Department of Cultural Affairs

Bigger, Bolder and Better Than Ever! 

16 Days, 290 Teams from Taiwan and Around the World, 159 Live Performances 

Taipei Music Center, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, Live Houses, MRT Stations and Shopping Districts 

The Whole City Is the Stage

2026 TRENDY TAIPEI, the second edition of the international urban music festival organized by Taipei City Government, will take over the city from August 22 to September 6! 

Expanded to 16 days this year, the festival is built around the spirit of TAIPEI IN VIBES and brings together three major themes: the concert economy, industry trends, and citywide action. 

Bigger than ever, the festival features more than 150 performances and brings together over 290 teams, artists, and international guests from Taiwan and around the world. Through deeper collaboration across city government departments, the festival offers a new vision of how music can energize a city, allowing the people of Taipei and music lovers worldwide to become digital explorers, log into Taipei’s trendsetting city mainframe, and embark on their own cultural and musical adventures.

Taipei Mayor Wan-an Chiang said that last year’s inaugural TRENDY TAIPEI attracted more than 130,000 visits in just 14 days. Even more exciting, thanks to the efforts of the Taipei Music Center and the city government team, TRENDY TAIPEI received the highest honor—the Platinum Winner award—at the US-based Muse Creative Awards.

This year’s edition is even bigger, bringing together 290 teams from Taiwan and abroad for more than 150 performances. International exchange platforms, including TRENDY TALK, JAM JAM ASIA, and TMEX, will connect Taiwan with Asia’s music industry and create new opportunities for music creators from Taiwan and around the world. 

The city government team has also taken TRENDY TAIPEI overseas this year, traveling to Malaysia for in-depth exchanges and promotional activities to further expand the international influence of the Taipei Music Center brand. Starting August 22, everyone is invited to join the concerts, forums, music expo, and other events of TRENDY TAIPEI and find their own rhythm.

The press conference opened with an energetic performance by marswalk, winner of the Gold Award at Taipei Music NonStop. Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Shih-ping Tsai then gave an overview of the TRENDY TAIPEI program, and Taipei Music Center Chairman Xu-lun Liang shared highlights from the international urban music festival’s TMEX and JAM JAM ASIA programs. JAM JAM ASIA international artist HOA then made a surprise appearance, building excitement for the upcoming music extravaganza. 

Taipei is home to Taiwan’s most comprehensive pop music industry ecosystem. Since taking office, Mayor Chiang has made internationalizing Taiwan’s industry a priority and each year is bringing together Taipei’s major music venues and its rich pop music, cross-disciplinary arts, and cultural resources. The goal is to get the whole city involved, from industry professionals to the general public, while continuing to take Taipei’s music brand to the world.

The Concert Economy Hits a High Note Across the City: Taipei Arena, Taipei Music Center and Live Venues Take the Stage

JAM JAM ASIA (JJA), jointly organized by Taipei City Government and Taipei Music Center, will take place at the Taipei Music Center campus on August 29 and 30. This year’s JJA features seven stages as well as a Civic Boulevard street-closing party. 

Continuing its curator-led artist selection model, the festival has brought together an impressive lineup of curators from across the industry, including TMEX curator Kay Huang, singer-songwriter Mavis Fan, Masa of Mayday, Dela, head of Taiwanese hip-hop label KAO!INC., WOOZI STUDIO, Mia Min Yen, founder of Taiwanese Waves, and Chris Liu, founder of Good Show Lab. 

Together, they will present more than 80 acts from Taiwan and around the world, spanning pop, rock, hip-hop, jazz, experimental sounds, and more, creating a fresh, comfortable, and cutting-edge festival experience with a truly international outlook.

Meanwhile, Taipei Super Live! will serve as a citywide launchpad, connecting 27 distinctive live venues and music venues across Taipei. These venues, which have nurtured countless musicians, will present 78 performances over six consecutive weeks, keeping the city buzzing night after night. 

This year also features a collaboration between TRENDY TAIPEI and TRENDY SEOUL. On September 5, a concert by a renowned Korean girl group at Taipei Arena will join the TRENDY TAIPEI lineup, while from September 4 to 13, the second floor of the Cultural Cube at Taipei Music Center will host a TRENDY TAIPEI × TRENDY SEOUL cultural exhibition. Curated by a senior director from YOUJAM STUDIO, a leading name in Asian stage design whose work has included world tours for top K-pop stars such as BLACKPINK, PSY, and BIGBANG, the exhibition will showcase international-level K-pop stage design concepts and iconic works. 

Technology and Sustainability Take Center Stage: TMEX Builds an Asia-Pacific Music Business Hub

The 2026 Taipei Music Expo (TMEX), a key part of the festival’s industry trends program, will bring together partners from across the Asia-Pacific pop music industry through brand showcases, business matchmaking, international forums, performances, and more. 

This year, TMEX is putting the spotlight on technology and sustainability, bringing together more than 60 music and artist management brands from Taiwan and abroad, as well as over 100 international industry professionals and media representatives for more than 500 business matchmaking sessions to further strengthen connections between Taiwan and international markets. Taipei Music Center, the administrative corporation tasked with advancing Taiwan’s pop music industry, will continue to build a major platform for exchange across the Asia-Pacific. 

This year’s expo introduces new dedicated areas highlighting technology and sustainability, while international organizations and industry partners including Japan’s CUEW Association and Thailand’s Creative Economy Agency (CEA), Vietnam Cultural Industry Development Association (VCIDA), and other industry associations and organizations will join the event, alongside Japan’s FUJI ROCK, renowned Japanese live venues Zepp and Duo, and Korea’s Busan International Rock Festival and Zandari Festa. marswalk, winner of the Gold Award at Taipei Music NonStop, along with Silver Award winners fernoiz and Resonance Effect, will also take the stage at JAM JAM ASIA, showcasing the distinctive creative energy of a new generation of musicians.

The two-day TRENDY TALKS forum will feature nine cross-disciplinary sessions, bringing together experts from Taiwan and abroad for conversations spanning music, design, visual media, and fashion. Speakers will include Montonn JIRA, co-founder of Thailand’s Wonderfruit Festival; YOU JAEHUN, president of Korea’s YOUJAM STUDIO; a representative of Mixmag Asia; Golden Melody Award-winning producer RAZOR Chiang; and book designer FKWU. 

Meanwhile, the municipal Department of Economic Development will host StartSphere Taipei at Bottle Cap Factory from September 3 to 4, connecting entertainment technology with the startup ecosystem. On August 29, the municipal Department of Information Technology will present the 2026 Taipei Generative Art Festival at No. 1 Warehouse in Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, exploring innovative AI applications in comics and music.

Citywide Action Turns the Whole City into a Stage: Experience Taipei’s Music from Venues to Neighborhoods

The TRENDY TAIPEI Technology & Music Interactive Exhibition, or TRENDY EXHIBITION, opens on August 27 at No. 3 Warehouse in Songshan Cultural and Creative Park. 

Curated by The Cave, one of Taiwan’s most distinctive electronic music curatorial teams, the exhibition begins with the creation of an archive of Taipei’s contemporary pop music and combines interactive gaming with four AR landmarks around the city. Visitors can use interactive games to explore how technology connects people, urban spaces, and music culture. 

Songshan Cultural and Creative Park will also host the Songyan Summer Festival, featuring performances by artists from Busan Music Week (釜山音樂週) and participating bands from the festival’s training program. 

In partnership with Taipei Metro, Taipei Metro Nakashi will bring live pop performances to the Beitou–Xinbeitou branch line on weekends from August 29 to September 6, giving passengers the chance to experience unexpected musical moments up close. During the festival, special music will also be played as trains arrive at Nangang and Kunyang MRT stations, bringing the JAM JAM ASIA atmosphere into commuters’ daily journeys and inviting them to follow the beat on a lively musical adventure through Taipei. 

Meanwhile, MOCA Taipei will present RESET, taking audiences on an experimental sonic journey through its century-old setting. Gongguan Shopping District will host the Treasure Hill SouthSpark Art Fest from August 29, with eight artists presenting works under the theme “Glimmer in the Alleys.” TAIPEI CINEMA PARK will host the 2026 Backstreet Festival from August 22 to September 6, bringing the city’s subculture scene to life with international graffiti, clothing customization, and K-pop street dance under the theme “Making Waves in the Backstreets” (後街造浪).

This year’s TRENDY TAIPEI has been jointly organized by the municipal Departments of Cultural Affairs, Economic Development, and Information Technology, as well as Taipei Music Center and Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation. Taipei City Councilor Yu-cheng Chen also attended the press conference in support of the event. 

TRENDY TAIPEI has received enthusiastic support from businesses, brands, and partners across various industries, including NVIDIA, Cathay United Bank, Capital Motors, Nankang Rubber Tire, Scottish Leader, Heineken Silver, PECOS, Eslite Spectrum, expo eslite X platform original, GRAND HILAI TAIPEI, Courtyard by Marriott Taipei, The Place Taipei, amba Taipei Songshan, One House, CITYLINK, LaLaport, WeiChuan Dragons, StreetVoice, Blow, YSOLIFE, songstoryworks, Turn!, Taipei gan ma, IP SPACE, KKBOX, and more. 

2026 TRENDY TAIPEI is also releasing a range of limited-edition official merchandise, including concert towel hats, phone straps, limited-edition branded socks, cardboard telescopes, and other fun accessories. Fans can enjoy the music and take a little piece of Taipei’s rhythm home with them. 

More than just a celebration of music, the festival showcases Taipei’s rich cultural resources and invites everyone to log into the city’s mainframe and embark on their own cultural adventure. 

Further details will be announced soon. Follow the official TRENDY TAIPEI website and social media channels for the latest updates.