TAIWANfest returns to Harbourfront Centre from August 28th to 30yh, bringing three days of live music, visual art performances, workshops and cultural storytelling to Toronto’s waterfront.

Islands in the Wind

Presented under the theme “ISLANDS IN THE WIND,” this year’s festival will explore the connections between Taiwan and Scotland, examining shared experiences of colonization, migration, cultural adaptation and language revival.

Through performances, exhibitions, conversations and hands-on activities, the festival will highlight how communities preserve their identities while responding to changing social, political and historical landscapes.

Live Music and Performances

The weekend begins with an evening of music featuring the Nanwang Sisters, an award-winning Taiwanese Indigenous trio known for carrying the songs, memories and traditions of their people through performance. They will be joined by a special guest, an award-winning Indigenous musician from Canada.

Over the following two days, visitors can experience a vibrant celebration of island heritage and contemporary culture, bringing together artists and stories from Taiwan, Canada and Scotland.

The live music lineup includes high-energy queer indie rock band P!SCO and award-winning Taiwanese indie group ZiXuan & Slow Train, whose music brings generations together through fresh interpretations of Hakka language and culture. You can view the full schedule of performances here

The TAIWANfest Orchestra Returns

Returning this year is the TAIWANfest Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Ken Hsieh and joined by violin soloist Lynn Kuo. Together, they will take audiences on a musical journey inspired by the landscapes and cultural histories of Scotland and Taiwan.

Toronto-based Asian Canadian musicians Jacq Teh and Eunice Keitan will also take the stage alongside emerging student musicians, adding a strong local presence to the festival program.

Conversations on Identity, History and Cultural Reclamation

Beyond the performances, TAIWANfest will feature conversations examining identity, cultural reclamation, history, gender and power.

Celebrated queer novelist Nathalie Chang, also known as Chang Yi-Hsum, will lead a lecture exploring the intersections of culture, gender and power through East Asian literature. Sung-En Lin, a researcher at Taiwan’s National Museum of Prehistory, will also share insights from her work and collaborations with Indigenous communities in Taiwan.

Hands-On Workshops and Cultural Experiences

Visitors can explore cultural exhibitions, meet artists and makers at the Artist Market and participate in a range of all-ages workshops combining culture, storytelling and creativity.

Michelin-recommended Hakka chef Ted Liao will lead a handcrafted cola-making workshop that reimagines traditional Hakka flavours, while award-winning musician ZiXuan Huang will share insights into writing contemporary songs in the Hakka language.

Additional programming includes a tea-sealing workshop exploring the history and diversity of black tea in Taiwan and Scotland, as well as Tao calligraphy and seed-paper-making sessions led by Toronto-based artists.

A Weekend of Culture at Harbourfront Centre

With live performances, food traditions, literature, art and interactive experiences, TAIWANfest offers visitors an opportunity to discover the connections between island communities while celebrating the cultures and voices shaping them today.

As always, you can keep up with all the fun happenings in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area on efosa.

TAIWANfest Toronto 2026

When: August 28th to 30th

• August 28th, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
• August 29th, 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
• August 30th, 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Where: Harbourfront Centre, Toronto

Admission: Free