Ward, Sendai, Miyagi 984-0843