The 2026 Creative Expo Taiwan held its opening ceremony today (31st) at the Kong Zong Cultural Base. Distinguished guests in attendance included Vice Premier of the Executive Yuan Cheng Li-chiun, Minister of Culture Li Yuan, Legislators Wu Szu-yao and Guo Yu-ching; Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Guatemala Carlos Matus, Representative of the Czech Economic and Cultural Office David Steinke, Director General of the India Taipei Association Ninad Deshpande, Director of the Polish Office in Taipei Janusz Henryk Bilski, Chairman of the National Culture and Arts Foundation Peng Chun-heng, and Secretary-General of the Taiwan Character Brand Licensing Association (Sara) Peng Ai-ping, who joined together to announce the commencement of the longest-running and largest-scale Creative Expo Taiwan to date.
2026 Creative Expo Taiwan held the opening ceremony at King Zong Cultural Base on the 31st. Vice Premier of the Executive Yuan Cheng Li-chiun, Minister of Culture Li Yuan, Legislators Wu Szu-yao photographed with the curational team.
In her remarks, Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun expressed that having the opportunity to participate in Creative Expo Taiwan and witness the completed restoration of Kong Zong Cultural Base Heritage Building felt as emotionally moving as a family reunion. Kong Zong Cultural Base encompasses nearly 90 years of layered history—spanning from an industrial research institute pursuing modernization during the Japanese colonial rule, to the Air Force Command Headquarters in the post-war era, and now step-by-step transforming into the Kong Zong Cultural Base. This journey symbolizes the resilience built by the Taiwanese people on this land and the process of reclaiming their identity. Opening its doors to the public for the first time, the Heritage Building pairs with the highly creative Creative Expo Taiwan to seamlessly weave together Taipei’s historical fabric and Taiwan’s most dynamic contemporary creativity.
Vice Premier Cheng shared that as the current Convener of the Executive Yuan's Smart Nation Promotion Taskforce, she particularly loves this year’s theme, "Bit Zero." "I will never forget that humanity is the true master of technology," Cheng stated. While technology brings societal changes in every era, it is always people and society that determine its application. In an authoritarian society, digital technology is used to monitor citizens; however, in a democratic society, it responds to human needs, creates societal well-being, resolves issues, and builds a better society. She believes that the humanistic spirit and social values nurtured in free and democratic Taiwan can serve as a guiding light, preventing us from losing ourselves during rapid technological development. In a free, democratic, diverse, and inclusive Taiwan, AI governance can also establish the nation as a model for the ethical application of AI. "This is the original aspiration I have held onto while driving AI development from the Ministry of Culture to the Executive Yuan," she added.
Vice Premier of the Executive Yuan Cheng Li-chiun made a remark on the 2026 CET opening ceremony._1
Reflecting on the presence of Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun—who is also a former Minister of Culture—Minister of Culture Li Yuan shared heartfelt observations. He noted that in response to the quadrennial National Cultural Congress this year, the Ministry of Culture compiled a review of cultural policies spanning the past decade, beginning with former Minister Cheng’s tenure in 2016. Through this review, he gained a clearer understanding that "cultural work is a relay race built generation after generation." The policies outlined during Cheng’s term enabled subsequent ministers to continue advancing within established coordinates. For instance, today's Kong Zong Culture Base transitioned from the Ministry of Economic Affairs' "TAF Innovation Base" in 2015 to officially being taken over by the Ministry of Culture in 2018 as the "Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab (C-LAB)." Despite many challenges along the way, this progression underscores the nation's profound commitment to culture.
Li remarked that under the vision of "Every Ministry is a Ministry of Culture," the Ministry of Culture may have taken on many additional duties, but with the support of the Executive Yuan and Vice Premier Cheng, the "airplane" of the Ministry of Culture has continuously flown forward over the past decade, whether facing turbulence or darkness. Encouraging himself with the phrase "once an airplane takes off, nothing can stop it," Li shared that whenever he faces setbacks, he reminds himself: "Nothing can stop us from moving forward together."
Minister of Culture Li Yuan made a remark on the 2026 CET opening ceremony._1
The Ministry of Culture stated that participating brands and booth usage for Creative Expo Taiwan 2026 have both grown by over 25%, with total attendance expected to break records by exceeding 650,000 visitors. This year's annual theme, "Bit Zero," addresses humanity's rethinking of the essence of creativity under the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), symbolizing the original starting point of creation. Opening first on August 1 at the Kong Zong Cultural Base Heritage Building, the Cultural Curation area unfolds the "Bit Zero" theme across five major exhibition zones: "No Rush. You're Doing Really Well," "IN TRANSIT," "The Orange Story in the Blue World," "Awaken Your Senses," and "Tomorrow Shop." In addition to exploring the brilliant exhibitions, the Cultural Curation will host "[From 0 to ∞] The Genesis of Cutural Intellectual Property" events for five consecutive Sundays starting from opening week. Featuring 2 celebrity-guided tours and 3 thematic panel discussions, these cross-disciplinary dialogues will lead the public to discover the diverse possibilities of cultural content across mediums, generations, and industries, experiencing the innovative energy of Taiwanese cultural IPs as they evolve and reach the global stage.
Across the cultural curation areas, concepts are extended through well-known Taiwanese cultural IPs. "IN TRANSIT" gathers audiovisual works such as Tears on Fire, Mad Doctor, and Three Tears in Borneo, guiding viewers through coastal landscapes to reconnect with stories of life, history, and the land. "The Orange Story in the Blue World" incorporates comic works including Console 2073, Embers and Petals, and Tsi̍t kuáinn tshìn-á, paired with an interactive "cultural prescription" experience that invites visitors to explore the works and decompress their own human files. "Awaken Your Senses" brings together cross-domain IPs such as the Taipei Xiahai City God Temple Matchmaker (Yuelao), Three Unmarried Women Musical, Taiwan Pigeon Trilogy, Firstory, Father and Mother, and Jinsei Daigaku - A Solo of Mama Sakurako: A Jukebox Musical of Fu Kai Hsu, awakening the five senses through love, emotion, and historical memory. "Tomorrow Shop" features curated selections including From Troubled Youth to Cool Kids, Anta Pottery’s "RE: LAB" series, and Seasonal Lab & Food, transforming cultural creativity into inspiration and nourishment for daily life.
2026 CET creative director Agi Chen made a brief intro on the opening ceremony._1
Also opening on August 1 at the Heritage Building is the "GOOD LUCK! 80 Years Since the End of the War," which will run through November 15. Starting from the restored Heritage Building, the exhibition looks back at the strength Taiwan has built since the end of the war and its journey in continuously safeguarding freedom and everyday life. The exhibition design integrates Kong Zong’s historical architecture, aviation imagery, and multimedia interactions, linking memories and perspectives across different eras. By leveraging Kong Zong’s own memories of military, authoritarian, and cultural transformation, the past and present converge within the same space. Visitors are invited to see how Taiwan reached the present through the choices, labor, and memories of successive generations, while reflecting on the everyday life they wish to protect and carry into the future.
"GOOD LUCK! 80 Years Since the End of the War" curator ms. Lo made a brief intro on the opening ceremony.
The Ministry of Culture noted that this year's Creative Expo Taiwan marks the first official exhibition hosted in Kong Zong Cultural Base’s newly opened Heritage Building. This is not merely the start of an exhibition, but a significant moment when a historic building returns to public life. Everyone is welcome to experience the original spark of creativity and cultural energy conveyed by "Bit Zero," and step into Taiwan's rich, diverse, and vibrant cultural landscape. In addition to the Cultural Curation opening tomorrow, the Creative Brand at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 1 will officially open on August 6. The public is encouraged to use the online reservation system (https://creativexpo-booking.tw/) for fast-track entry.
For more information, please visit the official website of 2026 Creative Expo Taiwan (https://creativexpo.tw/), or its social media pages on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/creativexpo.tw/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/creativexpo.tw/)
