Chasing Light・Horses Galloping- 2026 Nantou Lantern Festival

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The 2026 Nantou Lantern Festival adopts the theme “Chasing Light, Ten Thousand Horses Galloping,” portraying the city’s continuous advancement across culture, tourism, and industry through the imagery of light-speed motion and the dynamic force of galloping horses. For the first time, the project introduces a curatorial framework of dual main lanterns, integrating dynamic vision, light art, and urban storytelling into an immersive experiential environment. The main lantern “Wings of Luminous Ascent” centers on the image of a Pegasus spreading its wings. Interwoven elements of gears, cloudscapes, and mountain forms construct a visual core reminiscent of a city’s engine. Through mechanical choreography and LED beam performances, it presents a vision of a future city where cultural energy and industrial rhythm operate in harmony – symbolizing courage, hope and an enduring drive toward progress. The ground-level main lantern, “Galloping Playground,” is a contemporary reinterpretation of the 2014 Taiwan Lantern Festival’s main lantern, Jumping Foal. It is transformed into a magical realm of light imbued with joy and a dreamlike atmosphere. The overall design reimagines the form of the horse through silvery metallic finishes and iridescent light, complemented by a rotating wave-shaped pedestal that expresses a sense of flowing energy. The galloping foals embody the extension of vitality and the continuity of collective memory. The design becomes a luminous playground carrying blessings, dreams, and festive atmosphere, while resonating with shared cultural sentiments and joy that transcend generations. Inspired by Nantou’s distinctive landscape and festive culture, the project envisions the city not merely as illuminated, but as awakened through the flow of light and time. Taking light as the point of departure, the design extends into imagery of speed, energy, and convergence, evolving into the core themes of “Chasing Light” and “Ten Thousand Horses Galloping.” Together, these concepts embody a collective momentum surging forward.

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