Department of Cultural Affairs

In the bustling Gongguan district in southern Taipei, a narrow, easily overlooked alley quietly awaits. Step inside, and it feels like opening a door into another time and space. 

On the other side lies a world entirely removed from the city’s bustle, tranquil and secluded, like a hidden retreat. This is Treasure Hill, a place shaped by the passage of time.

The annual Light Festival is Treasure Hill’s most significant event of the year. In the 2026 edition, a series of themed programs will unfold over more than 40 days, alongside works by 17 interdisciplinary artist groups. Visitors are invited to both explore and participate in order to discover the many stories embedded in this unique landscape.

Opening the Door, Stepping into the Light

The 2026 theme, Colors of a Hidden Mountain, takes as its central motif the door, symbol of passage and transformation. As visitors move from the lively city into the quiet stillness of Treasure Hill, the experience becomes more than a shift of pace; it is a reset of perception. 

Every sense is gradually awakened within this hillside settlement. Each doorway encountered during the festival feels like an invitation, encouraging visitors to slow down and take in the surroundings. Small points of light gather throughout the village, gently greeting each passerby at every turn, along every staircase, and in each fleeting moment.

Three Key Elements: Light, Sound, and Color

The festival centers on three core elements: light, sound, and color.

Light is more than illumination. It acts as a storyteller, carrying the layered history of Treasure Hill. As it lingers on weathered walls, revealing traces of greenery in their cracks, or refracts through morning dew into shifting spectrums, its every appearance marks the unfolding of new narratives. Walking through these illuminated spaces allows visitors to experience stories that are both expansive and intimate.

Sound emerges not only from residents, visitors, and living creatures, but also from the environment itself, which responds with its own rhythm. Artists capture these subtle, distinctive sounds—footsteps on stairs, the creak of metal gates, the wind moving through alleyways—and carefully preserve them for presentation during the festival.

Color refers to the tangible visual phenomena of the material world. At Treasure Hill, vibrant hues and layered decorations are everywhere. Yet beyond what is visible, the lived textures and meanings embedded in daily life shine even more vividly. The festival uses lighting and installations to gradually reveal these deeper layers, presenting them in diverse and compelling forms.

Beyond Daylight: A Festival that Continues into the Night

Colors of a Hidden Mountain opens on March 21. The interdisciplinary music collective Melting Part will lead the opening weekend performances. Blending street dance, DJ culture, and party elements, the program weaves together sound, movement, and light to mark the symbolic “opening of the mountain city.” A dual-stage setup evokes the atmosphere of a music festival to create an immersive and dynamic sensory experience.

These performances reinterpret sound and light, echoing the festival’s core themes. The interplay of natural and artificial light enhances the nighttime atmosphere, inviting visitors to move freely, trust their surroundings, and gradually re-awaken their senses.

Experiences such as “the flow of light” and “the breathing of the city” are highlights of the opening events.

Varied Programs and Cross-Venue Collaboration

While Treasure Hill will act as the main exhibition site, Huan Min Village will serve as a satellite venue, hosting works by invited artists. This multi-site approach expands beyond traditional spatial boundaries, allowing the festival to extend beyond Treasure Hill, itself on its way to becoming a shared cultural memory for all of Taipei.

As part of the interconnected program “In Search of Doors,” Treasure Hill is collaborating with Huan Min Village and the Taipei City Hakka Cultural Park to present cross-site activities. Participants move between locations through a game-like journey, completing tasks, earning rewards, and experiencing the unique charm of southern Taipei along the way.

On Saturday, April 18, the festival will be partnering again with Diggin’ Into (獨書祭) to present a weekend market and nighttime guided tours focused on history and culture. The exchange of music and text enables the festival to become more than an art exhibition, turning into a vivid, multidimensional narrative of place.

▍2026 Treasure Hill Light Festival—Colors of a Hidden Mountain

Dates | Saturday, March 21– Sunday, May 3 

Time | 11 am–10 pm (closed Mondays)

Locations | Treasure Hill Artist Village; Huan Min Village